Setting a fuel pressure regulator for carburettors.

[Farmer_Terry]

I have one of these fitted to my car. The engine is a 2 litre zetec with two twin choke webers and the fuel pump is electric.

It started to leak at the end of last season, so I had to dismantle and mantle it again. The leak is now cured, but I don't have much idea how to set it. The page shown in the link recommends setting it to around 4 psi - is there any more information I should have?

All tips, hints, pointers or general advice gratefully accepted, as always.

[Guy Lowe]

I used the same Sytec regulator when my car was fitted with a standard 2.0L Zetec on 40's and had it set to 3psi without any problems or starvation, even on track. 

[Farmer_Terry]

Thanks Guy, that seems like a good place to start.

I must admit, while I realised that too much pressure will chuck fuel away, (and before it was fitted that was indeed what happened) the result of too little pressure hadn't occurred to me. Thank you.

I will start at 3 and if I get any starvation problems I can increase it.

As you may have gathered, I am not very technical with car engines, so is loss of power at high revs the sort of symptom is would  be watching for?

 

 

[Guy Lowe]

Yes it's like your running out of petrol, spluttering etc. If the pressure is set too low it will happen after a period at high reves when the engine is using most fuel and the carburettor float chambers empty because demand outstrips supply.

[OliverSedlacek]

3 PSI works for me. The float needle valves will cope with a range of pressures, so mostly it's not that critical.

[Farmer_Terry]

Great. Thanks. That seems to be what I needed to know.