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Hello All:
1967 Volvo 122S Wagon. Other than my lawnmower I have never used a choke before I owned "Virginia" so I wanted to run my method by you guys to see if you had suggestions or even warnings.
I pull the choke out all of the way to start the car. As soon as the engine catches (right away in warm weather, a few cranks in the cold) I immediately move the choke to a position where the engine is comfortably idling before stalling. This is generally achieved by pushing in the choke 1/3 to 1/2 of the way in, thereby leaving it 2/3 to 1/2 open. As the engine slowly increases its revs on its own I gently bump the choke down, again just so it is comfortably idling before stalling. During this process I occasionally give the throttle a gentle nudge, more for my listening pleasure than for Virginia.
Once the choke is in all of the way (about five minutes later) I wait for the water temperature gauge to rise to its normal operating temperature. This whole process takes between six and seven minutes. That is a long time in our modern world but I really do not mind doing it in the interest of preservation of my vehicle. When I have tried to short-change the process in the past the engine misfires on acceleration and generally bogs down. The previous owner told me he keeps a hand on the choke until the engine comes up to temperature and uses it to goose through intersections, etc. I have always preferred to give it time instead.
Any thoughts on all of this?
Cheers,
Jeff Pucillo
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well living here in wisconsin (as opposed to california) i let mine warm atleast 10 minutes! but i do exactly as you (something i read in "how to keep your volkswagen alive for the complete idiot"); i'd say keep up your technique and your swede should last forever!
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Jeff;
With many Brickboarders checking in on this thread, you see quite a few variations on technique (mostly due to driver preference, local conditions, and specific adjustment) but I haven't seen any posting that could be considered bad or wrong.
If you find that you have trouble starting because you dont get enough jet lowering for your coldest start conditions, or you bog out because you dont have enough FI, just tiddle them a bit...your the computer in charge!
Happy Winter Volvoing!
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Mine starts nicely with 3 to 5 seconds (tops) of cranking down to about 25 F. Mine is real easy starting and rarely backfires when cold. I know it is not set too rich because it gets very good gas mileage. I run it maybe 20 or 30 seconds in place till it runs smoothly and drive 15 or 20 mph for about 3/8 mile to the highway, by then I got warm air in the defroster vents and away I go right on up to highway speed.
Life is rough living n Northern California!
mike
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MANUAL CHOKE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (Twin SU )
1. Pull choke out
2. Start car
3. Push choke in enough to fast idle but no choke
4. Drive now (waiting to "warm up" is very bad for motor and environment)
5. Push choke all the way in when temp is normal
6. Don't use the heater until the temp is at normal
The choke cable does 2 things A) it lowers the jets to richen the mixture for starting and; b) It operates the fast idle cams. When you pull the choke all the way out the jets are lowered and the fast idle cams open the throttles past the normal idle screw. Pushing the choke about half way in should completely raise the jets to the "no choke" position but still leave some fast idle on. Take 5 mins. to check out how far you have to push the choke in to completely raise the jets. If your SU's are in good shape and engine tune you should only need the choke for starting unless it's really cold. (not something we suffer from down under). No goosing should be required.
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http://www.brickboard.com/GALLERY/images/4366.jpg
--
Joaquin / Rojo 121 / Lima, Peru
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Hi. On my warmth Lima, I start the engine with the choke full out, and, after it, I reduce to a third (summer, 25-30 C=Celsius degrees ) or half choke (winter 14-16 C)). Soon, I wait near to one minute (waiting to the thermometer needle start to move - near 80 C on engine - my thermometer is not the green original). After it, I start to drive. I put the choke all the way after the engine temperature goes near 90 C (the engine thermostat open full at 92C), usually, it happens just on the last semaphore stop before the highway (driving the car gently - less of 50 kph - 30 mph - one minute delay).
btw, before the B18 overhauling, was impossible to drive with choke out, total or partially (engine dies).
Happy volving!
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I like the observation from Yogui of the point you get to when the needle is moving up. Mine is the pond by my local pub, and the needle going up is accompanied by views of ducks and thoughts of beer, all positive (unless you hate ducks).
I drive immediately, as per Phil. And my choke is used only to start the car; if it's on at all, even in the first few minutes, it makes the engine bog. The idle is not adjusted properly to make the choke raise the revs to stop the bogging, but thanks to the Board I have a good idea how to adjust it, when I get the time and the daylight.
Tom
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I drive mine as soon as I am sure I have full oil circulation and see no harm
in it. I pull the choke out as far as it takes to make it run and not bog
down, and push it in as soon as I can. The farther you are into the rich
side of the mixture, the sooner and colder you can do without the choke.
Conversely if it is marginally too lean it will fluff and backfire and jar
your teeth until it is FULLY to operating temp and maybe after that. Gas is
cheap enough that I won't put up with that.
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!
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posted by
someone claiming to be shayne
on
Wed Jan 26 09:42 CST 2005 [ RELATED]
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"I pull the choke out all of the way to start the car. As soon as the engine catches (right away in warm weather, a few cranks in the cold) I immediately move the choke to a position where the engine is comfortably idling before stalling. This is generally achieved by pushing in the choke 1/3 to 1/2 of the way in, thereby leaving it 2/3 to 1/2 open. As the engine slowly increases its revs on its own I gently bump the choke down, again just so it is comfortably idling before stalling. During this process I occasionally give the throttle a gentle nudge, more for my listening pleasure than for Virginia."
That's how I've done it the last 14 years or so:o)
So you don't even move/drive the car til it's fully warmed?
I can drive mine almost immediately with the choke slightly out 'til warm.
Beast,
Shayne.
smoochknobdotcom
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Hello Shayne:
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. I sit in the car during warmup and slip it into gear only after the whole process is complete. Is it advisable or at least tolerable to drive it before that? Most of my mechanical experience comes from Formula Ford race cars and we would never move the beast until everything was on the up-and-up.
Cheers,
Jeff Pucillo
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What's best for the engine is to warm up as quickly as possible... and the way to do that is to drive it as soon as possible after starting it. Idling is the condition where you have the worst lubrication, and cold oil is also detrimental. Get it all up to temp ASAP.
As soon as it will run decently with the choke on, go. Just don't go for the redline until it's fully warmed up.
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posted by
someone claiming to be mjamgb
on
Wed Jan 26 18:28 CST 2005 [ RELATED]
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I'm with Phil on this. I tend to tune the SUs to the rich side of stoich so the car tends to run OK once all the bits are circulating (I let it fast idle for a couple of minutes). I do not drive with the choke on at all.
Mike!
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posted by
someone claiming to be shayne
on
Wed Jan 26 10:14 CST 2005 [ RELATED]
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Just keep it "under a hunnert" and it should be fine. Every motor varies as to its ability to STAY running before fully warm.
Shayne.
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How cold are we talking, we mean 40 below zero in Regina, Canada. My 62 Amazon rarely sees the low temps, but once a year usually in cold conditions and new snow I take her for a spin. I run lean carbs so it is full choke on start, back to half on running and one hand on the choke with the right foot on the gas pedal upon acceleration. In with the choke lever until up to temperature out back with partial choke as you start moving again. If you want to take off fast you must respond with the choke.
Live a little enjoy the drive, you are driving a real car; don't need to rush!
Looking for spring weather,
Robin
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