How do you clean a carburetor, and why not just use a spray cleaner?

We take the carburetor fully apart, soak the metal parts in carburetor cleaner and blow compressed air through every jet and passage. A spray from the outside cannot reach the small internal passages where ethanol varnish builds up, which is why a spray alone often does not cure a rough idle.

When should a carburetor be rebuilt instead of just cleaned?

A rebuild is recommended when seals, gaskets, needles, or floats are worn or damaged. If the engine has hard starting, fuel leaks, poor idle or uneven RPM, a rebuild with new seals and a new needle and seat usually makes more sense than cleaning alone.

Do you completely disassemble the carburetor for cleaning?

Yes. We take the carburetor fully apart before cleaning, then clean and inspect every jet, passage and internal part and set the float to the maker's specification during reassembly.

Can carburetor cleaning fix rough idle and hesitation?

Often, yes. Rough idle and hesitation are commonly caused by clogged idle circuits or restricted jets, and cleaning them restores fuel delivery. Ignition faults and air leaks can cause the same symptoms, so we test before we take the carburetor apart.

Do you replace internal parts during carburetor rebuilding?

Yes. During a rebuild we replace the gaskets, O-rings, needle and seat and any worn parts, using quality rebuild kits. New seals stop the leaks that old, hardened ones cause, and a new needle and seat keep the float bowl from overfilling.

Do you tune the carburetor after cleaning and rebuilding?

Absolutely. After installation, we fine-tune idle speed, mixture screws, and throttle response to match engine specifications. Proper tuning is critical to achieving smooth operation, fuel efficiency, and engine longevity.

Do you offer this service in Newport Beach and Long Beach marinas?

Yes. We come to the boat in Long Beach, Newport Beach and our other harbors to diagnose and remove the carburetors, clean and rebuild them at our San Pedro shop, then come back to refit and tune them. A trip fee by distance applies to each visit ($50 to $60 in Long Beach, $110 in Newport Beach). To save the trip fees, bring the carburetors or the boat to our shop.

Marine mechanic placing disassembled brass carburetor parts

Marine mechanic placing disassembled brass carburetor parts (2)

Marine Carburetor Cleaning & Rebuilding

Is your engine surging or stalling? We take inboard and outboard carburetors completely apart, soak the metal parts in carburetor cleaner and clear every jet and passage of the ethanol varnish and gum that a spray can't reach, then rebuild them with new ethanol-resistant parts.

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$150 /hr

Labor estimate Usually 2–4 hours

Book sends us a ticket; nothing is charged online. Before any work you get a written estimate for labor, parts and the trip fee, and nothing is done without your OK.

Trip fee By distance, one way: $30 in San Pedro, $50 in Long Beach

San Pedro$30
Wilmington, Terminal Island$40
Long Beach: Shoreline, Rainbow Harbor$50
Long Beach Marina, Alamitos Bay$60
Redondo Beach$60
Seal Beach, Huntington Harbour$75
Marina del Rey$85
Newport Beach$110

Farther away: $25 plus $2.50 a mile, one way from our San Pedro shop. No trip fee when the boat comes to our shop, or for plan members. The work of a visit is at least $150; the trip fee is on top.

Registered in California: Breeze Marine Boat Service LLC, San Pedro
Where we work: At your slip from Marina del Rey to Newport Beach, or in our San Pedro shop
Questions first: (213) 693-0224 or submit a ticket

About this service

Jets, Passages, Seals

Every Jet.
Every Passage.

A quick spray of cleaner cannot reach the tiny internal passages of a marine carburetor. We take the carburetor fully apart, soak the metal parts in carburetor cleaner and blow every jet and passage clear with compressed air to remove ethanol gum and varnish.

Jets and Passages

Varnish clogs the pilot (idle) jets first, because their openings are the smallest. We dissolve it in carburetor cleaner and clear each jet without enlarging it, since a jet opened up with a drill bit or a wire meters the wrong amount of fuel.

Internal Passage Restoration

Marine carburetors have complex, hidden fuel circuits, and soaking alone won't clear them. After the soak we blow compressed air through each circuit, including the idle and transition circuits, and check that each one flows freely.

Complete Rebuild

Cleaning is just step one. Our marine carburetor rebuild fits a new ethanol-resistant gasket and seal kit, a new needle valve and seat, and fresh O-rings.

The Restoration Process.

From grime to shine.

Strip & Prep

We completely disassemble the carburetor, removing all rubber and plastic components that could be damaged by the cleaning solution.

Soak & Blow Out

The metal bodies soak in carburetor cleaner to soften the varnish. Then every jet, passage and port is rinsed and blown out with compressed air.

Exterior Cleanup (Optional)

For corroded exteriors, we clean the outside of the carburetor by hand. Deep pitting cannot be undone, and a badly corroded carburetor is often better replaced.

Bench Testing

Once reassembled, we pressure test the carburetor needle and seat (pop-off test) to check that it holds pressure and will not flood your engine.

See the Difference.

Clean passages, new seals.

Dirty and restored marine carburetors side by side

Carburetor parts soaking in a cleaning tank

Ethanol-resistant carburetor rebuild kit laid out on a bench

Brands We Work On.

Inboards, Outboards, and Generators.

Japanese Mikuni, Keihin, Hitachi

American Rochester, Holley, Carter

European Weber, Solex, Dell'Orto

Common Questions

Does this fix ethanol issues?

It clears the varnish that is there now. Ethanol leaves a hard, green or yellow varnish that spray cleaners cannot dissolve, and a full teardown and soak removes it. To keep it from coming back, use fresh fuel with stabilizer and drain the float bowl before storage.

Can I bring just the carburetor?

Yes. You save the trip fee and the removal time by taking the carburetor off yourself and bringing it to our San Pedro shop for cleaning and rebuilding.

Restore the Flow.

Book a carburetor cleaning and rebuild.

Book Carburetor Service

Outboard Carburetor Rebuild Service

Our outboard carburetor rebuild service follows the same process as inboard and generator work: full teardown, a soak in carburetor cleaner and compressed air through every passage, fresh ethanol-resistant gaskets, needle valves and O-rings, then a bench test before the carburetor goes back on the engine.

Signs that an outboard is due include hard starting, surging at idle, stalling when you throttle back and fuel dripping from the float bowl.