Chugging Along

Post date: Jul 24, 2016 5:52:38 AM

8:45

Today in hopes of fixing Lola's continued engine troubles, we replaced her gas filter. Unfortunately, it seems that that didn't work. She's actually running almost worse than before. I'm now sitting in an O'Reilly Auto Parts, writing this post and in decent need of coffee.

9:05

Back at O'Reilly. Lola's coughing, sputtering, shaking, and choking her way on a flat road so things aren't looking very good for my bulletproof engine.

9:40

AND WE'RE BACK! Something seems to have been wrong with my choke, it got stuck in position and my engine was flooding the whole time.

1:00

Stopped for some smoothies in Salt Lake City and now we're back on the road. Lola's running like a top once again.

Check out this test 360 video ....

Dad's Postscript

Woke up as an internet expert of vapor lock. Was actually pretty interesting learning about how changes in fuel (adding ethanol) has increased the possibility of having it in older cars that are pre fuel injector technology. Also to hear about possible work arounds (putting wooden close pins on fuel line to dissipate heat/insulate the line)

Went down to do my usual precheck/walk around on Lola. Had decided last night to change the fuel filter this morning while the engine is cooler. Wanted to move the car to do this (away from others and tilting to the front to aid in fuel flow from the tank). So fired up Lola (gave it a little choke) and since she had been running better last evening, I took her in a quick loop on slight grade to see how she wast doing .... horrible!

Went in to have breakfast and got Shaelyn up to help me change the fuel filter. Process went very smooth, and check of old filter revealed it was pretty bad, and was hopeful we had the problem solved.

Went up and showered and headed down to a local auto parts store to get a spare fuel filter (we travel with one). As soon as we pulled out on the highway Lola was sputtering - worse than yesterday. Stopped at the store (they did not have a filter) and asked about garages open on a Saturday. Turns out it is Pioneer Day today here in Utah - a local version of 4th of July. So every place was closed.

Things were looking bleak with tomorrow a Sunday. Pulled open the hood one more time. Just happened to think of pulling on the manual choke cable (we added one to help with cold weather starts). Pulled it fully shut and checked position of the handle inside the car. Something looked and felt different. Decided to see if there was a difference, and also thought that maybe running Lola around town to warm up (Vernal is pretty flat) might help. Thought we could drive over to a car wash we had seen on the far side of town. Pulled out cautiously on the road ....

Bingo! Lola seemed to be running like she used to .... Decided to chance heading out west (changed our route to go via Salt Lake City because of grades/topography). Re routed ourselves around Vernal's Pioneer Day parade, and hit the road west.

Lola seemed immediately like her old self. With her choke in proper position and new fuel filter she was back running like a top.

I felt pretty sheepish, and pretty lucky.

Lola ran like the champion she is all day long (over 500 miles) up hear to Salmon. Idaho. Last part of the trip was through some amazing country on some great driving roads. Lola purred like a kitten/roared like a lioness ... made us proud, happy. Kind of felt like we had embarrassed her west of Denver.

Had a Long Island Ice Tea with dinner.