I have a 1982 f-150 with a 351 and it runs fine- until it gets hot.
after I start it and run it several times, it will cut out and not start again. The engine will turn over, but there is no fuel getting to the carburetor. I can't see anything flowing through my in-line filter. I can't tell what's going on! It's a dual tank truck, and they are pretty beat up underneath, but it works fine until it's hot. Can anyone help me fix it?

 

It sounds to me like vapor lock. You might have a fuel line a little too close to your exhaust.

 

Well I'm not sure what vapor lock is, but the line and exhaust are on opposite sides of the truck. The only place it could be getting too hot is there by the engine and in the pump on the side of the engine.
btw- thanks for responding so quick.

 

its a plugging of the fuel line due to heat, causes a slug of vapor/air to form, making a blockage...can't get no fuel past it.


is the fuel line anywhere near the emissions or egr system? Any of those metal tubes coming off the manifold will deffinately do the trick.

DB

 

Well, I bought a new fuel pump for it, havn't installed it yet, but I don't think that's the problem. Just figured it wouldn't hurt. But about the vapor lock in case the pump doesn't fix it, I can't tell where in the line it is too close to a source of heat. It has to run near the engine block to the pump and carb. but I don't know what would be causing a vapor lock. How would I fix it if it is a vapor lock?

 

You can get a sleeve that fits over the fuel line where you suspect it's getting too hot. It will keep the fuel line from soaking up any heat and keep the fuel nice and cool.

 

It would be unlikely that if the engine is running it would quit do to vapor lock because the fuel comming from the tank would be much cooler. If you shut down the engine the fuel can boil in the line that is a different mater. Do you have a engine driven or electric intank pump? If engine driven replace it. Also replace Carb Filter. If electric that is another can of worms. Let me know and I will cover it...... Larry

 

It sounds like I have the same problem and same year

My truck will run fine for days then when it is warm - just quits

I prime the carb and starts -- so I let it cool a bit and prime it a gain

then I wont have problems for a bit. I check and no gas after the pump

but before the filter

I play with the fuel switch but not sure on that.

I am thinking vacuum or possibly some in the tank that heats up

I have a mechanical pump.

Hope this clarrify a few things

any more suggestions by anyone

email krash51218@yahoo.com

 

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I stop by my local parts store -- I was missing one gas cap on a tank

He is thinking that a bad gas cap could creator a vapor lock

I will believe it when it take care of it. I will change my pump next

Let me know if that fixes your problem

Tim thanks for the welcome but that had nothing to do with this problem

If you have any ideas respond

 

either kinked vent hose or tank switch

gas cap thing did not work but helped a bit

Here was another entry for a similiar problem:

My 86 was doing something similiar. It wouldn't take any gas and would splash back on me if I tried to put any in it. It ended up being the vent tube was kinked and wasn't venting out. I didn't have the problem of it spitting at me when taking the cap off though. Hope that helps

valve selector switch is stuck open and building up pressure from the other tank, I bet it does it when the engine is hot or when the temp is hot outside, thats what mine was doing

Krash

 

Hey, had a similar problem on my 78 f150. turned out that previous owner had tank off, and he didnt hook all the lines back like they needed to be. gas tank was vapor locking, and it would kill the engine,same symptoms.sometimes could take cap off and hear air suck back in. Hope this helps ya some.

 

I bypass the valve selector and only running one tank this morning

got lots of fuel ----


Krash

 

lookin' at your inline filter is not the way to see if you got fuel. take off the air cleaner, look inside the carb, and push the lever attached to the acellerator cable. look for a stream of fuel out of the jets. if it dies when hot, it's probably electrical prob, most likely the coil.

 

Bill I think we both (jpmiller( established that there was no fuel coming into the

carburator. I primed the carb and truck start fine -- so that almost eliminates

electrical.

I have bypass my selecter switch with an electric fuel pump as an adapter

and backup I have not had to use it yet.

Krash