Need your collective help!
Just completed a trip from Santa Fe, NM to Monterrey, CA and back in eight
days. Coach ran well going out, but filled up with mid-range gas in
Salinas, CA for two bucks a gallon. When I go down to sea level the engine
runs better on higher octane gas. That afternoon the engine started
stalling, especially in intersections and busy areas. It would always
restart, so I pulled the fuel filter, it was clean. I set up the idle
adjustment and took off the next day. Went to Carmel and had some minor
problems with stalling, but it seemed to be running better. Carmel is not a
great place to drive around in a GMC. The parking lots to the right take
RV's, not the one to the left.
After I used that tank of gas which I figured was bad, I bit the bullet and
filled up with $2.20 high octane. Ran better, stayed in Modesto with
in-laws for three days, put in new plugs, and headed home. Drove for three
hours, filled up with mid-range gas in Bakersfield and my wife took over at
the wheel. Got about thirty miles east of Bakersfield and she said, "This
thing won't go." I took over and limped along at thirty five on a slow
uphill grade. Finally crested the hill and got back up to 65-70. Same
story all the way to Barstow. Into Auto Zone and bought a can of gas
treatment and carb cleaner. Ate lunch and took off. Now she was running
strong. Drove to Kingman by keeping the pedal to the floor until I got up
to 65. If I rode it gently, it would just crap out. Then I would floor it,
it would hesitate and then it felt like the secondaries were kicking in and
off it would go. No more stalling. Next morning I cleaned the carb again.
It was better, but still hesitated on acceleration. Two hour snow storm
east of Flagstaff. By the time we got to Albuquerque it was running strong
again. Hardly step on the gas and it would hold 65 like always. I figured
my woes were over, but on the road to Santa Fe, there is a big grade of
about 700 feet in two miles. Usually I can handle that at 45. I was down
to thirty with my foot through the floorboard.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Walter
78 Royale 455, HEI
Just completed a trip from Santa Fe, NM to Monterrey, CA and back in eight
days. Coach ran well going out, but filled up with mid-range gas in
Salinas, CA for two bucks a gallon. When I go down to sea level the engine
runs better on higher octane gas. That afternoon the engine started
stalling, especially in intersections and busy areas. It would always
restart, so I pulled the fuel filter, it was clean. I set up the idle
adjustment and took off the next day. Went to Carmel and had some minor
problems with stalling, but it seemed to be running better. Carmel is not a
great place to drive around in a GMC. The parking lots to the right take
RV's, not the one to the left.
After I used that tank of gas which I figured was bad, I bit the bullet and
filled up with $2.20 high octane. Ran better, stayed in Modesto with
in-laws for three days, put in new plugs, and headed home. Drove for three
hours, filled up with mid-range gas in Bakersfield and my wife took over at
the wheel. Got about thirty miles east of Bakersfield and she said, "This
thing won't go." I took over and limped along at thirty five on a slow
uphill grade. Finally crested the hill and got back up to 65-70. Same
story all the way to Barstow. Into Auto Zone and bought a can of gas
treatment and carb cleaner. Ate lunch and took off. Now she was running
strong. Drove to Kingman by keeping the pedal to the floor until I got up
to 65. If I rode it gently, it would just crap out. Then I would floor it,
it would hesitate and then it felt like the secondaries were kicking in and
off it would go. No more stalling. Next morning I cleaned the carb again.
It was better, but still hesitated on acceleration. Two hour snow storm
east of Flagstaff. By the time we got to Albuquerque it was running strong
again. Hardly step on the gas and it would hold 65 like always. I figured
my woes were over, but on the road to Santa Fe, there is a big grade of
about 700 feet in two miles. Usually I can handle that at 45. I was down
to thirty with my foot through the floorboard.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Walter
78 Royale 455, HEI
