Vapor lock?

[John D.]

Re: Vapor lock?

I am running 260 Sunoco. Yeah I wish. Try some good 100LL if you can get it. The old FI's absolutely love it.

Story: In June of 2008 after my 63 FI car went thru ops at the Seven Springs Regional I ran the engine for about half an hour with the hood closed. It was at least 93 degrees that day. Then I shut it down and watched the heat gauge go sky high. Waited about ten minutes. Started the car up and it ran like a clock.
The guys were around my "63LWC and said that's because you do FI's. I said not really men. It's because I am burning 100LL. Tru story. JD

[Richard S.]

Re: Vapor lock?

I did the Ethanol Free website and find that it would take about 16 gallons of fuel to reach the nearest station that provides fuel without ethanol. Would a Tetraethyl Lead additive help?

[Michael W.]

Re: Vapor lock?

I did the Ethanol Free website and find that it would take about 16 gallons of fuel to reach the nearest station that provides fuel without ethanol. Would a Tetraethyl Lead additive help?

No. It appears that you have a percolation problem. As far as I know, an anti-detonation additive (lead) will not cure a percolation issue. Listen to Duke- his posts are free of 'smoke and mirrors'.

[George J.]

Re: Vapor lock?

Regardless of what "brand" of gasoline you use, what you get is likely from the same refineries and distributors.

EPA regs tightly control gasoline properties like the distillation curve and Reid vapor pressure, which are primary considerations for vapor lock and percolation. There are also limitations on certain hydrocarbon families and some specific compounds.

About the only differences in brands are the additives including detergents. The majors have their own formulations and advertise them heavily in an attempt to differentiate their product. EPA regs require detergent additives, and there is an ASTM test that all have to meet.

Gasoline, nowadays, is basically like engine oil - generic - but instead of two generic formulations for motor oil, gasoline has one for each area of the country, and there are something like a dozen or more different areas, and for each area the properties vary by season.

There was a lot more quality variation back in the sixties when there were only a few industry standards for gasoline.

Duke

Duke,
I don't know when gas became homogeneous, but about ten years ago I switched from Sunoco 94 to Shell VPower, and it did take some changes in the fuel injection unit's settings to get it to run right again. I am fairly convinced that there was a difference in the fuels. In my opinion, before people try adding racing, or av gas, or whatever, they should use quality fuel, and go through their ignition system. If their fuel unit and their ignitions are built correctly, the only variables are fuel and settings, discounting altitude. There should be no reason that they can't get their unit to run on Shell, pump gas, with nothing else added, if I can.

George

[Jim D.]

Re: Vapor lock?

Zora did not have to contend with "Obama Gas"

What is "Obama gas"? If you're talking about it having 10% ethanol, it's been in our gas (Pacific Northwest) ever since the
Carter administration. Never had a problem running it in any motor I've owned. Funny how it's only lately that everyone is blaming it for everything from poor performance to athletes foot.

[Michael W.]

Re: Vapor lock?

Funny how it's only lately that everyone is blaming it for everything from poor performance to athletes foot.

Especially those that stand to gain financially by selling products or services that help prevent the sky from falling.