6 replies to this topic

[mac the mini]

Hi all

 

Happy to be making my first post on TMF!

 

Can anyone tell me why my 1275 1994 Hif 38 carb model has a charcoal filter / purge valve? I have a rough running problem and i was suspecting an air leak. After tracing the vacuum pipes I couldn't understand why id got a vacuum pipe going off into the nearside wing area. Then discovered the Charcoal filter hidden deep up in the wing.  The vacuum pipe end has got a split in it, so this will be renewed this week.The only information i can find out about it is all aimed at the SPi MPi models and not the carb model??

Does my car need it? will it fail the MOT if it was removed? I believe its there to absorb fuel vapours and to divert the vapours to the engines intake to be burnt in combustion.

Any information on this would be helpful

Ps  i'm quite sure my car wasn't an injection at anytime in the past as there are no other tell tale signs that would suggest it was.

[cal844]

The car runs better with it fitted(i have the same as you) i did remove it to see how it ran, rough was an understatement!

 

I say keep it fitted

[AVV IT]

No it doesn't need it, the 92-94 HIF38 models were designed to the mk VII/Spi spec, hence why they've got the aux electric fan in the inner wing, the charcoal filter & the CAT. As I understsnd it they were all supposed to be built as fuel injection models post 91, but for some reason they decided at the last minute to stick with carbs on the non cooper models for a couple more years. So basically you've got this series of hybrid/crossover models that are carb models fitted with many spi parts, if like me you own one of these, it can make getting the right part rather confusing.

You can dump the charcoal valve though and the CAT too for that matter, they just help reduce the emissions to a level that a carb engined mini doesn't actually need to meet. I removed both from my 93 sprite years ago & it's sailed through every MOT since. You would need to reset the mixture and the timing after removing it though, otherwise you'll inevitably get the problems described above.

[cal844]

No it doesn't need it, the 92-94 HIF38 models were designed to the mk VII/Spi spec, hence why they've got the aux electric fan in the inner wing, the charcoal filter & the CAT. As I understsnd it they were all supposed to be built as fuel injection models post 91, but for some reason they decided at the last minute to stick with carbs on the non cooper models for a couple more years. So basically you've got this series of hybrid/crossover models that are carb models fitted with many spi parts, if like me you own one of these, it can make getting the right part rather confusing.

You can dump the charcoal valve though and the CAT too for that matter, they just help reduce the emissions to a level that a carb engined mini doesn't actually need to meet. I removed both from my 93 sprite years ago & it's sailed through every MOT since. You would need to reset the mixture and the timing after removing it though, otherwise you'll inevitably get the problems described above.

  Yes, we had problems as my car has a stage one kit fitted, iirc from 'bad' manifold gaskets and the timing being 8° (was at 2° BTDC!) Too advanced(NOW at 10° and running sweet)

[mac the mini]

Thanks for the info. It would be great to bin the cat and charcoal filter.

If i decide to bin them, what happens with :

1/   the vapour pipe from charcoal filter to the carb?..........block the inlet on the carb?

2/   the vacuum pipe from the carb to the thermostat switch?........redirect it to the dizzy advance?

3/   the vapour pipe from charcoal filter to the engine breather system?......Block that aswell?

 

Also, ive got the car booked in for a rollin road tune in 2 weeks time. The rollin road is approx 40 miles away, will it be ok to drive that far with the car so out of tune? oh and last of all, will they be able to re-tune it to the mot standards with all the bits gone  and just to add, its got a stage one exhaust but still on a standard needle (can't remember which type of needle)

Edited by mac the mini, 08 April 2015 - 05:33 PM.

[Dan]

Before ripping anything out bear in mind rules do change. The car has an evaporative loss system because when it was built the law required it to have one. It is still required to have one, it's part of the cars type approval. Currently nobody checks for them at any tests but that might change one day. Loads of stuff got added to the MOT a couple of years ago and it could happen again. It used to be fine to rip out cats and brake test lights and stuff and now these are being tested for.

[mac the mini]

oooh ok, best left in and vacuum pipe repaired then. They take all the fun outta things don't they.