Manual choke....

[Kiltox]

Embarassing question but I've never driven a car with a manual choke until buying this shed - how do I know when to turn it off?

I seem to be doing it too soon resulting in inevitibly stalling the engine

[yellowbentines]

Experience and nothing more, different cars will need differing amounts of choke on different days!

Once you get to know the car better it'll become second nature.

[Kiltox]

It's quite ridiculous having to ask really - I've obviously been spoilt with modern cars being a young 'un.

Quite refreshing not having everything electrically assisted to within an inch of it's life though

[crmcatee]

Just don't pull it out and hang your handbag on it like my Auntie used to do.

Thankfully she never really did drive that far.

[daveenty]

Once moving usually, or at least lose some of it then.

Then just use a little as you're slowing down/stopping to raise tick-over slightly until it's warmed up.

If it needs choke after much more than a mile, it could be running a little weak?

[Kiltox]

It's definitely fine after about a mile - I've obviously just been closing it off too early

daveenty said:

Then just use a little as you're slowing down/stopping to raise tick-over slightly until it's warmed up.

This might help too

[Liquid Knight]

What car are you on about. With my Rover I pull the choke out two clicks to get started, then down to one for the first mile and off completely after that.

You can't call yourself a "driver" untill you've driven a car with a manual choke.

[maser_spyder]

A normal choke would normally use the first little bit of travel to raise the revs slightly, then the second part of travel to close the air off (to enrich the fuel mixture for easier starting).

You really only need the air closed off when actually starting the car, as soon as it's running, you should knock it back as soon as possible.

Running a car with the choke open will make it run rich, and will ultimately flush the oil out of the bores from the excess fuel, shiny bores, knackered piston rings, engine rebuild.

So, fully open for starting, and only keep it open to keep the engine running, and close it to half way as soon as possible. Once it's warmed up, you should be able to push it all the way in so the idle revs drop to normal.

Once you've used the choke in the morning, depending on the car, you might not need to use it again that day. Use it sparingly, running the engine rich is not healthy!

[Deluded]

On cars I've had with manual choke, I always pulled it out fully, then drove it about a mile or so and pushed it in around halfway. then after another mile or so I would push it in all the way. Simple really.

It was trying to get them started once warm that I found to be a black art.

[Kiltox]

Liquid Knight said:

What car are you on about. With my Rover I pull the choke out two clicks to get started, then down to one for the first mile and off completely after that.

You can't call yourself a "driver" untill you've driven a car with a manual choke.

It's a '92 1.0 Peugeot 106. Doesn't "click", the lever has a smooth action.

[eldar]

Kiltox said:

It's a '92 1.0 Peugeot 106. Doesn't "click", the lever has a smooth action.

It probably locks if you pull it out and twist it. (and the choke knob)

[Asterix]

Kiltox said:

Liquid Knight said:

What car are you on about. With my Rover I pull the choke out two clicks to get started, then down to one for the first mile and off completely after that.

You can't call yourself a "driver" untill you've driven a car with a manual choke.

It's a '92 1.0 Peugeot 106. Doesn't "click", the lever has a smooth action.

Can you twist it to lock it off?

Pull it all the way out for starting, wind it back to half way shortly after and then all the way back a bit after that. As said, you'll get to know what to do with practice.

[Gizmo!]

An alternative way of holding the choke is to stick a clothes peg on it

[Kiltox]

Don't need to hold it, the lever holds itself out if you pull it out. I'll take a photo of it later

It's a flat plastic lever like | | that pulls out and stays out until you push it back in

[Mojo Jojo]

I drove a 205 until about 2months ago, with a manual choke that's probably similar to yours. On start up I would have enough choke on to keep the engine below 2000rpm on idle, and then lessen it off once moving. Generally once its past the first bar on the temperature gauge its fine to stop using the choke.

[Kiltox]

No temperature gauge or rev counter

[Mojo Jojo]

Kiltox said:

No temperature gauge or rev counter

And I thought my 205 was basic!

[Kiltox]

Mojo Jojo said:

And I thought my 205 was basic!

Great isn't it? I went from probably one of the most basic new cars to an even more basic shed

[Mojo Jojo]

Kiltox said:

Great isn't it? I went from probably one of the most basic new cars to an even more basic shed

I had my 205 for 5 years and never once considered getting a 'new' car. Aaahh the joys of simple motoring, nothing beats it

[seagrey]

maser_spyder said:

A normal choke would normally use the first little bit of travel to raise the revs slightly, then the second part of travel to close the air off (to enrich the fuel mixture for easier starting).

You really only need the air closed off when actually starting the car, as soon as it's running, you should knock it back as soon as possible.

Running a car with the choke open will make it run rich, and will ultimately flush the oil out of the bores from the excess fuel, shiny bores, knackered piston rings, engine rebuild.

So, fully open for starting, and only keep it open to keep the engine running, and close it to half way as soon as possible. Once it's warmed up, you should be able to push it all the way in so the idle revs drop to normal.

Once you've used the choke in the morning, depending on the car, you might not need to use it again that day. Use it sparingly, running the engine rich is not healthy!

The choke is closed for cold start/enrichment,opened for normal running.