Motorcraft 2150's VS Ethanol fuel solution

[averagef250]

I don't know if this is happening everywhere or if I'm seeing more bad 2150's than the norm, but it sure seams that this scenario has become increasingly common within the last year-
Nice older Ford truck with a 2150 2V or variant is driven occasionally and sits for 2-6 months with the same gas in it's tank. In this time the engine gradually or suddenly runs rough and lean and is diagnosed as needing a "carb rebuild". The carb is overhauled using standard methods- soak overnight in cold parts cleaner, generous blowout of all passages, reassembled, adjusted, installed with new gaskets, no vacuum leaks and it does the same exact thing or only mild improvement.

I Think the problem is how the new ethanol fuels absorb water and carry it throughout the fuel system. This water laden fuel sits in the carb when the truck isn't driven often enough and corrodes the carb from the inside out. The factory sealed emulsion tube (pieces that sit over the venturis) seam particularly effected by this. Regular carb cleaner doesn't seam to do anything to fix this.

I went through a 2150 last week that was exactly as described without much hope it would work good again. To try something different on the "It can't hurt anything" principal I put the main body and emulsion tube section in a Crest dental ultrasonic cleaner I use for cleaning diesel injector nozzles, let these parts run in the cleaner for a solid 8 hours in 200 degree solution under ultrasonic waves.

The results were fantastic! The carb works great now, seamed to actually function as it should. Just wanted to pass this on in case others were dealing with similiar issues.

[Dirty Offio]

have to keep that in mind. Used to work on helicopters, we used the same kind of thing to clean the filter discs for our oil filters. Pull the filters out, tear them down and inspect them, then a nice long bath in the ultrasonic to clean them before reassembly.

[Dragon]

For every molecule of Ethanol, it will suck up two-fifths of a molecule of water. Not quite that way, the point is for every 10 alky molecules we get about 4 water molecules. Now that water is not free to float around it is bonded to the Ethanol so maybe it is something else in the same solution. As we added ethanol to the gasoline we also had to add other chemicals to re-lubricate the valve stems and cylinder walls to overcome the washing effect of the alcohol.

The Ethanol fuels were never designed for carb engines.

[averagef250]

I don't know why it does what it does, but talk to a boat repair shop and they'll tell you how incredibly stupid it is to put ethanol in fuel.

[averagef250]

Jeff, I have no idea, I bought the ultrasonic cleaner I have for a business venture that flopped 5 years ago. The cleaner's handy, but did cost me around $500 if I remember right. The crest cleaner I have heats to around 200 degrees and has pulsed ultrasonic waves. It will actually de-rust steel with just water in the tank, takes awhile though.

[Dragon]

http://www.ultrasonicleaners.com/mechanical_timer.php

http://www.ultrasonicleaners.com/High_Capacity.php

http://www.jewelsmall.com/cleaner.html

[basketcase0302]

It will actually de-rust steel with just water in the tank, takes awhile though.

What we'd do in the Navy was to just set the timer and walk away for awhile.
Here's the harboor frete one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95563

It looks very close dimension wise as to fitting a carburetor into. We've got a harboor frete about 25 miles from me here. Ya' think they'd freak if I walked in with a Motorcraft carb and tried to fit it into the cleaner?

I think you've discovered something here Dustin that will benefit us all, with our older engines. And the ethanol probably aint' gonna go away anytime soon.

[Dragon]

Ethanol is never going away. I will be by an anodizing shop today to see if they can do a Autolite. That will stop the corrosion.

[sandmanf250]

and on top of all that my steaks and cornflakes cost more.

[jsalty]

Ethanol is never going away. I will be by an anodizing shop today to see if they can do a Autolite. That will stop the corrosion.

could the anodizer help you?

[Happy_Camper]

This is becoming more and more common. I had suspicions that the "economizer" (or "vaporizer" depending on manufacturers lingo), passages were corroding, causing incorrect air/fuel mixing before it hits the venturies. It's like the pits that grow on the cast metal pieces of trim, door handles, etc. The fuel does not get broken down far enough and puddles. That effects idle quality, and can cause off idle stumbing.
What started me looking at this, was I kept seeing fuel droplets instead of a nice mist at low air speed in the venturi. I started talking to some other builders who had the same suspicions, and one of the guys was able to cut open and verify the corrosion build up.
For certain carbs you could get a replacement, for others it was a non-servicable part of the carb body. We just went through this on my neighbors Scout. He was able to get a known good "economizer", and the engine really runs well now.
I definitely think it is the reformulated fuels that cause this, as there is no lubricant package. Remember in the good old days when you poured gas in a pan, after it evaporated there would be a thin oily film, that would need to be wiped out? Now the pan dries clean. I think it is stripping the aluminum bare, and then moist air corrodes the aluminum. A pint bottle of Marvel Mistery Oil, poured in with a tank full of gas seems to be working for people who can do that.

[ezernut9mm]

just fantastic. and the state of missouri passed a bill last year that mandated at least 10% ethanol in all gas sold in the state.

[Dragon]

My 80508S 750 is Ethanol mix compatible and also capable of Pure Alky use with slight mods but older carbs are all in trouble.

[basketcase0302]

My 80508S 750 is Ethanol mix compatible

Is that a Holley? What kind of carb please?

[Dragon]

Holley concours carb polished and plated, 4160 with center hung floats and electric choke. Just rated for high content ethanol gas and with all internal gaskets and rubber pure Ethanol rated.