carburator cleaning

[joe0508]

I have an onan 4000 watt genset on a motorhome.I would like to attempt to clean the carburator but i have no idea what i am doing.The generator will start but runs rough and surges.If i let it run for several hours it will run mre smoothly and stop surging.I think if i get to things now i can prevent a drive to the sevice station.Can someone tell me how to do this.Remember i have no idea what i am doing.Thanks.

[westend]

If you want it done right, pull the carb and take it to someone that knows what they're doing, like Tucson Jim recommended. There may be something in an orifice or channel that Seafoam doesn't dissolve.

I used to do a lot of small engine work and have a gallon of carb solvent with a basket. The carb metal parts are put in the basket and allowed to soak for an hour. Any plastic parts have to be removed as the solvent will dissolve them. This type of cleaner/solvent is beyond the realm of the hobbiest as it is toxic as all get-out. All parts are rinsed with stoddard solvent after immersion but my hands still smell for the rest of the day.

[path1]

OP..I would not run seafoam in gas tank of rv to clean generator thinking your doing it a favor. If on separate gas line to genny OK.

I used some seafoam last year and still getting some fouled injectors with junk breaking loose and getting caught. The fuel injector shop I go to loves Seafoam. Brings them $$$ Last time I was in he showed me a "basket" of an injector had alum filings in it out of a high powered boat. Boat was over 10 years old. Alum filings came from when manufacture drilled out hole for gas line and were at bottom probably covered in old gas (varnish etc) and seafoam busted it loose and fouled injector. All the more reason for folks to change fuel filters more often.

On carb stuff works great. Busts up old gas stuff. Also cleaned out lawn mower, pressure washer and Coleman lantern, but was told later by member on here that was not a good idea for coleman lantern because of what is underneath gas their cap, makes it swell?

I would not guess on amount to use. I would fill up gas can and know exactly how much seafoam to add to how many gallons I had. Wouldn't guess by using gas gauge.

And I would also make sure air filter and fuel filter was clean. Hoping to get junk out of carb would be last step.

Clean air, clean oil, clean spark and then a clean mixing place for them.

And don't be surprised when you see exhaust think your doing a super job. Google up the recipe for seafoam and you'll see why it smokes.

OK just my 2 cents

[joe0508]

Gjac wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

joe0508 wrote:
Ok i will try the seafoam but where can i get it at.I have also heard of a spray called sea foam deep creep that you can spray through the air cleaner housing into the carburator to clean it.Would this be something worth trying in addition to the seafoam in the gas tank?

sounds like a plan to me. I was going to recommend seafoam but didn't know about deep creep.
bumpy

Deep Creep is Sea foam with a spay nozzle. I use a spray nozzle in a regular can of Sea foam it is cheaper. You can also and it to your crankcase oil before you change it. You will be amazed at the carbon deposits that are removed when you drain the old oil.

How do you do this?The cans that i have bought doesnt have a nozzle.

[noteven]

Funny the engine surges for an hour then smooths out:h

The process for me with contaminated carbs is if the small carbureted engine will even start it never does run right

gentle soda blast using one of those Harbor freight solvent gun dealies, followed by a good boil in hot water, followed by a nattering-at from the cook for using the wrong pan....

not for don't know what I am doing level though...

[Gjac]

Bumpyroad wrote:

joe0508 wrote:
Ok i will try the seafoam but where can i get it at.I have also heard of a spray called sea foam deep creep that you can spray through the air cleaner housing into the carburator to clean it.Would this be something worth trying in addition to the seafoam in the gas tank?

sounds like a plan to me. I was going to recommend seafoam but didn't know about deep creep.
bumpy

Deep Creep is Sea foam with a spay nozzle. I use a spray nozzle in a regular can of Sea foam it is cheaper. You can also and it to your crankcase oil before you change it. You will be amazed at the carbon deposits that are removed when you drain the old oil.

[midnightsadie]

sea foam at your wal mart store or auto parts store . it does clean up gunk in carbs if its not real bad . sea foam will disolve goo in the jets .it is not a one minute fix .takes some runing to clean it up.

[wa8yxm]

I AGREE with the pro (First responder) If you believe the carb needs cleaning have a pro do it.. You may be able to remove and replace the carb but let a pro do the cleaning.

I've done many, from single barrel to quads on cars and it can be fun getting them back together properly.. Had a dual throat carb on a car once that, as it turns out, was defective at the casting level (no wonder it never worked right) finally replaced it and saw a serious MPG improvement.

[deereone]

I think one of the first things to do if you going to use some magic in a can (Sea Foam). Is remove the fuel line on the generator. You may have to add a length of fuel line to reach into a gallon can. Mix your magic in a can with a gallon of fuel whatever there recommend ratio is. And draw from the can, really no use treating 25 gallons or more of fuel in the motor home tank. Myself being a old timer I still treat carbs the old way and that's mix 6 parts of gasoline to 1 part of ATF. For the generator mix one gallon. Start the generator let it warm up and run it under full load till you use a 1/2 gallon of fuel. Then shut it off and let it sit overnight. Start the next day and again run under full load till all fuel is gone. Repeat once or twice if you need to. If that doesn't help, you need to rebuild the carb.

[gbopp]

Seafoam

I've used on my snow blower and lawn mower. It works great.

[Kpackpackkelley]

What's your gens full model number so we know which carb you have ?
If its got the drain screw you need to start there maybe a little trash and water in the bottom of the bowl.
If it runs smooth after it warms up could be the choke needs setting . There's a lot of things it could be.

[Bumpyroad]

joe0508 wrote:
Ok i will try the seafoam but where can i get it at.I have also heard of a spray called sea foam deep creep that you can spray through the air cleaner housing into the carburator to clean it.Would this be something worth trying in addition to the seafoam in the gas tank?

sounds like a plan to me. I was going to recommend seafoam but didn't know about deep creep.
bumpy

[joe0508]

Ok i will try the seafoam but where can i get it at.I have also heard of a spray called sea foam deep creep that you can spray through the air cleaner housing into the carburator to clean it.Would this be something worth trying in addition to the seafoam in the gas tank?

[TucsonJim]

Yaj wrote:
Use some SeaFoam in your gas tank!
The stuff really does work. You can use a double dose and not hurt anything, just pour it in, run the generator long enough to get it worked through the system and then let it sit in the carb for a day or 2.
I have been amazed with the results I have had using it!
Good Luck!

Actually, in my previous post, I recommended against additives, but it will not hurt anything to try this first before you go to the expense of a rebuilding the carb. I've never used Seafoam, but if it works great.

[Yaj]

Use some SeaFoam in your gas tank!
The stuff really does work. You can use a double dose and not hurt anything, just pour it in, run the generator long enough to get it worked through the system and then let it sit in the carb for a day or 2.
I have been amazed with the results I have had using it!
Good Luck!