Thread: Fuel Pump Cover
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Old 04-19-2007, 02:29 AM
glennyrosa@comcast.net
 
Posts: n/a
Re: Fuel Pump Cover


My guess is the purpose of an electric fuel pump is to avoided vapor lock issues.My other guess is that I have been blessed. I have driven my Amphi on triple digit days over high passes without a problem. However, I became paranoid reading about vapor lockproblemswith Amhpi's that I installed a hi temp heat hose over the fuel line where it passes around the valve cover and over the exhaust manifold. What a dumb F--K'in design.

Which brings me to another thought: How many people drive their Amphi's with low octane fuel? The cheap fuel has a lower boiling point and will vapor lock before a higher octane will.

I run my Amphi on 100LL avgas because my heads haven't been modified with stelite seats and hardened valves yet. 100LL still has a small amount of lead to preserve my valve integrety. Avgas also has an additive which increases the boiling temp of fuel to prevent vapor lock. The boiling temp of fuel decreases as the atmospheric pressure drops. Pretty embarrassing to have an engine quit at altitude because of vapor lock. This has been a HUGE problem in aircraft ever since car fuel has been approved for some airplanes. Dumb idea.

Sure the avgas cost more, but think about it. How many miles do you drive your car a year? 500 miles and 150 in the water? What's the difference in price? $50 maybe?

My 1st suggestion is to switch to a higher grade of fuel if yer not already doing so and see what effect that has on you fuel vapor problem. If thatdoesn't help, I'd suggest going to your local airport and trying some avgas. Bring your 5 gallon jugs. Most airports are prohibited from fueling cars. Some won't want to do your jerry cans. 100LL is very popular with the snowmobilers around heredue to the low vapor pressure of aviation fuel.

High temp motors and vapor lock seem to be a common problem with this car. My Amphi is nearly stock and I have never had a problem with hi tempsor vapor lock.

The price of an electric fuel pump could make up the differencein the priceof avgas over a year.

Sure there's a design flaw in the fuel system. Owners have battled this problem over the years making hideous heat shields and what not to their cars when all they needed may have been a higher grade of motion lotion.

Can the electric pump until you have eliminated all other cures.

Glenn in oregon cold and wet but with new axles, bearings and seals this weekend. Woo Hoo!

-------------- Original message --------------
From: lah20car@aol.com




In a message dated 4/18/2007 6:29:40 PM Central Daylight Time, peter.pociask@gmail.com writes:


getting rid of the
mechanical fuel pump in favor of an electric


Not a good idea---- IMHO--tooooo much fuel pressure, requiring a regulator which after two months cratered on mine putting fuel all over where it did not need to be at a high rate.

I kept mine inline but with a switch to turn on or off, as on the first start after its been sitting but with the stock engine driven pump for normal use, but thats why Dave pays taxs, so everyone can do what they like.



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