rons49 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Well summer is over, and I would like to know... did anyone successfully overcome vapor lock drivability issues by using kero or diesel for the last 12 months. Were there any penalties, such as, smoke, fouled plugs or what? Year and make of car, if possible. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Ron, Ive run a 1930 Franklin I own in extreme heat situations with a 4 parts gas to 1 part diesel with good results. No smoke , no plug problem and no vapor lock. It works! What also works is to add a t in the fuel line at the carb inlet and run a smaller return fuel line to the tank. Really quite easy to do ,with good results. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Al Brass Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Hi Ron,I was one of the repliers to the earlier post who suggested adding diesel. I've done it for some time and it works well. Like Mike, the only adverse thing I can say is that I have smelt a slight smell of diesel once in a while but not bad enough to be offensive.RegardsAl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Ron,I've used 10-20% diesel for nearly 25 years, in several of our old cars when they were subject to vapor-lock, but especially in my older Tow-Vehicles. My 1978 and 1986 Suburbans both had the 454 ci engine, and when at higher altitude in severe heat, they were much happier with the 20% diesel, and would continue to pull heavy trailers. I have installed a bypass-type fuel filter just prior to the carburetor on "driver-quality" tour cars. This allows fuel to constantly flow, and not sit near a hot manifold. Fuel which is not need by the carb is sent through the bypass port of the filter, and runs back to a nipple on the filler neck of the fuel tank. This works!I've not had any negative effects with regard to smoke or fouled plugs. I did notice a slight reduction in fuel mileage, but this is better than sitting on the side of the road for twenty minutes, or having to pour water on the fuel pump. It looks like "mikewest" has done the same thing. I've been doing this since the 80s, and it seems more valuable now that we have to contend with ethanol fuel.One man I know who used to be a Ford truck Factory Rep used to carry a sack of grapefruits. when confronted with vapor-lock- his advise was to cut a grapefruit in half, and to squeeze it down over the fuel pump. This is not my suggestion, but it did get a few laughs, and from what he claimed, it got you moving. I don't knopw about the old "clothespin" thing.......never could figure how wood clothespins conducted any heat away from the metal fuel line - but metal pins might work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMc Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 The grape fruit trick sounds like just a way to cool the pump. You can achieve very quick (and very temporary) vapor lock relief with a wet rag or a bottle of water poured over the pump (or vacuum tank in my case) and carburettor. I have use kerosene as a very effective solution for years, it works with no detecable adverse effects in 1920's cars which I am told will run on 100% kerosene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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