Vapor Lock & Fuel Geyser Awareness

[SteveSr]

Hello,

This information was put together by the USFS and is a valuable "heads up" to those of us working around small engines in warm temperatures.

Recently I have personally experienced vapor lock... but luckily no fuel geysers... in a Stihl MS180 and 025 in ambient temperatures over 80 degrees.

Here is a direct link to the website in the attached PDF document:
https://sites.google.com/a/firenet.gov/national-fuel-geysering-awareness-campaign/

The web site contains incident reports and several interesting and sobering videos which are well worth the time to watch.

This issue has been "enabled" by EPA mandated non-vented fuel tanks which allow pressure buildup. Stihl "flippy caps" have exacerbated the situation as they don't allow the gradual release of pressure like a screw cap.

Please feel free to share this post with your friends and co-workers who use saws and other gas powered equipment. Stay safe out there.

 

[Mac&Homelite]

Nice article. Thanks for sharing! I personally have experienced vapor lock as well as the fuel geysers on my Stihl Ms361. You learn really quick to twist the cap open just enough to slowly let the pressure off. It's not hard to do once you do it a couple of times, but slightly annoying to always have to pay attention to.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Just says "can't open file".

 

[1Alpha1]

About a week or so ago, I was using my blower. It was about 105 out. I went to check the fuel level and began to unscrew the fuel tank cap. I could feel that it was under pressure, so I slowly unscrewed it.

No geyser, but I did get mix all over my hand. First time it's ever done that.

 

[SteveSr]

Just says "can't open file".

You will need a PDF viewer installed on your PC or phone to open the file.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

You will need a PDF viewer installed on your PC or phone to open the file.

Not sure, I can view PFDs fine, but it's not working. No big deal.

 

[TBS]

Heres another link with pdfs.
https://www.wildfirelessons.net/orp...umentKey=fcf34c85-381d-48e2-b5fb-d4070cb6b88d

I've had fuel spray many times when opening caps on weed trimmers when it real hot but no geysers luckily. The new fuel cans do the same thing only worse.

 

[Mac&Homelite]

Heres another link with pdfs.
https://www.wildfirelessons.net/orp...umentKey=fcf34c85-381d-48e2-b5fb-d4070cb6b88d

I've had fuel spray many times when opening caps on weed trimmers when it real hot but no geysers luckily. The new fuel cans do the same thing only worse.

Haven't gotten a new fuel can yet. I can only imagine how much of a pain they are. Why does the EPA do this to us!!!

 

[TBS]

Don't, they turn into red basketballs when its hot and the spouts fail quickly leaking fuel everywhere unless you have one made by midwest.