vapor locking

My wife filled up with the cheapest gas she could find, 10% ethanol the day before our camping trip. The next day we went fully loaded and towing the trailer on a 2.5 hour drive climbing from 2,000 to over 7,200 feet with absolutely no problems. Shut her down after arriving at our camp to survey the campsite and let the ladies run for the outhouse. 10 minutes later went to restart and back the trailer, no start. Vapor lock. Popped the hood and let her cool down about 15 minutes and she starts right up. No more problems during the camping trip, I just tossed it off to the lower boiling point of ethanol combined with the low outside air pressure at that altitude. Even cooking rice there takes longer because water boils at a lower temp at higher altitude.

But after the drive home, dropping back to 2,000 feet, the same thing happened. Shut her down hot while the ladies ran for the bathrooms and I opened the gate to put the trailer away. Same problem. Vapor lock.

Has anyone else been having problems with vapor locking using ethanol blends? I noticed the lose of mpg and that alone is enough to convince me to stop using it unless the price is 15% less, but this is the first time I've had vapor locks.

Are you sure it was vapor lock. It surpises me that it would take that long to vapor lock if it was the fuel. Did she buy from a station that you normally don't shop?

Vapor lock & alky is described in the service manual and it also says to avoid alky. Letting it cool is the best way to handle it.
Since MTBE is not allowed, alky is being used to raise the octane of gasoline.

Did you try flooring the gas pedal to force fuel & vapors past the fuel injectors...this sometimes works on my 5.9 Cummins diesel.

Since MTBE is not allowed, alky is being used to raise the octane of gasoline.
Seems here in Idaho the alky is more of a sweetheart legislation for the farmers and ethanol companies than an octane booster. I hope the good ole' boys that passed this shit are drinking a better grade.

The conversion here will be complete soon and right now 10% ethanol pumps don't even have to be labeled. I have to watch for stations posting "no ethanol here".

I haven't had any problems with the Pontiac except 50 miles less range per tankful.

Are you sure it was vapor lock. It surpises me that it would take that long to vapor lock if it was the fuel. Did she buy from a station that you normally don't shop?

The Bravada has an in-tank fuel pump and a recirculating fuel delivery system so vapor lock is virtualy immpossible while the engine is running since fresh cool fuel is constantly being cirulated. It vapor locked when I shut it down hot and the fuel under the hood boiled in the lines.

And like Chris said, not much you can do exept wait for it to cool down. I had a canoe on the top so I could only raise the hood so much and prop it open with firewood.

I wonder if cycling the fuel pump with the keyswitch a coupla times would help?
It helps mine start if it hasn't been started in a long time.

Update: AAA of Idaho is posting a list of ethanol free stations on their website, you might find such a list on your states AAA website

It happened again this time to my daughter who got stranded on a realtivley cool August day, only 102 in the shade, not 20 mins after she fueled up with 10% blend. Learned her lesson, she's going to spend the extra 2 or 3 cents a gallon next time.