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From: johnbl@tekig5.UUCP (John Blankenagel)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Vapor Lock
Message-ID: <342@tekig5.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Nov-85 10:35:50 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig5.342
Posted: Mon Nov 25 10:35:50 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 29-Nov-85 11:20:20 EST
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Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
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> Im sorry Randle but there is no such thing as "Vapor Lock" in today's
> automobiles.  Vapor lock originated with the gravity feed fuel systems
> of the Model T era because what would happen is the gas would get
> close to boiling and bubbles would form in the fuel lines and try to
> go up as the fuel is trying to go down.  The result was a stalemate or
> what is known as vapor lock.

I have no doubt that that is when vapor lock was first seen but even 
vehicles with mechanical fuel pumps are sometimes prone to vapor lock.  Or
at least they used to be.  My brother has a 1942 Dodge Power Wagon (army
type) and he had to install an electric fuel pump because the mechanical
one would vapor lock when the engine got hot.  I think bubbles would collect
in the fuel pump so that the diaphram was pushing against bubbles instead
of against non-compressible gasoline.  Hence, no gas would get pumped.  It
seems like my old '61 Dodge pickup used to do that once in a while when I
was climbing hills too.  All this was at about 7000-10000 feet altitude
though so it may be different at sea level.

John Blankenagel