<VV> "Crappy gas" / Vapor lock, random thoughts (long)

[NicolCS@aol.com]

We all know that fuel is highly controlled these days. The makers cut a fine 
line between enough volatility to start the car after a night cool-down and 
not so much that the fuel boils later in the day after a heat-soak.  Fuels are 
blended for the local climate, and the volatility is adjusted from month to 
month.  If you change locales (like driving up to the mountains) or don't use a 
tank of fuel for a month or three, it is expected that one would experience 
trouble either on starting or boiling (and vapor lock).

One of the drags about driving an older car is that we aren't in a position 
to matter too much to the refiners.  For that last 20 years, cars have had 
pressurized fuel systems (virtually no vapor lock problems) and get their fuel 
through injectors, independant of airflow.  Refiners tweak things to make the 
majority happy and stay within the emissions laws.  We just don't fall into the 
main anymore.  It amazes me that my 63 year-old '41 Buick even runs on today's 
fuels. (It really amazes me)

It's natural that some of us are going to have trouble with vapor-lock and 
others don't.  We all use fuel that's blended for the local area and our 
environments really are "all over the map" (hehehe).

Once you have taken care of  proper maintenence (expecially fuel lines, tank 
sock, carb insulators, shroud sealing, timing), if you still have a problem, 
you could always add a booster pump near or in the tank (as many have 
mentioned). Fuel after the pump basically won't vaporize and if it does, the pump can 
overcome it.
Craig (Occasionally vapor-locked, after a drink or two) Nicol