vapor lock - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bossrod · 08-29-2007, 06:35 PM

I think I experienced a vapor lock the other day. Truck just shut down, started briefly and then shut down again and wouldn't refire. Went out today and it fired right up. I'm running headers on the vehicle and was in some bumper to bumper traffic just prior to the shut down. This is the only time it has happened in the short three weeks I've had it back on the road. Were there any shields on these trucks, 72 C-10, over by the gas line? Any suggestions on how to make sure this doesn't happen again? Would greatly appreciate any ideas as I have already searched the forum for answers.

ChevLoRay · 08-29-2007, 07:59 PM

Wow, vapor lock. Been a long time since I have heard of that happening.

Check the placement of your fuel lines. Getting them away from the heat is the key to solving this problem. I have seen people put clothespins on the fuel line under the hood to act as a heat sink. Don't know if it worked or not, but if it made the owner feel better, so what. Make sure your fuel line isn't laying on the intake and that air can move around it. I don't know if any of this will help and they are only suggestions. I just know that heat is the culprit. Make sure your cooling system is in good shape. A lean mixture at the carburetor will also cause your engine to run hotter. Sometimes, headers can lead to a leaner mixture.

68gmsee · 08-29-2007, 08:00 PM

Other than some sort of heat shield to protect the lines from the heat, I'm not sure what else you can do. A friend of mine used "wooden clothes pins on his car a long time ago. He swore it helped his problem. He had several along the fuel line going to the carb.... Looks dumb but, some will swear by this. It may be a way to test to see if that's your problem.

I've never had any problems with vapor lock on any of my vehicles. I would imagine the line would have to be by a very hot part of the engine like the headers or something.

Just make sure that it's not something else such as filters, ignition, carb adjustments, etc.

Shyguy · 08-29-2007, 09:43 PM

I had a similar problem years ago with a motorhome. I installed an electric fuel pump real close to the gas tank and it solved the problem.

A friend of mine had dual exhausts put on his motorhome which caused an oven effect between the frame where the gas line was causing vapor locking. He solved the problem by running the gas line on the outside of the frame.

Danny - Southeast Missouri

hemihead · 08-29-2007, 10:03 PM

I have had this happen 3 times this year. Leave the truck sit and it restarts. My line runs bythe headers and rests on the block on its way to the carb.

I definitely will re-route what I can and maybe some header wrap as well.

bossrod · 08-30-2007, 06:36 AM

Thanks guys for all the ideas, hopefully I'll overcome this problem real quick. My engine isn't overheating as I have twin SPALs and it pumps a lot of air. The header heat problem is most likely what needs to be addressed. I'll check also if the filter is on the manifold and make a braket to solve that.

Again thanks for the info, this forum rocks!

72armyswbtruck · 08-30-2007, 06:39 AM

Never heard of clothes pins being used before

68gmsee · 08-30-2007, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72armyswbtruck

Never heard of clothes pins being used before

Not surprised. I was raised in the country looong time ago when people tried everything. If it worked, they would pass it on.

Where I grew up, baling wire, duct tape, lighter fluid to inflate tires, soap and rubber fuel line patches for holes in the fuel tanks were not just stories. Old farmers and ranchers and some of us actually used these methods...

Shyguy · 08-30-2007, 10:31 AM

I was born on a small farm in the mid 40's. Most of our farm equipment was held together by baling wire.

My first vehicle was a '56 F*rd pickup and the exhaust hangers were all baling wire.

I remember when I was a kid we had a '51 F*rd car that would vapor lock and instead of fixing the problem my dad would carry water to poor on the spot when it vapor locked.

If any of you ever read the book "The Painted House" you will get a glimps into what it was like back in the those days where I grew up.

Danny-Southeast Missouri

72freak · 08-30-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bossrod

Thanks guys for all the ideas, hopefully I'll overcome this problem real quick. My engine isn't overheating as I have twin SPALs and it pumps a lot of air. The header heat problem is most likely what needs to be addressed. I'll check also if the filter is on the manifold and make a braket to solve that.

Again thanks for the info, this forum rocks!

Cary a bottle of water with you......normally cool water poured on the fuel pump will unlock it. Its worked for me MANY times. And yes......the clothes pin thing has been done here also untill a heat shield was fabricated.

08-29-2007, 06:35 PM	#1
bossrod Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groton, CT Posts: 168	vapor lock I think I experienced a vapor lock the other day. Truck just shut down, started briefly and then shut down again and wouldn't refire. Went out today and it fired right up. I'm running headers on the vehicle and was in some bumper to bumper traffic just prior to the shut down. This is the only time it has happened in the short three weeks I've had it back on the road. Were there any shields on these trucks, 72 C-10, over by the gas line? Any suggestions on how to make sure this doesn't happen again? Would greatly appreciate any ideas as I have already searched the forum for answers.

08-29-2007, 07:59 PM	#2
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: vapor lock Wow, vapor lock. Been a long time since I have heard of that happening. Check the placement of your fuel lines. Getting them away from the heat is the key to solving this problem. I have seen people put clothespins on the fuel line under the hood to act as a heat sink. Don't know if it worked or not, but if it made the owner feel better, so what. Make sure your fuel line isn't laying on the intake and that air can move around it. I don't know if any of this will help and they are only suggestions. I just know that heat is the culprit. Make sure your cooling system is in good shape. A lean mixture at the carburetor will also cause your engine to run hotter. Sometimes, headers can lead to a leaner mixture. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

08-29-2007, 08:00 PM	#3
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: vapor lock Other than some sort of heat shield to protect the lines from the heat, I'm not sure what else you can do. A friend of mine used "wooden clothes pins on his car a long time ago. He swore it helped his problem. He had several along the fuel line going to the carb.... Looks dumb but, some will swear by this. It may be a way to test to see if that's your problem. I've never had any problems with vapor lock on any of my vehicles. I would imagine the line would have to be by a very hot part of the engine like the headers or something. Just make sure that it's not something else such as filters, ignition, carb adjustments, etc.

08-29-2007, 09:43 PM	#4
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: vapor lock I had a similar problem years ago with a motorhome. I installed an electric fuel pump real close to the gas tank and it solved the problem. A friend of mine had dual exhausts put on his motorhome which caused an oven effect between the frame where the gas line was causing vapor locking. He solved the problem by running the gas line on the outside of the frame. Danny - Southeast Missouri

08-29-2007, 10:03 PM	#5
hemihead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Estevan, Sask, Canada Posts: 185	Re: vapor lock I have had this happen 3 times this year. Leave the truck sit and it restarts. My line runs bythe headers and rests on the block on its way to the carb. I definitely will re-route what I can and maybe some header wrap as well. __________________ 1967 SWB C-10, BBC 454, T400, 3.73 posi, 20" Coys 1972 K5 Blazer, SBC 400, 4 spd, 3.73, 6" lift, 35" mud grapplers 2011 Sierra Denali HD, 6.6 L Duramax, RBP 96R rims, leveled and Nitto trail grapplers, 2009 Acura MDX

08-30-2007, 06:36 AM	#6
bossrod Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groton, CT Posts: 168	Re: vapor lock Thanks guys for all the ideas, hopefully I'll overcome this problem real quick. My engine isn't overheating as I have twin SPALs and it pumps a lot of air. The header heat problem is most likely what needs to be addressed. I'll check also if the filter is on the manifold and make a braket to solve that. Again thanks for the info, this forum rocks!

08-30-2007, 06:39 AM	#7
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,033	Re: vapor lock Never heard of clothes pins being used before __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

08-30-2007, 10:31 AM	#9
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: vapor lock I was born on a small farm in the mid 40's. Most of our farm equipment was held together by baling wire. My first vehicle was a '56 Frd pickup and the exhaust hangers were all baling wire. I remember when I was a kid we had a '51 Frd car that would vapor lock and instead of fixing the problem my dad would carry water to poor on the spot when it vapor locked. If any of you ever read the book "The Painted House" you will get a glimps into what it was like back in the those days where I grew up. Danny-Southeast Missouri



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