Carb.....is black
 

The stock flame arrestor was black and the carb had some residue on it too, so I cleaned the heck out of them both with carb cleaner. Now after about 10hrs or so of use its black again. You can tell its coming from the valve cover vent tubes. Can I just put breather filters like a car has on the valve covers to solve my problem???

its idling and running good

thanks guys for any suggestions

PJ

You can swap but you will just make the valve covers black. How black is it? They will get a little black. With the motor running take a look at how much blow by you have going through the hose.

Jon

The first time I cleaned it I ran it with the tubes off to see and it was a little smokey but nothing severe any suggestions?? Its about 25% black

wouldnt these help and just do away with the tubes to the arrestor

The problem is with those things they get clogged, quicker. And if you have a blowby problem, you're liable to mess something else up...worse.
It's not the easiest/prettiest thing, but I'd suggest a catch can setup. In the racecars, some guys will just tee each side into a 1 quart oil bottle to get by. If you want to do it top notch, run hoses to a drive-lube type bottle, then run a hose back to the carb. Having a catch can also allows you to actually monitor how much oil you're "burning".
Either way make sure it's vented.

thanks handfulz,

what is causing the oil to burn the oil level looks good and its clean?

what about something like this

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...60016_-1_10475

Looks like a good piece there from Jegs.
I put the "burning" in quotes because all that "residue" should be oil, not necessarily because you're burning a noticable amount each time you run. All engines are different though, and I've seen a measurable quantity of oil build in a catch can after 1 hour of hard running.

Usually the build up is just the oil vapors collecting on the flame arrestor. If you had a real problem the build up will happen quickly and be real wet and drippy.
Wonder if you could install and old fashion PCV valve and use the engine vacuum to pull it out?

Don't know Iggy....anyone??

I added two simular catch cans to my supercharged engines. I have some blowby that was pushing oil to the carbs. Those from Jegs were kind of expensive. I purchased AllStar Performance catches from Bier Brothers Performance in O'Fallon, MO. They were around $40 plus shipping. I used press fittings from summit for plumbing.

http://www.bierbros.net/index.html

I have the last tank pictured on the following page.

http://www.allstar-performance.com/catagory.htm?cat=2

thanks prater

does it need to be vented like the ones with the filter on top or just a tank?? thanks

It needs to be vented. I am actually thinking of removing the filters off the top and connecting them to a blower with some ducting. That way the fumes from the engine are expelled straight out of the engine compartment.

hmm I dont like fumes, I guess I could run a tube to the blower hose and just attatch it to the blower hose somehow???? so when the blower is on it sucks out the fumes???

That's why I mention running the hose from the catch tank back to the carb. The majority of residue should be caught in the tank, and there'll be just enough vacuum near the carb to provide a suction.
The only negatives I see tying into a blower are that you need to run the blower when you're running the engine (if you want any vacuum), and if residue happens to make it through the can, it coats the blower. My guess is a flame arrestor removes/cleans/replaces easier than a blower.
You could also add a through-hull type fitting (bilge outlet, fuel vent) somewhere near the air intake/exhaust vents, protected from any water, and vent to the atmosphere. I noticed on my 311, even though the blowers are on the starboard side, they cut holes in the same area on the port side. FWIW.

It is just a thought on using a bilge blower to evac the slight smell of engine oil. I was thinking along the lines of an ebay special for $20.

would this also work, mybe better/worse than a catch can?
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...63433_-1_10449

I hvee installed PCV valves in all my boats. Ususlly in the rear behind the carb through the intake into the engine lifter valley and a breather in the front of each valve cover.