Liquid Lock?

[Clois Harlan]

I thought I would toss this out since there are so many of us experiencing many different things for the first time.

I recently participated in a series of "High Speed Touring Events" at Hallett here in Tulsa on a road courses and then Saturday at the drags. I was unhappy with my Holley Carb's performance so late Saturday I switched carbs the new one's floats stuck open and flooded my engine. Missed my next event. Anyway I pushed the car in my trailer and took it home. I tried starting the Cobra Monday and realized I had left my key on and run my batt down. Out came the charger for a few hours. Tried to start the car again but all it would do was kind of bump (engine would not turn over). Didn't touch it untill last night still wouldn't turn over. Checked battery-OK, Checked grounds-OK, Checked all possible connections-OK. Don Morris a fellow Cobra owner told me he thought I had "Liquid Lock". Solution pull all my plugs to let the fluid escape. Easier said than done in a 428.

Long story short I pulled the right side plugs and still engine would not turn over. On to the left side and pulled plugs 5,6,&7, still would not turn over. (I am thinking something serious is wrong). Finally, pulled #8 plug and hit the start switch and about a quart of gas shot out of the spark plug hole and the engine turned over just fine. Starts and runs like always just not "Fluid Locked".

Just another thing to check. By the way I put the first carb back on and everything is just fine with the Snake.

[Mr.Fixit]

You "hydraulic'd" the motor. That is a very good way to bend a connecting rod and hammer the bearings. Liquid gasoline is not compressable. Also, if you filled a cylinder with gas, I assure you that the oil got full O' gas as well.

[xlr8or]

Mr Fixit is exactly right.
I have had the same thing happen to me.
Float stuck and while trying to figure out what was going on the key was on so the electric fuel pump kept pushin gas for a few minutes and it all went into the cylinder with the intake valve open. It sat like that for a couple of days. couldn't turn over until I removed plugs but then i realized it could have seeped passed the rings into the crankcase. Sure enough when I changed the oil there gas in it.

[SCOBRAC]

you may also want to change your oil now..

[Jack21]

May also want to squirt some oil into the cylinders with the spark plugs out and turn the motor over with the starter to oil the rings. Fuel strips the rings of oil. If you fire it up before doing this, you could damage the rings or cylinder bores.

Then add some top oil (STP, etc.) to the fuel for the remaining tankfull.

[Jeff Frigo]

Clois:

Why are changing the plugs difficult on your 428? I change all 8 of mine in less than 15 minutes with only one wrench set-up. Is a B&B that much different tham an ERA? Just curious.

[ERA535]

And I bet you are REALLY glad that you had the coil wire disconnected before you cranked it!!

[Excaliber]

You would think the gas would drain past the rings after sitting all night! Man, thats some TIGHT piston\ring combo you got there, ha ha!
Ernie

[Clois Harlan]

Jeff et al,

Just getting back to this thread and wanted to answer some of your questions re: liquid lock.

My plugs on the left side of my engine are extremely difficult to get to because my steering column extends within one inch of my heads and plugs. Also, my #8 plug is very close to my firewall. Right side is a snap left side is a pain.

One other thing was that after I realized my problem I did lube all my cylinders while I had the plugs out and drained all my oil. A stuck carb float can really be a pain in the A$$. I also learned a long time ago to disconnect the coil wire when bumping the engine. I have hope this helps someone else on this site. As usual all of you Cobra guys are the best.


Clois Harlan