Sooty plugs

[benross]

Hi all.
I recently serviced my scirocco GT (1.6 carb- pierburg 2e2 so same as mk2 golf?) to find the old plugs to be really sooty.
I belive this meand the fuel:air mixture is too rich. Is this correct?

If not could anybody tell me what it is? If i am right can anybody tell me how i can alter the mix so it is running correctly?

Any help as always will be appreciated. Also, will this help my fuel economy because at the moment it is terrible- a lot worse than my mk2 8v GTI!

Thanks guys
 
 

[Si]

Fuel economy is always going to be relatively bad on an old Carb car, but it does sound like its over fuelling (running too rich). Take it to a garage or buy an immisions tester and set the mixture.
(the mixture screw is on top of air box under a rubber bung. Clockwise richens, anti-clock weakens.) Only takes a fraction of a turn to adjust mixture so make sure you do it properly. Take it to a garage! 

[benross]

Cheers Si- do you know what the mixture should be and do you need a tester if i were to do it myself?

[sellers]

i have the same problem too mate, plus my car stinks of petrol when at a standstill, plus i get 200miles to a tank, think i need my mixture sorting, just don't know how to cos iv got a single weber?? anyone?

[Si]

Mines running 1.9... on the immisions tester setup in my garage. (thats a relativly good reading)
My mate bought a little immisions tester from Halfords for about £20 i think, only a cheap little mickey mouse thig but it seems to work quite well?!
 

[benross]

Like you say si- I think i'm gonna have to bite the bullet and just go get it set correctly at a garage aren't I.

Cheers for the help though.


Sellers- I'm only doing 200ish to a tank too, and my car stinks of petrol at standstill too. Maybe its time for you to head to a garage too?! Work out cheaper in the long run with better mpg?

[rubjonny]

Black plugs do indeed indicate that the car is running too rich.  Before you take it to the garage do that check my pierburg 2e2 FAQ:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=18871.0

I had exactly the same problem on my 1.6 Driver (identical engine to yours) and a combination of replacing the autochoke, 3/4 point unit and the coolant channel o'ring in the inlet manifold solved all my problems and allowed my car to get 35-40 mpg easily, even when I ragged the tits off it all over the place

I suggest you start by replacing the o'ring, its bound to have disintegraded into a cruddy mess by now, see:
http://www.hallvw.clara.co.uk/jettachoke.htm

Edit: the last thing you want to do is mess about with any of the screws & settings, the 2e2 carbs are a b!tch to set up again after they have been fiddled with!