What is the best way to prevent Vapor Lock in this heat??

[msmaron]

Well had vapor lock this AM... Hot here in Chicago and very frustrating,. What is the best way to help prevent that from happening and why is it happening., What adjustments need to be made
mark

[ford1]

keep all the fuel lines as far away from the exhaust system as you can, when the lines are close to the exhaust system shield them with metal shields, create an air space between the exhaust and the lines, do the same with the fuel pump, some speed shops sell a shield that bolts on the engine between the pump and block if not make one

[msmaron]

There is NO FUEL PUMP???? and the lines cannot be moved away from where they are. This is a 31 sidebowl carb...I can see keeping away from heat but there has to be other ways?

[Logan]

make sure you have a good venting cap. then also this is not original but run a rubber gas line instead of a metal one. We cut ours about 3 inches from the sediment bowl or in your case the shut of valve. Then do the same thing on the line that attaches to the carb. It keeps the gas cooler, and as we all know mostlikely the rubber line will not get as hot as the metal one. Also Tillison carbs dont get as hot as the zeniths because of the different kind of metals. Hope this helps.

[Logan]

also if it happens again, pour soda (yes the drink) on the carb.

[Mitch//pa]

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are your engine pans installed?

[msmaron]

Logan, sent you an email, please explain as in the email
Mark

[Jason in TX]

Logan has some good advise. He's saying to cut your metal fuel line and use hose clamps to clamp rubber line onto the short piece of metal fuel line left that is coming out of the shut off valve. You could also use a hose barb on a late 31 with shut off valve outside the car.

Or you can try the old trick of wooden clothes pins clipped on the fuel line to pull the heat away from the fuel lines. I think that trick is a little bit of snake oil though.

If you are wanting to keep the metal lines for when people look at your car, but have something you can put on when you're driving, why not try cutting a piece of rubber fuel line length ways so that you can slip it over your metal fuel line like a piece of foam insulation on a pipe. Then just pull it off at a show. I have no experience with something like that, but it might work also.

[msmaron]

That is what i was thinking, like an insulator rather than replace. I have never had this happen with my other car, so i was a bit concerned..

[Jason in TX]

the rubber fuel line won't go around corners very easily after you cut a big slit in it, so you will probably need to hodge podge put a few pieces on there. Or secure it with hose clamps or zip ties

[msmaron]

MMO i add 4 oz to EVERY single fill up and last night did the same when i filled it up and boom in the am, VAPOR LOCK!

[Jason in TX]

Your car should be pretty cool in the AM. This isn't hot mid-day driving you're talking about.

Could it possibly be sediment from your tank collecting at the fuel shut off valve? Do you have one of those tiny fuel filter screens behind your shut off valve?

[msmaron]

Yes there is a filter, i have an indented fire wall with the shut off outside the car.,

[Jason in TX]

Oh yeah. I forgot you had the indented firewall. That opening for the fuel shut of valve shouldn't have any junk in it. The side bowl on the carb shouldn't clog since the sediment should just fall to the bottom of the bowl of the filter.

So yup. I would say vapor lock as well. I guess give the insulation trick a try.

[Jason in TX]

By the way, that is a beautiful stock looking engine compartment. It would be a shame to start sticking all kinds of silly looking stuff all over that fuel line!

[msmaron]

I know that is what is making me crazy to go ahead and start adding tubing and tape and such.. Has to be another way to prevent this

[Blessyouboys]

Are you certain your fuel tank is vented through the cap properly?

I've been been driving my Tudor all day in this heat, and I have had absolutely no problems with it. I've also never had a problem with the 10% ethanol we have to deal with here.

[msmaron]

yes i have a vented gas cap,. Would a bad one make a difference?

[roccaas]

A poorly venting cap (clogged) will allow vacuum to build up in the tank and the gas won't easily flow. I had an old Z car that vapor locked (SU carbs next to the exhaust manifold), such that we had to put on Webers. It also had a vacuum cleaner strong cap that had to be manually vented as the fuel level dropped by more than 1/4th of the tank.

I run straight gas with no booze in it, so I cannot comment on the ethanol issue.

[msmaron]

Originally Posted by roccaas

A poorly venting cap (clogged) will allow vacuum to build up in the tank and the gas won't easily flow.

Well let me check it out and thank you