Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Irritating vapor lock issues
| Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182394] |
Thu, 30 August 2012 10:52  |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma: 3
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I have never had this problem with my coach, but I'm not driving my coach.
Yesterday and a bit the day before the coach started stumbling on each take off after stopping for a light.
After initial stumbling the engine would power up and run ok til next stop.
Tanks were full of fresh central and N/W Indiana gas. Driving on the level with ambient temps less than 90*
Coach has no elec pump and since it's not mine I'm not going to install one while on the road.
Any suggestions for temp relief other than keeping the tanks full and driving at night when it's cooler?
I'll buy premium at next fill up.
Any additive that may help?
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
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| Re: Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182430 is a reply to message #182394] |
Thu, 30 August 2012 14:14  |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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I had some vapor lock problems on my jeep grand wagoneer. about two dozen people told me to put clothes pins on the fuel lines.
I never did, and just installed an electic pump by the tank. but you might be desperate enough to give that a try.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182448 is a reply to message #182394] |
Thu, 30 August 2012 17:38 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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| gbarrow wrote on Thu, 30 August 2012 10:52 |
I have never had this problem with my coach, but I'm not driving my coach.
Yesterday and a bit the day before the coach started stumbling on each take off after stopping for a light.
After initial stumbling the engine would power up and run OK til next stop.
Tanks were full of fresh central and N/W Indiana gas. Driving on the level with ambient temps less than 90*
Coach has no elec pump and since it's not mine I'm not going to install one while on the road.
Any suggestions for temp relief other than keeping the tanks full and driving at night when it's cooler?
I'll buy premium at next fill up.
Any additive that may help?
|
First as I posted before. NEVER buy gas within a 50 mile radius of Chicago. This includes the 3 NW counties of Indiana. It is guaranteed to have 10% Craponol. It has been that way here for about 20 years. If you are headed north on I-65 stop an Mile 201 or 230 for fuel. If you are headed westbound on the toll road or US 30 stop for fuel BEFORE you enter LaPorte, Porter, or Lake counties. It makes no difference which grade you buy in the affected areas, they all contain Craponol.
Second problem: Over 700 stations in Chicago and NW Indiana received some of the Craponol fuel that had the bad mix of some kind of polymer in it. The last I saw there are over 7000 claims against BP for problems with it. If affects ALL brands in the area, but the major ones making the papers are BP, Speedway, Costco, and Meijer. There are still trucks running around pumping out the bad fuel from some of these stations.
Some enterprising fellow is also running around with a tanker that says "Environmental services" on it. He is pumping out good fuel tanks at various stations. The stations do not figure they have been scamed until they call and ask where their replacement fuel is and when it will be delivered.
Is some states and provinces (Minnesota and Missouri that I know of), premium fuel may be sold without craponol added. The key word in the previous sentence is "may".
Now if you got fuel in NW Indiana and it is really vapor lock the only things you can do is, Install an electric fuel pump, drive when it is cool until the fuel in gone. I just checked the required vapor pressure for Illinois and it is the same as Indiana for August fuel so do not expect anything better there.
If it was your coach I would suggest the installation of intake crossover blocking plates, 180 degree thermostat, install insulating sleeve over the the steel fuel line between the mechanical pump and the carb (aviation fire sleeve works well here), and install an electric fuel pump near on in the tanks.
I live here in NW Indiana and never have had a vapor lock problem. I DO NOT buy Craponol "blended" fuel for my GMC and have done all of the above things to my coach.
For now I suggest you look at the web sites. http://www.buyrealgas.com/
http://pure-gas.org/
They do not by an means show all of the real gas locations but it might help. Also get yourself a graduated bottle and test the fuel for ethanol before filling up your coach.
On the second item, If you got some of this bad mix fuel which is still floating around NW Indiana, I suggest the carb fuel filter and any other filters in the fuel system be changed. Then add several cans of carb cleaner mixed in the gas to try to dissolve any of the tar like crap that may have gotten in the fuel system.
A carb filter change is worth the time just to see if there anything else floating around in the fuel system like rust etc. Take the old filter apart to see what is inside it.
Good Luck on your trip.
Get a bottle and test your future fuel purchases.
Ken B.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182487 is a reply to message #182448] |
Thu, 30 August 2012 20:32 |
mickeysss
Messages: 1476
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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this gas problem is not here in anaheim, i saw a station in santa monica that was a mix of this stuff, thanks for bringing this out. Out here
it is not around much. i guess it is in the corn belt more for there is no fees for moving it around if put in the gas in the area. I am from the corn belt but
that is mainly due to my jokes. Thanks for making this obvious about this gas, it must be like my grandmother and make brownies - in the tank.
It is a lot of trouble cleaning up gas deposits all the time. wow.
mickey
anaheim
ca 77 palm beach
On Aug 30, 2012, at 3:38 PM, Ken Burton wrote:
>
>
> gbarrow wrote on Thu, 30 August 2012 10:52
>> I have never had this problem with my coach, but I'm not driving my coach.
>>
>> Yesterday and a bit the day before the coach started stumbling on each take off after stopping for a light.
>>
>> After initial stumbling the engine would power up and run OK til next stop.
>>
>> Tanks were full of fresh central and N/W Indiana gas. Driving on the level with ambient temps less than 90*
>>
>> Coach has no elec pump and since it's not mine I'm not going to install one while on the road.
>>
>> Any suggestions for temp relief other than keeping the tanks full and driving at night when it's cooler?
>>
>> I'll buy premium at next fill up.
>>
>> Any additive that may help?
>
>
> First as I posted before. NEVER buy gas within a 50 mile radius of Chicago. This includes the 3 NW counties of Indiana. It is guaranteed to have 10% Craponol. It has been that way here for about 20 years. If you are headed north on I-65 stop an Mile 201 or 230 for fuel. If you are headed westbound on the toll road or US 30 stop for fuel BEFORE you enter LaPorte, Porter, or Lake counties. It makes no difference which grade you buy in the affected areas, they all contain Craponol.
>
> Second problem: Over 700 stations in Chicago and NW Indiana received some of the Craponol fuel that had the bad mix of some kind of polymer in it. The last I saw there are over 7000 claims against BP for problems with it. If affects ALL brands in the area, but the major ones making the papers are BP, Speedway, Costco, and Meijer. There are still trucks running around pumping out the bad fuel from some of these stations.
>
> Some enterprising fellow is also running around with a tanker that says "Environmental services" on it. He is pumping out good fuel tanks at various stations. The stations do not figure they have been scamed until they call and ask where their replacement fuel is and when it will be delivered.
>
> Is some states and provinces (Minnesota and Missouri that I know of), premium fuel may be sold without craponol added. The key word in the previous sentence is "may".
>
> Now if you got fuel in NW Indiana and it is really vapor lock the only things you can do is, Install an electric fuel pump, drive when it is cool until the fuel in gone. I just checked the required vapor pressure for Illinois and it is the same as Indiana for August fuel so do not expect anything better there.
>
> If it was your coach I would suggest the installation of intake crossover blocking plates, 180 degree thermostat, install insulating sleeve over the the steel fuel line between the mechanical pump and the carb (aviation fire sleeve works well here), and install an electric fuel pump near on in the tanks.
> I live here in NW Indiana and never have had a vapor lock problem. I DO NOT buy Craponol "blended" fuel for my GMC and have done all of the above things to my coach.
>
> For now I suggest you look at the web sites. http://www.buyrealgas.com/
> http://pure-gas.org/
>
> They do not by an means show all of the real gas locations but it might help. Also get yourself a graduated bottle and test the fuel for ethanol before filling up your coach.
>
> On the second item, If you got some of this bad mix fuel which is still floating around NW Indiana, I suggest the carb fuel filter and any other filters in the fuel system be changed. Then add several cans of carb cleaner mixed in the gas to try to dissolve any of the tar like crap that may have gotten in the fuel system.
>
> A carb filter change is worth the time just to see if there anything else floating around in the fuel system like rust etc. Take the old filter apart to see what is inside it.
>
> Good Luck on your trip.
> Get a bottle and test your future fuel purchases.
>
> Ken B.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182494 is a reply to message #182394] |
Thu, 30 August 2012 20:57 |
roy1
Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
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You can probibly nurse it ok on the flats but it can be a bitch in the mountians. I came back from Lake Tahoe today on 89 as I was climbing a steep section of the Pass at around 7500 ft in 2nd gear the motorhome starting cutting out badly so I pulled it into low and nursed it over the top at around 5 miles per hour. I figured I needed to un hook the toad. After I started going down I remembered I didn't have the electric pump turned on I was too busy trying to keep it going. I saw the clutch fan come on at 215(hayden 2797) I forgot all about the electric pump.
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
[Updated on: Thu, 30 August 2012 20:57] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182571 is a reply to message #182568] |
Fri, 31 August 2012 09:47 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Low wing piston driven aircraft run a mechanical and electric pumps in series for reliability just like most of us do. An electrical failure won't shut you down. A mechanical fuel pump failure wont shut down. A blown fuse will not shut you down. I'll stay with dual pumps.
What no one has tried on a GMC is a mechanical pump on one tank and an electric pump on the other tank. One tee and two check valves would do the trick. You could eliminate the selector valve. You could still wire the fuel pump to the tank selector switch.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182579 is a reply to message #182571] |
Fri, 31 August 2012 10:01 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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From: Ken Burton <n9cv@comcast.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2012 10:47 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Irritating vapor lock issues
Low wing piston driven aircraft run a mechanical and electric pumps in series for reliability just like most of us do. An electrical failure won't shut you down. A mechanical fuel pump failure wont shut down. A blown fuse will not shut you down. I'll stay with dual pumps.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Hay Ken, quick trivia - what high wing light plane was also certificated with both mechanical and electric pumps back in the 60?
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182589 is a reply to message #182568] |
Fri, 31 August 2012 12:04 |
roy1
Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
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[quote title=Mr ERFisher wrote on Fri, 31 August 2012 07:23]A good reason to run -only-an electric pump all the time
All modern cars do-------
Gene
Maybe I'll find the time after next weeks camp out I have the pumps just need the time to drop the tanks redo the fuel lines etc. It's tough to be retired with no time to do what needs doing.
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
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| Re: Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182596 is a reply to message #182394] |
Fri, 31 August 2012 12:34 |
bwevers
Messages: 597
Registered: October 2010
Location: San Jose
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Mine used to vapor lock on HWY 80 at Emigrant Gap with the
electric pump off. Now I replaced the mechanical pump with
a new one, and it's much better. Not as much vapor with the
new pump.
Bill Wevers GMC49ers, GMC Western States
1975 Glenbrook - Manny Powerdrive, OneTon
455 F Block, G heads
San Jose
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| Re: Irritating vapor lock issues [message #182902 is a reply to message #182394] |
Sun, 02 September 2012 11:06 |
g.winger
Messages: 792
Registered: February 2008
Location: Warrenton,Missouri
Karma: 0
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I've only hade vapor lock once on a old Econoline. But if i did on the GMC,,,I would as a temperary fix wrap aluminum foil around the fuel line in the engine copartment. 2 or 3 layers would do. Krinkle it on. Twist or even unscrew the clips and wrap. Then screw it back down.,,,,,PL
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