pdprich

Many regions like N.Y and NJ gas station change to higher volatility fuels around Sept/Oct. These fuels are used during the winter to improve the starting of the engine. However, if the weather is not cold enough, the heat from the engine will boil the fuel in the fuel lines from liquid to vapor and cause vapor lock.
This usually happen when your engine are hot and stop the car for 10min or more.
Once the fuel turn into vapor in the fuel line You will have a very hard time starting the engine.

I been experiencing this problem on my 1999 TL for many years ( I believe ever since I got the car).

As for the 2000 and higher TL. Acura release a new fuel pressure regulator and PCM to fix this problem. I believe this is cover under warranty only.

If you have a 1999 TL you are out of luck like me.

I finally decided that I had enough and try to figure out how to fix this.

When I remove the top plastic cover of the engine,

The first thing I notice is the fuel rail is under the intake manifold.

Second the fuel rail is made out of aluminum, if know most heat exchanger are made of aluminum, cause they like to conduct heat.

I warm up my engine and point an inferred thermometers on the fuel rail, the temp is the same as the intake manifold, This is hot!!! way too hot for winter fuel.

So I decided to cover my fuel rail with some type of heat shield.

I end up buying Thermo Tec, Thermo Shield tape. $17 from a local speed shop. (Thermo Tec 14002 Thermo Shield tape)

http://www.thermotec.com/product_detail.php?prd_id=10

Here's the steps.

1) Remove the top plastic engine cover.
2) Remove the intake.
3) Remove the intake manifold.
4) Make sure you cover you intake runner with something to prevent anything from going in to the engine.
5) Cut multiple 3 to 4 inch Termo Shield tape and start covering the fuel rail with the tape. Make sure you cover the entire fuel rail all around, to prevent heat from getting the the rail.

On the side note. you do not have remove the fuel rail or cover the fuel injectors.

I end up cover everything, from the Fuel Pressure Regulator, fuel host, fuel rail, including the fuel return line.

Once you are done reinstall everything in the reverse order, make sure you use a torque wrench and torque the intake manifold to 16 or 17lb/ft.

Total cost $17 and 2 Hours from start to finish

This resolve my vapor lock problems.

S1CK TypeS

now wht do u think would happen if someone did this to a 2000+ tl?

oh yea add this to the DIY thread

Hockeyman

just by outlaw TB spacers...does the same thing.

orgnlprankster7

hmm ive never experienced this but i have the spacers so that might be it

fsttyms1

Doesnt seem right that your getting vapor lock in a pressurized system. Fuel is pushed thru the lines and returned so cool fuel from the tank is going to overpower any hot vapor in the lines. I think its something else.

pdprich

At first I think it was my fuel pressure regulator or the fuel pump. When I found an Acura TSB related to the 2000+ TL I suspect the same thing is happening to my car. After some google search on NY state winter fuel spec requirement, the boiling point is very low and the temp on my fuel rail is right around the fuel boiling.

You are right about fuel injector systems, when we turn on our car the fuel line is pressurized to to 40+ PSI. I think the older fuel pressure regulator design might not have the ability to purge the vapor back to the return line. Thats why Acura release a new FPR as a fix.

fsttyms1

Hopefully your fix solves it