A returnless system, by contrast, will keep fuel in the line and allow it to soak up excess heat. First, it’s a return system in which excess fuel is returned back to the fuel tank to cool down. We’ve designed our turnkey fuel supply system around this approach for two reasons. At Prestige Motorsports, our favorite method is to install an Aeromotive in-tank fuel pump and return system. So, what’s a vehicle enthusiast with a carbureted engine to do? There are several ways to solve vapor lock problems, including installing an electric fuel pump or adding a plastic carb spacer. Finding the Best FixĪs you can imagine, under-hood temps get much higher on the street than they did in our test. Unfortunately, modern fuel blends can boil at temps as low as 100 degrees. In our test, with an ambient temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the temp of the line reaches just 120 degrees. Once the engine compartment heats up, though, the fuel starts to boil and air bubbles form. This allowed us to see the hose filling with fuel, with no air bubbles present. To confirm a vapor lock problem, we installed a clear hose from the fuel pump to the carburetor inlet. After sitting for an hour or two, it will start again and run with no apparent problems. Once it’s been shut off, however, it won’t restart. It’s got a mechanical fuel pump and a 4-barrel carburetor and runs fine.
In this example, the team is working on a 1960 Chevy Impala street cruiser with a 350-HP engine belonging to a North Carolina customer. In a case where vapor lock is suspected, definitive diagnosis is key. Its boiling point is much lower than fuel blends of the past, and it’s more volatile. This problem has really ramped up in the last few decades because modern fuel is designed for fuel-injected engines and electric fuel pumps. It commonly occurs when a car has been idling or has been turned off and then back on. Vaporized fuel creates back pressure in your fuel system and prevents gas from getting to your engine. Vapor lock happens when your fuel boils in your carburetor or your fuel line.
There’s a reason why old-school car guys might not make the leap to vapor lock. In our video on vapor lock, Eric LaBore explains how the fuel itself can cause problems and how Prestige Motorsports addresses the root causes of vapor lock. At Prestige Motorsports, we see these symptoms all the time, and the cause is always the same. Is your car suddenly running rough or stalling out in warm temperatures? Does it need to sit for hours before it’ll start after you shut it off? These issues are common, and they’re often blamed on carburetors.
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