Anybody had a problem with "vapor lock"?? What exactly happens when an engine vapor locks??

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1986 Trans AM
355 TPI
4 Wheel Disc Brakes
9 bolt Borg Warner Rear (2.77's....oh joy) :P
6" rods, approx. 9.7:1 Compression, Stock TPI (soon to be ported), 24#/hr LTI injectors (cleaned and flowmatched by Cruizin Performance), Hedman Shorty Headers, 3" exhaust with 80 series flowmaster, SBC 993 heads completely redone and modified for 1.6 RR, 1.52 RR (for now), Comp Cams XE262-14 TPI Cam, Holley AFPR, TPIS airfoil, MSD wires, MSD 6-AL Ignition, Hypertech 53,000 volt coil.

Track times to come.

 

Had a Honda that vapor locked. The fuel boils in the fuel line, and turns to a gas. The carb needs liquid fuel to fill the float bowl.
I wouldn't think that TPI can vapor lock because of the return style pressure regulator. Also, the high fuel pressure means the fuel requires more heat to boil.

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88 IROC with cobbled together (not by me)drivetrain, 86 (?) TPI unit on an '83 305,CE subframe connectors, Edelbrock strut tower brace, polygraphite bushings all around...it handles like a dream, but man is it hard to push!!

 

Just doing some trouble shooting and it was a thought since my fuel lines sit about 6 inches from the drivers side header. But that's probably not what it is.... I think I just need to raise my fuel pressure a bit.

 

Vapor lock really can only happen with a pull- or draw-through style pump that, for lack of a better word, "sucks" fuel out of the tank. The gas in the line between the pump and the tank turns to vapor (from heat, usually). The pump is unable to suck the vapor and stops supplying the engine with fuel, causing the car to stall and fail to restart until the fuel cools.

Positive displacement electric fuel pumps mounted in the gas tank cannot "vapor lock" unless the gasoline in the tank all turns to vapor. I think it would explode from the pressure before you had to worry about vapor lock back there .

I suppose it is possible that the fuel boiling in the line could cause fluctuating fuel pressure and performance problems, but the motor really cannot "vapor lock" per se.

[This message has been edited by 99Hawk120 (edited November 19, 2001).]

 

Thanks... good explanation. Makes me feel better now. I still plan to move my fuel lines eventually though but it's good to know I'm ok for now.

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1986 Trans AM
355 TPI
4 Wheel Disc Brakes
9 bolt Borg Warner Rear (2.77's....oh joy) :P
6" rods, approx. 9.7:1 Compression, Stock TPI (soon to be ported), 24#/hr LTI injectors (cleaned and flowmatched by Cruizin Performance), Hedman Shorty Headers, 3" exhaust with 80 series flowmaster, SBC 993 heads completely redone and modified for 1.6 RR, 1.52 RR (for now), Comp Cams XE262-14 TPI Cam, Holley AFPR, TPIS airfoil, MSD wires, MSD 6-AL Ignition, Hypertech 53,000 volt coil.

Track times to come.