Hello!
About a month ago I bought a 1985 Lincoln Town car signature series (VIN # 1LNBP96F5FY657290) with about 106,000 miles on it. It's an automatic and has a carburetor engine. I wanna know the best way to cold start and warm start it since I'm younger and my knowledge with carburetors isn't high. Thank you so much and have a great rest of the day!
Pump the gas pedal a couple of times which sets the choke and squirts a little gas into the carb venturies. Then turn the key to start the engine.
Hi Chuck,
Thank you for reaching out. I'm a little confused though as to why I would need to squirt gas into the venturies? Is this always required? Thank you!
Actually, I understand what you're saying now! I misread your comment. My apologies!
Thank you for reaching out. I'm a little confused though as to why I would need to squirt gas into the venturies? Is this always required?
After it's warmed up, if you shut it off and immediately turn it back on, it will flood out if you pump the pedal again. After you shut it off, it will start right back up without touching the gas if the engine is still hot. You will need to put the gas pedal at wide open throttle to clear it out, if you accidentally hit the gas after it's hot. It's a learning curve. Three years ago I couldn't start my '79 Catalina. I asked why it wouldn't start in this forum and I didn't pump the gas.
Hi Justin, I really appreciate the thorough response to my post. It is defiantly a learning curve for me. I appreciate you telling me what to do if I flood the engine.
No problem! I have my Catalina down to a science, now. It takes 5 or 6 pumps of the gas to start it up cold.
Well that's good! My mom can start my Lincoln up with her foot on the gas and key in the ignition simultaneously and time right to where it starts up so smooth. Me on the other hand I can't always and I cause it to rev up high.
I tried to research online if my 1985 Lincoln Town car is a throttle body and it's a bit confusing because I keep see different things.
I'm not familiar with that model but according to the rockauto.com database it was available with either, they list parts both for carburetor and throttle body injection. The fuel injection may have been optional.
You should be able to tell what you have with the air cleaner removed. If not sure what each fuel system looks like probably the quickest tell is a carb will have a choke plate on top to enrich the mixture when cold, a throttle body won't.
This is what a typical 1985 Ford carb for 5.0 V8 looks like from the top. The choke plate is highlighted.
Thank you Chuck! I'll have to take a look tomorrow morning if I get the chance and see for myself. I am only asking to ensure I'm starting the car up correctly because I really care about the car.
It is indeed a throttle body! Thank you again for all of your helo. It is truly appreciated.
You should be able to tell what you have with the air cleaner removed.
Yup.
Carb:
CFI:
These picture's will be a great guide for me when I go and look. You and everyone else are teaching me a whole lot.
why I would need to squirt gas into the venturies?
just to help it start quicker.
Same as squeezing the primer bulb on a small outboard, or weed trimmer or whatever
Thank you MountainManJoe! That makes sense!
I would have my foot off the gas pedal after pumping it and then turn the ignition correct? Thank you!
I would have my foot off the gas pedal after pumping it and then turn the ignition correct? Thank you!
That is correct. And if you want to understand engines better, then stop calling it a "gas pedal". If you pop off the air filter and have a helper press the accelerator, you will see the throttle valve flap open and closed. It controls the flow of air into the engine, and has nothing to do with gas (unlike a diesel). The carburettor has total control over fuel delivery.
When an engine is cold, you want to restrict the airflow a bit. This is called "choking". Choking makes the combustion mixture more fuel rich than normal. This is needed, because a cold engine cannot vaporize that fuel as well as a hot engine, so it needs a little more.
Holding the pedal would open the throttle which is the opposite of what you want. However, if the engine floods then it's a good way to clear it out.
I appreciate you answering my question and also for teaching me more about the carburetor engines.
I also appreciate you going into detail about what to do when the engine cold and what to do if I flood the engine. Thank you again MountainManJoe.
you're welcome. Somebody has to. Those carbed engines can be frustrating without a bit of guidance. We are really spoiled these days with cars that you just turn the key (or push the button) and go.
Well your guidance and as well as everyone else's is highly appreciated. I will keep this form handy as a guide. I agree with us being spoiled with cars and even other things.
Sorry to ask, but if the car is a throttle body is it the same process to start it up? Thank you&
Sorry to ask, but if the car is a throttle body is it the same process to start it up?
No, if it has throttle body fuel injection there's no choke and no accelerator pump involved so pumping the gas would have no purpose. Just treat it like any modern fuel-injected car, assuming the nearly 4-decade old setup is still working properly.
Thank you for responding. I tried to research online if my 1985 Lincoln Town car is a throttle body and it's a bit confusing because I keep see different things.
Sorry to ask, but if the car is a throttle body is it the same process to start it up? Thank you&
Please, ask away.
Well all engines have a throttle body. That's the intake section where the throttle lives. So what I think you're referring to, is Throttle Body Fuel Injection (TBI for short) . Fuel injection represents a revolution in combustion engine design. You no longer have fuel fed by gravity to a carburettor, where it is atomized by the venturi effect. I'm pretty sure fuel injection came to aircraft first, because when war pilots flew inverted the engines would starve. So instead, you now have a high pressure pump that forces the fuel through a tiny nozzle opening to spray it into a fine mist. Electronics control how long the nozzle opens for. The result is a much more consistent, precise, reliable, and efficient method of delivering fuel to the engine. The vehicle has sensors to detect temperatures, pressure, air quantities, etc. which removes the need for the operator to compensate for those things using throttle and choke control. Later on port injection improved on the process even further by allowing the computer to control the fuel to each cylinder individually.
There is no process for the driver. You should be able to just turn the key to start the engine.
No more regular cleaning and tuning of carburettors. Fuel injection was a significant improvement.
I really do appreciate the patience and taking the time to answer all of my questions.
You gave a very good insightful definition and explanation.
Now the part I'm trying to figure out if my car is at throttle body or carbureted. I know it's a 302 Windsor V8.
it's a bit confusing because I keep see different things.
Wikipedia is a decent source for car model specifications.
I tried to research online if my 1985 Lincoln Town car ...
That was a the first generation of LTC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Town_Car#First_generation_(1981%E2%80%931989)
Scroll down to the engine table, and you can see that there was only one engine option in 1985 ... a 5.0L V8 .
In 1985 they all had CFI
CFI and TBI are the same thing. CFI is Ford's name. TBI is what GM called it. They're both technically "single-point manifold injection"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifold_injection#Single-point_injection
"In Canada, the 302 V8 remained carbureted until 1985."
Strange. You'd think they would appreciate fuel injection in the cold North.
After taking a second look I see what you're saying! That is strange though for Canada to keep it until 1985. I appreciate you checking for me and pointing that out.