engine cranking question...

[Saverio]

I have a stock 318 and when the engine is cold on first start up (cold does not mean the actual outside temperature), it cranks a bit before it finally turns over and starts.
Actually to me, it seems to crank quite a bit.

Is this just the nature of an older engine?

I've read other opinions that say "yes" and that it's just the nature of the beast.

Once the engine has been started once, it fires right up every single time perfectly. There is no excessive cranking when the engine is warm.

 

[MOPARMITCH]

Yes. Most people now are used to the immediate start up due to todays fuel injected engines. Carbureted engines generally take a few cranks to get fuel where it needs it.

 

[Saverio]

That's exactly what I was thinking (about the fuel injection), MoparMitch.

Someone without knowledge of old cars asked me about the engine cranking and I wasn't sure if my answer was 100% correct. lol.

 

[RedFish]

Chryslers gear reduction starters have always turned the engine a little slower than other brands. I like to get the oil moving before starting anyway. I'll turn the engine a few seconds, then set the choke and cycle the switch again.

 

[TrailBeast]

If you have an electric fuel pump, your initial advance and choke set up well, they fire up immediatly.
My car turns over 3-4 cylinders and fires right up when cold.
(as in err, err, err vroom) but it does it really fast because of the mini starter.

This is a cold start and had not been run the day before at all.

Notice how I turn on the key and wait a few seconds.
This is to let the electric fuel pump fill the carb, and the sound of the pump changes when the carb is full (can't hear the pump in the video)

Then I do two full pumps to the floor, and let off the gas completely.
Next I start it, and you hear the engine slow after a second or two and that is the oil pressure coming up.

It's all a little deliberate and slowed down for the video, but these baby's will fire right up if it has what it wants to do it. (quite a bit of it is ignition advance) but the fuel already being right there available is a big one.
You will have to forgive the ugliness, as I hadn't finished my dash caps and new steering wheel yet.

This video is about 32 megs so it might take a couple of min to download.

www.letsgocomputers.com/movies/startup.avi

 

[rumblefish360]

Your fuel level in the carb bowl might also be a little low depending on how long it sits and how long exactly it takes to start. I wouldn't worry about it though.

 

[Rapid Robert]

What I would do to evaluate it is to take off the air cleaner & before starting it, pull the throttle and see (1) if the choke closes and (2) if you have several healthy accel pump squirts. I had an 83 318 that started instantly (first time/anytime) and my current 85 ramcharger 318 takes more than I like in the AM but not bad & I usually have to floor it to get it to refire later in the day even an hour later (I ain't got around to it but I'm thinking too much choke)

 

[Louie70Dart]

In the old days, before unleaded gas, my 71 would take a half pedal when cold, a full pedal when outside temp was cold, and maybe 2 pumps when below zero. It would fire right up every time. If the engine was warm, no pump, just turn key first. Yeah, I had the timing a couple degrees retarded, it was a 318 2 barrel, no tire burner. That car would start all the time. Now days, with the ethanol, maybe it's evaporating, the alcohol, in the carb. Is it sitting any amount of time, say one or two days between starts? But as long as you don't have to crank and crank to start it, I would be happy with it.

 

[Saverio]

Now days, with the ethanol, maybe it's evaporating, the alcohol, in the carb. Is it sitting any amount of time, say one or two days between starts? But as long as you don't have to crank and crank to start it, I would be happy with it.

I had that in the back of my head also, the addition of ethanol.
The guy I bought it from told me he used to only get gas from a station listed here: http://pure-gas.org/
I've also been told that "new gas" (ethanol added), can gunk up a carb.

It does sit around some time between starts like you mentioned.

It doesn't bother me much, was just curious if I was correct in what i was thinking.

 

[KosmicKuda]

In the old days, before unleaded gas, my 71 would take a half pedal when cold, a full pedal when outside temp was cold, and maybe 2 pumps when below zero. It would fire right up every time. If the engine was warm, no pump, just turn key first. Yeah, I had the timing a couple degrees retarded, it was a 318 2 barrel, no tire burner. That car would start all the time. Now days, with the ethanol, maybe it's evaporating, the alcohol, in the carb. Is it sitting any amount of time, say one or two days between starts? But as long as you don't have to crank and crank to start it, I would be happy with it.

Yeah I have read that with today's gasoline formulation, it evaporates quicker. Is it possible that the fuel in the carb bowl evaporates somewhat between starts? I don't know. just sayin'.

I'm like some of the other guys and don't mind my small block cranking a bit before it fires up. I figure it gets the oil moving a little before it starts making all that rumpity rumpity noise. I only drive my car in season, sometimes only once a week. Funny, I just started it last Saturday after not having been fired since November and it cranked about 5 seconds before starting. This is a 318 with MSD-6 and mechanical fuel pump. If I start it the very next day after having been run, it fires right away w/o hesitation. Hot starts are another story and is longer with the Carter carb on an aliuminum manifold.

 

[FredS]

pump it 3 times, then hit the starter. Mine fires immediately even if left sitting for weeks. Mechanical fuel pump, mini starter too.

 

[AJ/FormS]

Yeah the ethanol evaporates plenty quick, leaving the heavier "constituents" of the fuel behind. So its a double whammy. Firstly the fuel level is down. And secondly, that which is left is harder to light off, and requires more of it to keep burning.
Like TB says, an electric fuel pump helps. Also on the list of aids are; fuel stabilizer, and mixture screws set to the rich side, and the mini-starter.
I keep a small container of stabilized fuel and a tiny funnel under the hoods of my carbed beaters. They often sit for several days to several wks between starts. I just fill up the bowls and like TB also says, a few compression cycles and vroom.

 

[Bad Sport]

Yeah I have read that with today's gasoline formulation, it evaporates quicker. Is it possible that the fuel in the carb bowl evaporates somewhat between starts? I don't know. just sayin'.

Well, it does indeed. A couple of years ago when I ran my TQ carb, I was having issues with it starting after sitting for 3 days or more.

So for giggles, I put 1 inch of our pump swill into a spray can cap. It was a hot, humid summer day. I put it in there and left it on my workbench.

24 hours later the cap was completely dry, absolutely no trace of gas.

 

[Louie70Dart]

Plus ethanol/alcohol will pick up moisture easier, hydrophobic I think its called.

 

[Saverio]

pump it 3 times, then hit the starter. Mine fires immediately even if left sitting for weeks. Mechanical fuel pump, mini starter too.

Fred, this worked! Holy crap.
I haven't started the scamp for 4 or 5 days. I pumped 3 times to the floor and boom - started right up.
:cheers: