Your vehicle's carburetor is designed to mix air and fuel together so that your engine can run as efficiently as possible. This means that a damaged or malfunctioning carburetor can have a huge effect on the performance of your vehicle and can cause a great deal of stress for your engine, which can result in complicated and expensive mechanical problems to fix. Thankfully, there are a few red flags that you should watch out for to help determine when you need to see a mechanic about an aging carburetor.

Reduced Performance

The clearest sign that there is something wrong with your carburetor is if you notice that you have reduced engine performance while driving. This can take many different forms, but will usually manifest itself in poor acceleration while driving, lower top speeds, and increased fuel consumption. All of these problems can make it harder for you to control your vehicle, while at the same time increasing the amount of money that you will have to spend on gas, so you should head to a mechanic as soon as you notice any of these symptoms.

Dark Exhaust Smoke

Another clear sign of carburetor trouble is if your vehicle is pumping out thick black smoke out of the exhaust. This is because of a fuel and air mixture that has too much fuel in it, which can increase the amount of wear and tear that your vehicle's engine experiences and can place increase strain on your muffler and exhaust system as well. Further, it should be noted that dark exhaust smoke is extremely bad for the environment, and a malfunctioning carburetor can make it difficult for your vehicle to pass an emissions test.

Misfires

Improperly mixed fuel and air combinations can cause your engine to misfire constantly, usually because of too much air in the mixture. This can place a great deal of strain on your engine and increase overall engine wear, which can turn into a much more complicated and expensive problem to fix if a components of your engine becomes damaged.

Difficulty Starting

A failing or broken carburetor can make it extremely difficult for you to start your vehicle, because the engine is flooded with too much fuel and not enough air to properly ignite it. While you may still be able to start your engine, it may take several tries and time for the engine to "warm up" before you are able to actually drive.

For more information or assistance, contact companies like GSBP Automotive.