Vapor Lock

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Aug 16, 2010 | 04:43 PM

raerjim

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,696

Likes: 1

From: S.W. Florida

Vapor Lock

I had my first run in with the dreaded vapor lock today. 95 deg. doing some idling in town (electric fan on) the truck just lost power, unresponsive to throttle input, coasted 100 yds. and died. Unburned hydrocarbon fumes filled the cab. Would not start till after sitting with hood up for 30 minutes.. I have been collecting parts for a planned engine rebuild this winter which will include an electric fuel pump. I have already picked up a Crane RV cam and timing chain /gears, and best of all, last week scored a set of WORLD Windsor SR. heads on Craigs list (brand new never mounted for 550$!!). i wonder how my motor will look with a bunch of wooden clothes pins all over the fuel lines?

Aug 16, 2010 | 05:19 PM

4tl8ford

Post Fiend

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 7,493

Likes: 7

From: Erie, pa

An overheated coil will act the same way

Aug 16, 2010 | 05:51 PM

larryb346

Laughing Gas

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 914

Likes: 51

From: SW Missouri

IN spite of all the talk about vapor lock it is a very rare thing to happen unless you have routed the fuel line closer than the factory setup.
Letting it cool for 30 mins is the normal way a coil going bad acts.
Larry

Aug 16, 2010 | 10:12 PM

fifty-two_f1

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 1,342

Likes: 1

From: Jamestown, IN

run a hot wire to the coil directly from the battery the next time it happens and try it.

Aug 17, 2010 | 04:10 PM

raerjim

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,696

Likes: 1

From: S.W. Florida

Nothing wrong with the coil, Gentlemen.

Aug 17, 2010 | 06:10 PM

mtflat

Lead Driver

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 6,779

Likes: 556

From: Kalispell, MT

I've never experienced "vapor-lock", but I have seen bad coils, bad condensers fuel pump failure and blocked fuel lines........... guess I don't have any solutions to offer.

Aug 18, 2010 | 03:13 AM

55 f350

Post Fiend

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 5,776

Likes: 2

From: springfield il

if it's not the coil and or condenser , and truly is vapor lock well .... i cured mine via an electric pump and i built a homemade , insulated heat shield around the regulator on the firewall . it wasn't pretty but it works .

yep i experienced it when the flatty was first fired up and ran for any length of time , and everything was kosher . dain thing was perculating the fuel in the bowl on the pump . the electric was then put on for that reason , and i kinda bent the fuel pump rod when i pulled the pump to take her apart and look and put it back together ............. the incident i had a year or so later that i thought was vapor lock turned out to be a brand new 12 volt coil that when you first checked it cold to warm read right but when it got good and hot whammo it'd strand you !!!!!!!!!!!! i also done what i could to get the lines away from any heat source like the headers .