Vapor lock

Definitions

• A condition in which air enters the fuel system and it may be difficult, or impossible, to restart the engine. Vapor lock may occur as a result of running a fuel tank completely dry, allowing air to enter the fuel system. On fuel-injected engines, th
• A problem that mostly affects gasoline-fuelled internal combustion engines. It occurs when the liquid fuel changes state from liquid to gas while still in the fuel delivery system. This disrupts the operation of the fuel pump, causing loss of feed pressure to the carburetor or fuel injection system, resulting in transient loss of power or complete stalling. Restarting the engine from this state may be difficult. The fuel can vaporise due to being heated by the engine, by the local climate, or due to a lower boiling point at high altitude.

References

• Airplane Flying Handbook, Federal Aviation Administration, 2021
• Weight-Shift Control Aircraft Flying Handbook, Federal Aviation Administration, 2008