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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Gunson ColorTune

What an interesting, useful, and easy to use tool. I tried one out for the first time this afternoon. It takes the guess work out of adjusting the carb mixture. I'm definitely a fan.
Andy Bounsall

Andy,

There have been several comments over the past few years that the Colortune does not give accurate results with unleaded or oxygenated fuels.

Check the archive.

Jim
Jim Ferguson

"Colortune does not give accurate results with unleaded or oxygenated fuels"

This is a common statement that may be true. I personally tested a Colortune in the late 80's using unleaded fuel (w/ethanol). The tuning results were identical to the tuning I got using the std SU "lift the pin" technique. At the time, it was enough to convince me I didn't need the Colortune. It may be that I can't tune the SU's using either method. Or perhaps the other additives they add today complicate things.

Who knows?

YMMV

Chuck
C Schaefer

I have been using the color tune for setting the mixture in both our TD and MGB for 25 years or so and have alway has great success with it, even with today's fuels. I found out very early on that using the color tune in bright sunlight makes for inaccurate results at best - usually I can't make out the color of the flame front at all when in a bright environment. As a result I always make sure that the car is in the garage (with the door open) and have the lights out. The difference between lean and rich is very apparent in that environment. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I had the front 3/4 of the car in the garage, door open, back-end outside, oeverhead light turned off. The colour of the flame was very visible and the change in colour from orangy-yelow to bunson blue was very obvious. I knew my car had been running rich but I've never been able to really master the "lift the pin" method. For me, the colortune was quick and easy and the car seems to be running much better now.
Andy Bounsall

The colortune is a great tool, but it doesn't give you an accurate reading of what your mixture strength is under load. I always use it when starting from scratch to equalize the carbs and give me a baseline to start from. Then I take it out on the highway and check the color of the spark plugs periodically, adjusting mixture as necessary. Usually I find I have to richen the mixture. Everyone's engine setup is a little different though, so do what it takes to get yours the way you want it.
Mark J Michalak

This thread was discussed between 17/05/2009 and 18/05/2009

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.