Carburetor woes

[Ranman69SE]

For the third time now, I've had to remove the float bowls of my Proform 950 to clean out the gelatinous gunk that has accumulated on the bottom of the bowls. 



I assume it is the result of water getting absorbed by the ethanol in fuel and settling at the bottom, but there seems to be some corrosive reaction going on between the aluminum and the water/fuel.  When I use carb cleaner to remove the gunk, there is an immediate reaction to the aluminum, and this white chalky substance appears in the exact locations that the gunk accumulated:



Does this have anything to do with the polishing/plating process of the carburetor??  Or is it low quality aluminum casting?  If I am going to continue to use this carb, I'm going to need to somehow coat the bottom of the bowls with a protective paint or something to keep this from happening.  My two other carbureted vehicles are not experiencing any problems like this.  Frustrating..........

[firefighter3931]

Hi Randy 

Are your other two carbureted vehicles using the same grade fuel from the same filling station ?

Ethanol is extremely corrosive and my guess is that the fuel you're using is higher than 10% 

There are a few products that will neutralize the corrosive effects....or you can try and locate a gas station that sells ethanol free fuel. Up here in the great white north ; Shell v-power 91 octane is ethanol free. 

The sta-bil marine grade fuel treatment stabilizer works well to neutralize the corrosion.

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/sta-bil



Ron

[ODZKing]

I have read all sorts of different things about ethanol and it's effects. The one thing that seems to be agreed upon is it is the worst when sitting.
In other words if you are going to use up a tank driving to an event, other than the fact that it is crap gas, you won't need an additive.
However if it sits in the garage between drives, that is where the problems start.
There are MANY additives out there (or ethanol free fuel for that matter) than will help. I prefer the additives for a couple reasons. First both my cars like 93. And second many of the additives will help clean as well.
Sat-Bil is great. I use this stuff - Star-Tron. Easy to find, even my hardware store carries it for small engines.
http://www.starbrite.com/en/startron?gclid=CPDRj6Pax8ACFQwpaQodKF4AOQ

[Ranman69SE]

I always keep the tanks full of Shell 92 to reduce condensation, and use Sta-Bil year round.  I'll add a bottle of Chevron Techron Fuel Injector cleaner occasionally, to keep things clean and varnish-free.   This cocktail works well for two lawnmowers, the truck and the Pontiac, but the Charger is not digging it.  Ron, I agree, the problem seems to be ethanol/water that is causing the corrosion.  I would have hoped that the carb bowls would be impervious to anything fuel-related, including a little water.  I hate to think I'm going to have to drain the bowls after each drive      I will search out better fuel and problem-specific additives, and hope for the best (or entertain EFI  )

[BSB67]

Is there a plating of some sort in the bowl that has failed in those specific areas?

[Ranman69SE]

I'm not sure if these carbs are plated or just polished, but the surface has definitely become compromised in the affected areas.  One fix might be to replace these polished bowls with standard dichromate ones.  I've never been a fan of shiny carburetors, but I will say that the Proform works great when its clean!