Vapor lock

Tiny
RON1
  • MEMBER
  • GMC
What is vapor lock, and what affect does it have on the engine?My truck just started running rough then died.A few hours later it started right up. Thank You Ron.
Tuesday, January 24th, 2006 AT 6:55 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
MVANNESSJR
  • MECHANIC
  • 223 POSTS
When gasoline overheats and boils inside the carburetor bowl or fuel pump of a hot engine, it ceases to flow. This can cause stalling or hard starting. This is called vapor lock, and it usually happens during hot weather. If a hot engine won't start, all you can do is let it sit and cool off. You should check the cooling system to see if anything is causing the engine to run unusually hot (a bad thermostat or cooling fan, for example).

Is there a pattern to the stalling? It could be a fuel pump going bad (a pressure test can usually tell this) or something as simple at an IAC (Idle Air Control) or TB (Throttle Body) full of carbon deposits causing the stall.
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Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 AT 1:22 AM

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