Aluminum foil around gas line?

[Burgie]

Does wrapping aluminum foil around the gas line really help eliminate vapor lock?

[JayJay]

Last summer I drove to New Mexico from the California in June, and vapor locked several times during the heat of the day. On the way home I wrapped aluminum foil around the fuel line and did not have any issues with vapor lock the rest of the trip, even though I overheated several times. I don't know if the two are positively connected, but I keep aluminum foil on the line anyhow. After all, other than looking a bit strange, what's the harm?

[cadillac512]

Originally Posted by Burgie

Does wrapping aluminum foil around the gas line really help eliminate vapor lock?

It may since it reflects heat and insulates a bit if it's fit loosely. A lot better than wooden clothes pins!

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

It helps deflect the engine compartment heat off the gas line.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Burgie

Does wrapping aluminum foil around the gas line really help eliminate vapor lock?

In my experience, no it does not help.

The fuel is boiling in the carb, not the fuel line initially. You have a metal carb and a steel fuel line directly connected to it. The issue is the transfer of the heat from the carb to the fuel line. Of course you have the intake manifold bolted directly to the exhaust manifold, that doesn't help either. That's where the heat from the fuel line is coming from.

I use phenolic spacers too, and those don't seem the slow the heat transfer much. Foil is a reflector, not an insulator so it does nothing to stop the heat transfer from the carb to the fuel line.

[BButturff]

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If I was going to try something like this I wouldn't use aluminum foil. I would use 8 AWG un-insulated solid soft annealed aluminum antenna grounding wire which is .128" in diameter and easily bendable to wrap many times around the gas line. It can be found at most hardware stores and big box home improvement stores. In my estimation this would provide a much, much larger surface area for dissipating heat. But I live in Minnesota so I'll probably never need to try it.

[Mulletwagon]

Interesting discussion. Maybe by creatively forming "cooling fins" in the aluminum foil before wrapping it around the fuel line might make the makeshift system a little more efficient. Great engineering experiment !

[Synchro909]

IMO, the relatively large diameter of the fuel line on a Model A contributes to this problem. If the line was a smaller diameter, the fuel would run through it at a higher speed, thus giving it less time to get hot and delivering cooler fuel tot he carburettor. The limit to this is, of course, that the fuel relies solely on gravity to get to the carby.

[norcalal]

Here in California with the ethanol fuel vapor lock can be common. I run a few ounces of automatic transmission fluid in the gas when I fill up. A great fuel stabilizer, detergent, rust preventative as well. Several years ago on an extreme climb in the Rockies out of over 20 cars, mine was the only one that didn’t vapor lock!

[JayJay]

Come to think of it, on the way back from New Mexico (see post #2 above) in addition to the foil on the gas line, I think I may have added a dollup of MMO in each fill. That may have made a difference.

[lrf]

Be sure you use a copper gasket between the carb and intake as Ford did originally, it does make a difference. LRF

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

IMO, the relatively large diameter of the fuel line on a Model A contributes to this problem. If the line was a smaller diameter, the fuel would run through it at a higher speed, thus giving it less time to get hot and delivering cooler fuel tot he carburettor. The limit to this is, of course, that the fuel relies solely on gravity to get to the carby.

No matter how big or small the line is, the flow out of the float valve will be the limiting factor on flow amount and speed. If you compared the A fuel line size to other cars, you’ll see it’s quite small for a non pressure system. Gravity systems take 2-3 times the line size of a pressurized system.

[nkaminar]

Gasoline is blended different for different parts of the country and for different times of the year. Where, when, it is colder more volatile components are added so that the engine will start easier. If these winter grades are run in hot conditions that can lead to a vapor lock.

[Bob-A]

I use to have a vapor lock problem with my '29 Chevy and it had a mechanical fuel pump. Via the FordBarn many, many years ago. I read about using Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas. Once I started using MMO no vapor lock. I no longer own the Chevy, but I do use the MMO in my "A".


Bob-A


"Skirts are for Women not Car Fenders"

[chap52]

A little MMO into the gas tank every fill-up is an all-around good idea. Chap

[old31]

Jayjay is "dollup" technical oil talk?

[nkaminar]

Cooking term.

[Herb Concord Ca]

I also use MMO in my fuel tank year-round. Never had a vapor lock problem.

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by old31

Jayjay is "dollup" technical oil talk?

Affirmative, engineering term. "Dollup" is about halfway between a "smidge" and a "glug".

[rotorwrench]

The clothes pin fix required too many clothes pins to effectively insulate the whole fuel line. That is all that the pins do but just about any insulator wrap would do the same thing. the heat sink idea would be to hope that whatever heat transfer fins would remove heat always depends on how much air flow is passing the fins to add a cooling affect.

I would wonder if the vehicle has the engine pans in place to give the intended air movement Ford designed in. I'd also wonder if the cooling system is in good condition and the exhaust system is sealed well. Other things may include a manifold heat exchanger accessory. Idling for extended periods in hot weather will also have an affect. High heat can also lead to problems with the ignition condenser. Some folks install heat shields to make life easier.