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Quote:

My '55 Patrician sat for about a month and a half in my garage while I was hor d' combat. When I finally went out to check on it, after three accelerator pumps, she still started so fast I almost couldn't release the key fast enough.

Of course the fact that there has been almost 100% humidity and winter like temperatures in Portland during that time might have had something to do it.

I think my 55 400 must leak back somehow, when I stop if I look at the fuel filter bowl I can literally see the fuel level going down slowly to about 1/3rd up the bowl where it stops...? Cranking again fills the bowl but can be awkward starting where as it used to start first turn cold or hot after being recently ran.
When left the fuel in the bowl has always evaporated over a few weeks but never used to drop like it does now...

It may leak somewhere, but I'm pretty confident in saying it can't leak "back"; the fuel inlet is above the float level so it couldn't siphon or just run out.

The 55 Rochester 4-bbl did not have a simple fixed vent to the atmosphere as the 56 models did, but had an anti-percolator valve and cap. Perhaps you should check the adjustment to make sure the valve opens as the accelerator pedal returns to rest. If not, residual heat in the engine, acting on the essentially closed fuel bowl, can pressurize the chamber and force some of the gas out the main jets and into the manifold. Instructions are in the Service Counselor and shop manual.

I think perhaps he is talking about the glass fuel filter bowl that is ahead of the carb.

Sorry if it wasn't a good description, I was referring to the glass fuel filter bowl between fuel pump and carb. at the carb inlet. This can be seen to drain down.

Even if the glass filter bowl, still not sure how it can drain down, the inlet is at the top. And if it could you'd either have to have a pair of faulty check-valves in the fuel pump, or one bad valve and a ruptured diaphragm.

Are you thinking this because the glass is not always totally full of gas? If so, that's not unusual.

DaveUK
I hadsimilar experience:

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3064&forum=3&post_id=31729#forumpost31729

Packard V8,

Thanks thats what is happening with mine, not sure about it filling up again as I didn't leave it long enough but I could watch the level going down. I only noticed it last weekend but I know it was OK previously and the level only went down if left a few weeks I assumed from evaporation.
Think I need to pull the fuel pump, I did it about a year or so ago and replaced the diaphragm though the old one was OK, I seem to remember the valves couldn't be removed for some reason which escapes me now.
Something else for the ''to do'' list when I get back from work.

Dave UK