Vapor lock??

[Don Jordan]

I am familiar with the concept of vapor lock but I'm not sure if I've ever experienced it.

Does it just sputter and buck and slowly starve for gas or is it immediate and just shuts off? Would it matter that I have two carbs?

It's happened twice in runs of 5 miles or less. The temp gauge was about 165° I didn't feel it was over heating.

I've got the gas tank off. The car runs great when it runs. I think Saturday I'm going to put a gas can in the trunk and go for a drive. If it happens again I can rule out the tank.

This is all very weird.

[Tony Cipponeri]

Hey Don, You have my exact thinking it is weird. I thought that my fuel line was too close to my exhaust pipe and was boiling the gas, but alas new fuel line didn't fix my problem. Tony C

[claybill]

search 'vapor lock' on the forum search. last spring i think it was tossed about.

bill

[Frank Ollian]

I just went through this on my Jeep, went through the fuel system and did all fixes associated with vapor lock, made an improvement but still was running crappy after it heated up. I found it was my almost new Accel coil, it only malfunctioned after it heated up. Good luck chasing your vapor lock, can be a real head scratcher.

[Don Jordan]

The *&^%$#@ coil. I was talking to a guy today and that's what he said. I've had the starter and generator rebuilt, new voltage regulator - it's running a coil that was on the car when I got it. I've read all the posts about heated coils and I don't know why I didn't think of it.

At least I know the gas tank is clean.

I don't know if this is true but a guy told me today that it's hard to get vapor lock with an electric fuel pump.

Tomorrow I'm putting it all back together. I guess that's why we do this silly hobby - either that or an excuse to throw money away.

[randroid]

Don,

Theoretically, vapor lock should not occur while you're driving, so it probably isn't your problem. Coils can be tested somewhat if you can find the specs, but the problem sure sounds like a coil (same symptoms) as has been mentioned already, and since our coils are cheap it doesn't make sense to not replace it.

I like spending other people's money, mostly because I don't have any of my own, but that's what I'd do in your shoes.

Best of luck!

-Randy

[steveplym]

I agree with Randy. The only time I've had problems with vapor lock are on start up. Especially when the I just get home, get out to open the garage and shut the car off in between. Then hop back in and try to start up a hot engine it usually vapor locks a bit.