How to clean a carburetor?

The carburetor is one of the most important parts of a car or motorcycle. Its job is to prepare an optimal air-fuel mixture, allowing the engine to achieve greater energy efficiency. To prevent engine damage, you need to take good care of your carburetor by cleaning it from time to time. A clogged carburetor can cause idle problems, rough acceleration, or loss of power. In this case, you can clean your vehicle's carburetor before adjusting it.

Why clean the carburetor?

There are several reasons why it's important to clean the carburetor on your motorcycle or car:

Dirty carburetors can cause problems such as loss of power and/or torque.

Carburetor cleaning prolongs the life of the carburetor and ensures a high performance car or motorcycle engine.

How do I clean a carburetor?

Carburetor cleaning requires a great deal of organization and preparation to ensure that fuel, carburetor cleaner, and runoff do not pollute the environment. To get the job done, you'll need to follow a few simple steps. It's important to clean and disassemble the engine when it's cold and stopped.

Remove the carburetor from the engine

Open the hood and locate the carburetor. Note that the configuration may vary depending on your vehicle model. You'll need to separate the carburetor from the rest of the engine by disconnecting the hoses held in place by hose clamps. Taking a photo or video of the engine will help you reconnect the hoses. To begin cleaning the carburetor, remove the air filter and disconnect the choke and throttle cables. Next, remove the vacuum hose and fuel inlet. Don't forget to bring a container to catch any spilled fuel. Once you've done that, you'll need to remove the mounting screws holding the carburetor in place before you can pull it out.

Removing the Carburetor

To clean the external parts of the carburetor, we recommend the use of special cleaning agents sprayed on the carburetor. Leave the cleaner to work for a few minutes or soak the carburetor in gasoline for 24 hours. Next, unscrew the carburetor from the inside of the bowl. Remove every possible component (nozzle, filter, gasket, float, etc.). Check the condition of these components and replace them if necessary. Don't forget to check the condition of the fuel tank gasket, which may need to be replaced.

Cleaning a carburetor

Each part must be thoroughly cleaned with a cleaning product or soaked in gasoline. Scrub every nook and cranny of the carburetor with a small brush, such as a toothbrush. Look at the bottom of the bowl to check for rust. If rust is present, remove it by scrubbing with steel wool and white vinegar.  You should also pay attention to the jets as they can cause idle problems with the engine. When cleaning, be careful not to damage carburetor components with inappropriate tools. Use compressed air in all connections to remove dirt.

Reassembling the carburetor

When you've finished cleaning the carburetor, wait until all parts are completely dry. You can use an air compressor to save time. When all parts are dry, just reassemble everything identically. It's not necessary to force the screws, as this can damage the parts. Note the tightening torque of the screws that hold the upper and lower bodies together. Caution: At this stage you may need to adjust the carburetor, especially the throttle opening. Place the carburetor in the engine, screw it onto its support, then make the various connections (fuel inlet filter, position in the engine, connection to the hoses) and carry out a test.

Do not forget to adjust the idle speed!

When you've finished cleaning the carburetor, take your car for a drive to warm up the engine. When you return, adjust the carburetor by tightening/loosening the richness screw and the idle screw until you reach the correct engine speed.

How do I clean a carburetor with vinegar?

To clean a carburetor with vinegar, follow the steps below:

• Clean the carburetor with gasoline.
• Disassemble the carburetor to separate the parts.
• Immerse aluminum parts in a pan of vinegar and brass parts in a container of white vinegar.
• Boil a pan of water in addition to the vinegar pan.
• When the vinegar boils, remove the parts from the pan and place them in the pot of boiling water.
• Turn off the heat and allow the vinegar to cool.
• When the water is cold, clean the parts with dish soap and a small brush.
• For brass parts, use steel wool to restore shine.

Note: Each carburetor is different, so different tools will be required for some models. Cleaning carburetor manifolds may also require a compressor or ultrasonic tank.