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Re: Europa-List: Power loss, on taxi, vapour locking?

Subject: Re: Europa-List: Power loss, on taxi, vapour locking?
From: Jeff B <topglock@cox.net>
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:48:40

Richard,

Two things... Yes, it could be vapor lock.  Check fuel lines and 
insulate as needed.  I used the orange silicone, 2000 degree cover and 
it works well.  Second, check to see that you don't have a leaky exhaust 
that might allow heat to get to the carb bowls.  This will boil the fuel 
in them and cause the same effect as vapor lock.

Hope this helps.

Jeff - Baby Blue

On 8/24/2011 4:09 AM, Richard Lamprey wrote:
> -->  Europa-List message posted by: "Richard 
> Lamprey"<lamprey.richard@gmail.com>
>
> Greetings from Kenya, using the new modern approach of communication with the
forum (thanks Ira!)
>
> My Europa is classic, Rotax 912 UL, Warpdrive ground-adjusted prop.  550 hours
on the engine.  The airfield altitude is 5500, the temperature was 28 C, so
hot and high but we are used to that.
>
> Yesterday, I landed and back-tracked the runway, and on backtrack the engine
suddenly lost power.  Full power to expedite the backtrack, she ran very rough,
almost cutting out.  Reducing on the throttle just gave me a smooth 3000 rpm,
enough to move slowly.  Back at the hangar, I opened up the cowlings, ran a
fuel flow check, no problems, plenty of fuel pressure (200% of max 
requirements).
Cleaned the plugs (quite clean, nothing unusual).  Checked for full deflection
of the throttle cable at both carb ends, no problem there.  The vapour return
line was clear, so no problem there.  I closed up, did full power run up,
no problems, flew for another 15 minutes without incident.
>
> Could this be due to vapour lock in the fuel lines under the cowling?  The 
> fuel
lines from fuel pump back to carbs runs in fire-sleeve along the top right
side of the engine, but I think this is pretty standard.  On the previous 
landing
I had to go around, so full power and she was running quite hot, but nothing
unusual.  We use unleaded petrol (95 octane), and I have read somewhere that
in UK you should not use mogas above 6000 density altitude due to vapour locking
characteristics.  So every takeoff we do here is above this altitude anyway.
>
> Does anyone have an idea of what caused this?
>
> Best
> Richard
> Classic 5Y-LRY
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=350410#350410
>
>
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