Nissan Repair: datsun stanza idle speed, datsun stanza, service intervals

Question
QUESTION: hi! my idle speed dropped when i did an engine wash and there is no power as well! i tried to pick up the idle speed to compensate,so now it idles well but still no power, it's an 1800 stanza with twin su carbs.
please help!

thanx
imraan

ANSWER: Hi Imraan -

What year is your stanza? I think water got into your distributpr. Open the cap and dry it out, or better yet, replace the distributor and rotor. Also check all connections on the cap and at the plugs.

Hope this helps
aloha
calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanx 4 the reply,it's a 1982 with twin su carbs.( always had a lot of power before this happened)i replaced the distr.cap and rotor and dried the coil's socket where the h.t.lead fits and dried all the other leads as well. also extremely sluggish on on inclines.

thanx
imraan

ANSWER: Hi Imraan

Got me. There has to be some water penetration somewhere that is causing the problem. Did you check the spark plugs, especially what color the electrodes are burning? Black is rich, White is lean, and wet is fouled, although I don't think it is fouled. Color of the electrodes could be a clue of what is happening.

thanks
calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: HI!, THANX FOR THE CLUE! THEY ARE ACTUALLY MORE WHITE, IN COMPARISON TO A MORE REDDISH/BROWN WHEN I USUALLY CHECK THEM AT SERVICE INTERVALS PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM.WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AND HOW DO I RECTIFY THE FAULT?

THANX
IMO

Answer
Hi Imo -

White means the engine is running lean, or not enough fuel to the fuel to air ratio mixture. This could be caused by water entering the intake manifold as well, and the cause of your issues. The trick is to find where the problem is. Not knowing the depth of your cleaning, it is hard to tell the extend of water penetration. The only thing I can recommend is to check all areas where the intake manifold meets the engine, including the carburetors. Water could be entering somewhere, or just pooling. Hopefully this will burn itself out.

Keep checking the distinutor cap for moisture too, sometimes it recurs.

Let me know -
calvin