gargling gas

I have an '87 with a 22r engine. When I'm accelerating, there is a gargling noise, as soon as I let off the gas, the noise goes away. Any ideas?

I think the common term for it is "dieseling". I think I need to re-seat my valves and adjust my timing. Any other ideas are appreciated.

1. The gargline noise you hear may be preignition (pinging, knocking). Try cleaning the carbon out of your combustion chambers with some Seafoam or GM top engine cleaner. With the engine running at normal operating temperature (in an open area away from houses if possible), slowly pour Seafoam or TEC into your carburetor and keep on the throttle to prevent your engine from stalling. Once a good portion of the can has been run through the engine this way, dump the remainder of the can in and allow it to kill your engine. Let the engine sit this way for a while and then drive it out on the expressway, downshifting occasionally to rev the engine and burn out the carbon and cleaner.

Also spray some cleaner into your carburetor (in any breather holes and any ports) and add a can to your gasoline (Techron or Seafoam). You may be running lean, another possibility from a dirty carburetor - and this is how to clean it. Pouring cleaner through the carburetor will not clean out the passages that are partially blocked and making you run lean.

Check your accelerator pump on your carburetor and make sure it is giving you a shot of gas when you open the throttle. With the engine off, you should see a shot of gas being injected into the carberator throats when you twist the throttle. A bad accelerator pump would also cause you to run lean when you mash the throttle.

Timing that is too advanced can cause preignition. Check it and adjust if necessary.

2. "Dieseling" is when the engine runs on very ruffly after the ignition key had been turned off.

Whew, you made me think about carburetors again. A blast from the past... :)

(PS. Forget the valves unless you have bad compression)

Thanks for the tip on this one, too. I'll try it out this weekend if possible. My truck rarely will run on when the key is first turned off, what would be the cause of that?

You're welcome.

I believe it was hot spots like carbon in the combustion chamber that ignited the fuel.

So putting a cleaner in should take care of both problems, then?

Yes, they are related in that both result from carbon build-up. Pre-ignition is from too much carbon increasing the overall compression ratio and probably other effects, and dieseling is from the same carbon igniting the fuel-air mixture created with a carburetor.

ok, i'll clean it this weekend. Thanks again

You're welcome. I hope that's the solution. Can't get much cheaper than that.