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what causes a petrol engine to hunt

by Jerod Ondricka Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • misfire.
  • or lean AFR, lean fuel mix.. causes HUNTING

Engine hunting and surging at idle is usually caused by a fuel delivery, air leak, or governor system problem. Cleaning/overhauling the carburettor, adjustment of the governor, and/or changing the air filer may be required.

Full Answer

What causes an engine to hunt when running?

Regarding carbureted, small engines, if running unloaded or with a relatively constant load the fuel mixture is either too rich or too lean, or on a governed engine a sticky governor linkage are typical causes.

What causes engine hunting and surging at idle?

Engine hunting and surging at idle is usually caused by a fuel delivery, air leak, or governor system problem. Cleaning/overhauling the carburettor, adjustment of the governor, and/or changing the air filer may be required. What causes hunting and surging? Fuel blockage or restriction: Firstly, check filters and fuel quality.

What causes a motor to hunt or surge?

The most common cause of engines ‘hunting or surging’ is stale fuel evaporating, leaving residue on the main jet or dirty fuel causing partial blockage of the jet. If the motor runs smoothly on partial choke, this usually indicates main jet restriction. What causes a motor to hunt?

Why does my petrol engine only run at high speed?

I have seen this phenomenon on the small fourstroke petrol engines fitted to equipment ssuch as lawn mowers. If the slow running jet in the carburettor becomes partially or fully blocked then the engine will only run at high speed.

Why is my engine hunting?

Why is my carburetor running lean?

What happens if the throttle is closed to the low running position?

Why does my car keep opening when I vacuum?

How much horsepower does a Ferrari have?

How is diesel fuel controlled?

Can you fill an engine with oil without checking it?

See 4 more

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What does it mean for an engine to hunt?

The most common cause of engines 'hunting or surging' is stale fuel evaporating, leaving residue on the main jet or dirty fuel causing partial blockage of the jet. If the motor runs smoothly on partial choke, this usually indicates main jet restriction.

What causes engine hunting at idle?

If an engine is not getting enough fuel (this is called “running lean”), due to fuel pressure (regulated by the fuel pump and regulator), restricted fuel injectors, a vacuum leak or really anything that throws off the fuel mixture going in to the engine, this can cause the surge.

Why is my car engine surging?

Engine surging is usually a warning sign that your car or truck is having combustion problems. Since a vehicle's ignition wires and spark plugs play a major role in proper engine performance, it is likely time to check your engine's electrical components.

What causes rpms to fluctuate at idle?

Worn-out or fouled spark plugs can cause rpm fluctuations. Check the engine vacuum and make sure there are no leaks. Leaks in the engine vacuum can cause rpm fluctuations. Replace the fuel filter if it is clogged or dirty.

How do I fix my idle surging?

2:284:00HOW TO FIX A CARS IDLE SURGING & STALLING ( FOR ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis will cause your car to hunt hunt for the air fuel ratio. This will make your car stall outMoreThis will cause your car to hunt hunt for the air fuel ratio. This will make your car stall out right there do this until it's fully cleaned put it all back together.

Can bad spark plugs cause engine surging?

3. Surging and Lagging. Another good indication that your spark plugs are dirty or worn is if your vehicle experiences surges of speed, resulting in a jerking acceleration. These surges occur because your spark plugs are not igniting the fuel in your engine at the proper rate, resulting in an uneven speed.

Why does my car pulsate when I accelerate?

Usually, there are three leading causes behind car surging when accelerating. First, it can be that your fuel is making its way to your engine correctly. Second, it can be due to faulty torque converters. Lastly, engine misfires can come from a loss of vacuum coming from the intake system.

Can a bad fuel pump cause surging?

Irregular resistance inside the fuel pump motor may cause vehicle surging, and indicates a fuel pump in need of repair. Surging feels like the gas pedal has been used. However, it occurs at a random, consistent speed. If this happens often, it may be because of problems within the fuel pump.

What are signs that your fuel pump is going out?

Bad Fuel Pump Symptoms#1 – Difficulty Starting (or Can't Start at All) ... #2 – Sudden Engine Stalls. ... #3 – Rough Running at Idle and Low Speed. ... #4 – Engine Misfires. ... #5 – Hesitant Acceleration. ... #6 – Engine Speed Variations While Driving at a Steady Speed. ... #7 – Reduced Power. ... #8 – Poor Performance When Climbing a Hill.More items...•

Why does my RPM go up and down while accelerating?

Your spark plugs are most likely the cause of your RPM jumping when you accelerate. It frequently happens if you have been driving around with the same spark plugs for over 30,000 miles. If your spark plugs are on their last legs, it is better if you get them checked and then replaced.

What causes a misfire only at idle?

Ignition system components, including spark plugs, plug wires, ignition coils and ignition timing are culprits as are lean air/fuel mixtures and mechanical issues within the engine. Worn piston rings, worn or broken valves and worn cylinder walls, as well as worn cam lobes can also contribute to the problem.

What sensors can cause rough idle?

Usually, a faulty sensor that doesn't send the correct information to the computer may cause the engine to idle rough or stall: crankshaft and camshaft position sensor, ignition control module, fuel pump, possibly EGR valve stuck open, idle air control valve stuck open.

What can cause a rough idle without a check engine light?

A rough idle may be caused by many different things such as low fuel pressure, low voltage to the fuel injectors, dirty fuel injectors, a vacuum leak, a faulty Oxygen sensor or a dirty or failing idle air control valve.

What causes an engine to hunt when running? - Quora

Answer: Regarding carbureted, small engines, if running unloaded or with a relatively constant load the fuel mixture is either too rich or too lean, or on a governed engine a sticky governor linkage are typical causes. Rich running may be caused a partially closed choke or dirty air cleaner, lean...

What causes a diesel engine to hunt? - Answers

What are the main causes for a cummins 2500 diesel engine to fail to start properly when engine has reached normal operating temperature? There is no such engine as a Cummins 2500 Diesel.

What does it mean when an engine is hunting? - Auto Blog Garage

What causes governor hunting? A governor is said to be hunt if the speed of the engine fluctuates continuously above and below the mean speed.This is caused by a too sensitive governor which changes the fuel supply by a large amount when a small change in the speed of rotation takes place.

Small Engines - » Engine Runs, But Surges

Engine will run, but it surges, hunts for a constant RPM 1. Partial Blockage of Main Jet. This is for bowl type carburetors only. Stop the fuel flow to the carburetor, either turn off the fuel valve or pinch off the line with a pair of fuel line pinch off pliers or a pair of vice grips.

Why does my car run rich?

Rich running may be caused a partially closed choke or dirty air cleaner, lean running may be a matter of main jet setting or deposits in the carburetor. In some cases, the engine runs smoothly under no load and hunts when loaded, as the load slows the engine down and the governor opens the throttle to bring it up to speed. ...

What happens if the throttle is closed to the low running position?

If the throttle is closed to the low running position then the engine will try to stop. The governor will then open the throttle wide. The engine will then pick up speed and be going too fast.

Can a tuned engine cause carbon build up?

Depending upon the engine, idling will have little or no effect, but if you are talking about a highly tuned engine, yes, it can do a lot of damage due to carbon build up and fouled lubricants. The standard sort of "Mom's car" engine can take this as it is designed to run that way.

What does "leaner" mean in hunting?

Leaner means hunting. Not all engines do it but if you get the right stack up of minimum tolerences you can very well have it. If it's only at low speeds and a very minor hunt I wouldn't do anything as long as it's running good and strong at full throttle when you have it cutting.

Can a bad spark plug cause RPM hunting?

1 bad spark plug could cause this too. I've seen 1 plug do it on briggs a few times before, otherwise yes, RPM hunting is normally a lean fuel mix, pull the choke on a little and see if it smooths out, if it does, check your fuel filter first if its ok then you need to do what Rob said.

Can a broken throttle linkage rod cause a low speed surge?

While typing this one other detail came to mind, If the engine in question has a small spring on the throttle linkage rod and is broken or disconnected this also could cause a low speed surge. Honda and Kawasaki are critical to having this properly connected.

Why is hunting alost?

Hunting is alost always caused by a lean fuel ratio (partially clogged or misadjusted carb or air leak).

Is it hard to state a common cause for so many different engine types?

It is hard to state a common cause for so many different engine types but I can tell you some that I have ran accross and read of in manuals.

Why does my carburetor run erratic?

As you know, gas starvation causes an inconsistent flow of fuel which in turn causes erratic running. And, you also know a vacuum leak will cause erratic running, but is a much less common cause, however, some carburetors are prone to vacuum leaks.

Why does my lawn mower surge?

So what causes the lawnmower engines to surge? The most common reason for a surging lawn mower engine is a blockage in the fuel supply , but there are other possibilities:

Why is my mower surging?

If your mower engine is a Honda or Kohler, surging is commonly caused by a blocked idle jet see Gas starvation towards the end of the page.

What does it mean when a lawn mower engine is surging?

Lawnmower engine surging is a right pain in the Jacksie, it’s an engine that runs erratically, revs up and down by itself uncontrollably. In some cases, it may only happen under certain conditions, for example only after the mower gets hot, or only when the fuel level gets low.

How to clean an auto choke?

If you have an Auto choke – Remove the air filter cover and filter – place a clean rag over the intake while the engine is running.

Can you play around with throttle?

Often you’ll find playing around with the throttle helps, or applying some choke. You are not on your own, this is a regular complaint. In this guide, we will cover the diagnosis, likely causes, and the solutions.

Do you need a carburetor gasket for a B&S engine?

Carburetor gasket - If you're fixing the B&S Classic engine , then you'll need this gasket set. Complete carburetor - As an alternative to replacing your B&S Classic carburetor gasket, replace the complete carburetor instead, it includes the replacement gasket.

Why is my engine hunting?

My understanding of an engine hunting is when its speed varies greatly in an unwanted but cyclic manner. From my limited experience this is often due to the engine’s speed contol system being at fault. This can be governor instability at the design stage or can be due to some malfunction during use.

Why is my carburetor running lean?

Regarding carbureted, small engines, if running unloaded or with a relatively constant load the fuel mixture is either too rich or too lean, or on a governed engine a sticky governor linkage are typical causes. Rich running may be caused a partially closed choke or dirty air cleaner, lean running may be a matter of main jet setting or deposits in the carburetor. In some cases, the engine runs smoothly under no load and hunts when loaded, as the load slows the engine down and the governor opens the throttle to bring it up to speed. If the mixture is lean, the engine may drop off more rpm, the g

What happens if the throttle is closed to the low running position?

If the throttle is closed to the low running position then the engine will try to stop. The governor will then open the throttle wide. The engine will then pick up speed and be going too fast.

Why does my car keep opening when I vacuum?

There are a couple of reasons for this:- If the car has points ignition, the vacuum advance can cause the points to remain open/closed when at full vacuum. So the ignition cuts, and the idle drops to the point where the vacuum advance spring retards the ignition and the points start operating again, the engine speed rises along with the vacuum and the whole cycle starts again. Or a similar thing can happen if the mixture is too lean - the vacuum drops and the carburettor/injection enrichens i...

How much horsepower does a Ferrari have?

More specifically, Ferrari’s Formula One engine is said to generate somewhere close to 900Hp at 15,000 RPM.

How is diesel fuel controlled?

A diesel is controlled using fuel metering, either mechanical or electronic or a combination of both. In my experience electronic systems, common rail or otherwise don’t hunt, so I’m guessing your engine is mechanically metered using an injector pump in conjunction with a centrifugal governor to provide a feedback loop.

Can you fill an engine with oil without checking it?

There are case of people who, never having checked their oil before, decide to do it themselves & completely fill the engine with oil!

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1.What causes engine hunt? - Quora

Url:https://www.quora.com/What-causes-engine-hunt

28 hours ago Engine hunt was traditionally caused by rich mixture, but fuel injection should prevent this problem. Another possible cause is a sticky throttle plate, this would cause the engine to slow …

2.What causes an engine to hunt when running? - Quora

Url:https://www.quora.com/What-causes-an-engine-to-hunt-when-running

27 hours ago Rich running may be caused a partially closed choke or dirty air cleaner, lean running may be a matter of main jet setting or deposits in the carburetor. In some cases, the engine runs …

3.engine "hunting"; what causes this? | Lawn Care Forum

Url:https://www.lawnsite.com/threads/engine-hunting-what-causes-this.121894/

27 hours ago Contents show. The most common cause of engines ‘hunting or surging’ is stale fuel evaporating, leaving residue on the main jet or dirty fuel causing partial blockage of the jet. If the motor runs …

4.Engine hunting - DoItYourself.com Community Forums

Url:https://www.doityourself.com/forum/outdoor-gasoline-electric-powered-equipment-small-engines/179946-engine-hunting.html

26 hours ago #2 · Nov 8, 2019. Hunting is usually caused by a lean fuel condition. (too much air and not enough fuel) Clean all the fuel filters or replace and make sure their is not a screen in the fuel tank …

5.Small Engines - » Engine Runs, But Surges

Url:http://www.small-engines.com/surges

24 hours ago  · 1 bad spark plug could cause this too. I've seen 1 plug do it on briggs a few times before, otherwise yes, RPM hunting is normally a lean fuel mix, pull the choke on a little and see …

6.What would cause my car to idle hunt..Rev up and down …

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29 hours ago  · A number of things can effect fuel/air mixture, leaks or blockage be it to air or fuel. Another common cause I have seen is the linkage and springs for the carb/govenor either …

7.How To FIX A SURGING ENGINE On A Lawn Mower, …

Url:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOI293d8XUg

20 hours ago  · Engine will run, but it surges, hunts for a constant RPM. 1. Partial Blockage of Main Jet. This is for bowl type carburetors only. Stop the fuel flow to the carburetor, either turn off …

8.Lawn Mower Engine Surging – Check this easy fix first!

Url:https://www.lawnmowerfixed.com/mower-engine-surging/

28 hours ago  ·

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