• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Holley Carb 2300 2BBL Fuel Bowl slowly draining internally!?

wondering if the Carb needs to be hooked up to "pressure"
DO NOT PRESSURIZE FUEL! USE MINERAL SPIRITS!
If you have the ways and means to apply pressure, try it........... 5-7 psi max.
 
Last edited:
Hmmm unfortunately I don't, but I wonder if there's a relatively inexpensive way of doing so
I edited my previous post. Use MINERAL SPIRITS, not fuel!
You don't want gas spraying all over in a mishap!
 
UPDATE!
So, I couldn't figure out why the original Carb (as per the start of this thread) kept leaking past the PV and also I couldn't stop the needle/seat lock down gaskets from getting wet... After many attempts, I decided to leave that Carb alone, and have given it to specialist Carb builder shop to assess... TBC on that one!
However, meanwhile I went ahead and purchased a new one from my local supplier here in Oz to keep me going. Have been dialing in last few days and she runs well. Last night when I parked it up I took a pic of the float level, then a comparative pic this morning showing the difference... Please see pics attached, ...I am just wanting to ascertain if this slight drop overnight is normal/acceptable? (Perhaps, due to normal evaporation etc?)... I am super paranoid at this point in time (I have approx 20k AUD invested in my engine build and keep thinking I'm smelling gas in every oil change!). ; I am tempted to remove the Carb later today to check if my intake is wet? Should my intake be bone dry when I remove the Carb? The next thing I could check is if fuel is entering the crankcase via the new fuel pump(highly unlikely, but hey
Thanks everyone!
 
Pics of float level I forgot to attach to previous post! As you can see , not a lot of difference but still some fuel has dropped/ evaporated?

PXL_20240406_040635248.jpg


PXL_20240406_223107255.jpg
 
Pics of float level I forgot to attach to previous post! As you can see , not a lot of difference but still some fuel has dropped/ evaporated?

View attachment 1642182
UPDATE!
So, I couldn't figure out why the original Carb (as per the start of this thread) kept leaking past the PV and also I couldn't stop the needle/seat lock down gaskets from getting wet... After many attempts, I decided to leave that Carb alone, and have given it to specialist Carb builder shop to assess... TBC on that one!
However, meanwhile I went ahead and purchased a new one from my local supplier here in Oz to keep me going. Have been dialing in last few days and she runs well. Last night when I parked it up I took a pic of the float level, then a comparative pic this morning showing the difference... Please see pics attached, ...I am just wanting to ascertain if this slight drop overnight is normal/acceptable? (Perhaps, due to normal evaporation etc?)... I am super paranoid at this point in time (I have approx 20k AUD invested in my engine build and keep thinking I'm smelling gas in every oil change!). ; I am tempted to remove the Carb later today to check if my intake is wet? Should my intake be bone dry when I remove the Carb? The next thing I could check is if fuel is entering the crankcase via the new fuel pump(highly unlikely, but hey
Thanks everyone!

UPDATE!
So, I couldn't figure out why the original Carb (as per the start of this thread) kept leaking past the PV and also I couldn't stop the needle/seat lock down gaskets from getting wet... After many attempts, I decided to leave that Carb alone, and have given it to specialist Carb builder shop to assess... TBC on that one!
However, meanwhile I went ahead and purchased a new one from my local supplier here in Oz to keep me going. Have been dialing in last few days and she runs well. Last night when I parked it up I took a pic of the float level, then a comparative pic this morning showing the difference... Please see pics attached, ...I am just wanting to ascertain if this slight drop overnight is normal/acceptable? (Perhaps, due to normal evaporation etc?)... I am super paranoid at this point in time (I have approx 20k AUD invested in my engine build and keep thinking I'm smelling gas in every oil change!). ; I am tempted to remove the Carb later today to check if my intake is wet? Should my intake be bone dry when I remove the Carb? The next thing I could check is if fuel is entering the crankcase via the new fuel pump(highly unlikely, but hey
Thanks everyone!

Hey!

Did you ever find out what was wrong with your original carb?

I got issues just like you had, i have set my idle slots, rebuilt the carb, changed powervalve 3 times, changed accelerator pump 3 times and still the floatbowl is almost empty after sittning for 10 days . I got the new style meteringblock that should not warp. Dont know what too look.
Its a standard 440 with a sixpack, mechanical fuelpump, i dont know vacuum, but does it matter when my problem is with car Parked?
 
Hey!

Did you ever find out what was wrong with your original carb?

I got issues just like you had, i have set my idle slots, rebuilt the carb, changed powervalve 3 times, changed accelerator pump 3 times and still the floatbowl is almost empty after sittning for 10 days . I got the new style meteringblock that should not warp. Dont know what too look.
Its a standard 440 with a sixpack, mechanical fuelpump, i dont know vacuum, but does it matter when my problem is with car Parked?
I have given the Carb to a specialist to test because I could not work it out... I had zero external leaks, and PV gasket was wet, and my intake was wet , so it would seem for some reason, I was unable to seal the PV after I had originally disturbed it, hopefully the carb specialist can shed a little more light!
For your situation, having 3x2? Carbs might be a little more challenging to find the source of your leak?... Maybe remove the carbs to see if the intake is wet etc... a process of elimination to the best of your ability, i.e. remove Carbs and fill them in the bench and see if/where any gas leaks?!... On the bench I still found it difficult to determine where so much fuel might be going as it didn't empty as much as when "pressuried" on the car/intake itself with the system hooked up and engine turned over to "pressurize" the Carb/bowl... I placed rags in the intake when I did this to ensure I didn't contaminate my oil for the 3rd time!
 
I have given the Carb to a specialist to test because I could not work it out... I had zero external leaks, and PV gasket was wet, and my intake was wet , so it would seem for some reason, I was unable to seal the PV after I had originally disturbed it, hopefully the carb specialist can shed a little more light!
For your situation, having 3x2? Carbs might be a little more challenging to find the source of your leak?... Maybe remove the carbs to see if the intake is wet etc... a process of elimination to the best of your ability, i.e. remove Carbs and fill them in the bench and see if/where any gas leaks?!... On the bench I still found it difficult to determine where so much fuel might be going as it didn't empty as much as when "pressuried" on the car/intake itself with the system hooked up and engine turned over to "pressurize" the Carb/bowl... I placed rags in the intake when I did this to ensure I didn't contaminate my oil for the 3rd time!
Thank you!
I Will take it to the bench and fill it, if theres no succes i am bying a new one, spring is here, car has to be runnin.
Had this problem for to long now
 
Thank you!
I Will take it to the bench and fill it, if theres no succes i am bying a new one, spring is here, car has to be runnin.
Had this problem for to long now
Yes I totally understand! Hopefully I can report back ASAP about my original faulty one.
On another note, Summit kindly refunded me for that carb which I was impressed with, especially being that I'm in Australia, and purchased it 6 months ago!
 
Update... So I've had the carb sitting on the bench all afternoon with fuel in the bowl as per the pic below, and it's not leaked a milliliter... I disassembled the Metering block/ Power Valve assembly and reassembled, carefully inspecting everything best I could... wondering if the Carb needs to be hooked up to "pressure" , and/or have gone through engine running cycles to test properly also, do I need the needle and seat properly fitted to test it etc? Am I missing something here!?!?

View attachment 1638333
Only thing I'd picky of is the fuel level, IF thats what my aging eyes see? It should just only spill out when car is nudged hard from R fender. I'm not "Thee Expert", just an observation.. Never seen a Snap Ring inside the sight plug hole. Ya know it didnt occur until daya later to me, BUT do you have BRASS floats or the plastic type? If theyre BRASS they can leak allowing gas inside em. And NOT rise to shut gas off. You should be good.
 
Only thing I'd picky of is the fuel level, IF thats what my aging eyes see? It should just only spill out when car is nudged hard from R fender. I'm not "Thee Expert", just an observation.. Never seen a Snap Ring inside the sight plug hole. Ya know it didnt occur until daya later to me, BUT do you have BRASS floats or the plastic type? If theyre BRASS they can leak allowing gas inside em. And NOT rise to shut gas off. You should be good.
Sorry this is all irrelevant as I have sight GLASS not plug, thanks...
 
Thank you!
I Will take it to the bench and fill it, if theres no succes i am bying a new one, spring is here, car has to be runnin.
Had this problem for to long now
Hey Ladd... How did you go with your carb issue?
UPDATE on mine... After fitiing a brand new one, from local supplier here in Oz, I have found a similar issue... I haven't started my car for about 10 days now, and mysteriously, my bowl has completely drained... My oil seems to smell of fuel/gas, so I am having a lab test analysis done to confirm, before I do anything else... This is really frustrating, and IF I had an LA/B Block engine, I'd go out and buy a 4bbl/ Edelbrock/ Qj tomorrow!... However, to find a 4bbl dual plane intake for a Poly engine is near impossible these days!
 
Hey Ladd... How did you go with your carb issue?
UPDATE on mine... After fitiing a brand new one, from local supplier here in Oz, I have found a similar issue... I haven't started my car for about 10 days now, and mysteriously, my bowl has completely drained... My oil seems to smell of fuel/gas, so I am having a lab test analysis done to confirm, before I do anything else... This is really frustrating, and IF I had an LA/B Block engine, I'd go out and buy a 4bbl/ Edelbrock/ Qj tomorrow!... However, to find a 4bbl dual plane intake for a Poly engine is near impossible these days!
Thanks for the update! Well, sorry to hear your problem isnt gone. What could possibly Drain a new carb like that?!

How Much pressure is in the carburator after shuting off the engine? I am planing too install a fuelpressure gauge to see if it Will give me some hints.


I took my 2 bbl of and yes, the intake was wet as usual.
I put the carb on the bench and cleaned it with brakecleaner, then filled it with gas. There where no visible leaks.
I blew the airbleeds and changed powervalve gasket for the fourth time.

i put the carb back on intake, cranked to get correct fuel level and now i am watching the fuel level for a few days, even tho i havent really changed anyting, one thing i did different was to lube the powervalve gasket
 
Thanks for the update! Well, sorry to hear your problem isnt gone. What could possibly Drain a new carb like that?!

How Much pressure is in the carburator after shuting off the engine? I am planing too install a fuelpressure gauge to see if it Will give me some hints.


I took my 2 bbl of and yes, the intake was wet as usual.
I put the carb on the bench and cleaned it with brakecleaner, then filled it with gas. There where no visible leaks.
I blew the airbleeds and changed powervalve gasket for the fourth time.

i put the carb back on intake, cranked to get correct fuel level and now i am watching the fuel level for a few days, even tho i havent really changed anyting, one thing i did different was to lube the powervalve gasket
Ok, keep us updated to see IF lubing the PV gasket has any effect!!
 
Ok, keep us updated to see IF lubing the PV gasket has any effect!!

Hi!
I made zero progresss with my carburator.

I did lube the powervalve gasket, because the stamp on the meteringblock is interfearing with the gasket surface.

adding a borrowed picture wich is simillar to my meteringblock.

I thought, maybe that stamp was tearing the gasket when installing powervalve.

This seems not to be the case since my carbutator stil leaks fuel into intakemanifold, 1 / 3 of the fuelbowl is gone in one week.

IMG_0113.png
 
Hi!
I made zero progresss with my carburator.

I did lube the powervalve gasket, because the stamp on the meteringblock is interfearing with the gasket surface.

adding a borrowed picture wich is simillar to my meteringblock.

I thought, maybe that stamp was tearing the gasket when installing powervalve.

This seems not to be the case since my carbutator stil leaks fuel into intakemanifold, 1 / 3 of the fuelbowl is gone in one week.

View attachment 1655215
Yes..I feel your pain.
That stamp ridge (from what I believe) should not adversely affect the sealing quality of the gasket. For the record, on (2nd, replacement) carb, my bowl empties out almost entirely over the course of a week. However (can't remember if I've already mentioned this), I spoke to another carb expert who assured me that the modern type fuels/gas evaporate this much, so it's nothing to be concerned about necessarily;I am having my oil tested for fuel contamination though, to be sure.
I assume you're pv gasket is soaking wet when you inspect it? Another option is to try sealing the PV with a Viton material O Ring... Apparently this can be a suitable fix for a stubborn leaky gasket scenario... You need to have one that is firmish against the ID of the PV where the gasket would sit from what I can tell and there is a video about it on YouTube if you do a search.
Failing that you might have to replace major components like I did
 
This seems not to be the case since my carbutator stil leaks fuel into intakemanifold, 1 / 3 of the fuelbowl is gone in one week.


Possible you just have a faulty metering block leaching your fuel without pressure. I think I'd try red dye in mineral spirits to verify.
 
I couldn't stop the needle/seat lock down gaskets from getting wet
Holley gaskets are garbage and can't take a few turns of the needle/seat nut/bolt.
They also tend to stick to one of both sides and tear horizontally, one gasket becoming 2 gaskets that will never seal.

I had the same issue the other day, replaced the gaskets and put a little grease on both sides of each gasket.
Keeps them from tearing while adjusting and they seal just fine.
 
Aren't the blue Holley gaskets supposed to be non-stick? Moroso also makes reusable non stick replacements.
 
Aren't the blue Holley gaskets supposed to be non-stick? Moroso also makes reusable non stick replacements.
Yes, blue is non-sticky. And i believe those are fine.
The black gaskets for powervalve and needle are the ones tearing, i went with some vaseline on the needle/float adjuster gasket, now i can adjust it all day without changing gasket.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top