Hi everyone. 2009 FL2 petrol, yesterday was a very hot 40C and I had been driving for an hour in stop start peak traffic. The temperature gauge was normal, but I guess it's just an idiot gauge anyway and the engine bay would have been pretty hot in that weather and traffic conditions. Anyway the engine started spluttering and there was a loss of power. Going up a hill it stopped altogether and would not start again. The engine warning light came on and I pulled the code P0171 which is fuel too lean, I have an ODB2 reader in the glove box.

After 20 mins the engine had cooled down and started ok and got me home without further incident. I suspect the hot day may have caused vapour lock, the petrol being too hot in the fuel rail and starving the engine. I had a similar problem years ago with a jag which suffered regularly from this. Back then a new fuel pump with a higher pressure output seemed to help, but in the FL2 I suspect this won't be an easy task.

I cleaned the MAF sensor, air filter and filled the tank with 95 octane ( it was almost empty ) and an injector cleaner to see if that helps, and when everything cooled off last night took it for a fault free run. I also removed the engine cover to allow a bit more air around the top of the engine as the cover is insulated underneath and could be making the area of the fuel rail and injectors hotter. Coolant and oil levels were fine by the way, no signs over engine overheating either and the electric fan on the rad was running ok.

Anyone else heard of vapour lock on these cars ? Anything else I could look at ? Freelander 2, Nissan Elgrand Autech Rider.

Not much chamce of that here in the UK

We're closer 4C on average

4c would suit me better to be honest. I love the Aussie autumn, winter and spring, but summer is a challenge for sure. I have an MX5 that stays in the garage through summer because it's too hot to drive with the top down. Crazy weather. And don't get me started on hot Christmas's, worst time of the year for an old northerner.  Freelander 2, Nissan Elgrand Autech Rider.

Was the radiator actually warm, then coolant was running thought it. If the radiator was relatively cool then the coolant was not running through the radiator.

If the engine gets a bit too hot the petrol will evaporate too early and the engine will splutter.

The thermostat on my old car died (twice over the years) temperature gauge was normal, radiator was cool. On the car before that, the same problem.

If you are in a desperate situation turning on the heater in the car to maximum will put some heat off the engine. On my previous cars running the AC helped with the cooling fans running flat out to move the air through the engine bay. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

I think here we are more at risk from freezing diesel than vapour lock

Relatives out here from Europe are always complaining how cold it is in Australia!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-17/thic...nd/6626630

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3212469/...d-in-snow/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-09/snow-forecast-radar/6607936

http://www.blackheathweather.com/signif.html

All brass monkeys beware of the cold down under! Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

Spuddyo wrote:

...Anyone else heard of vapour lock on these cars ? Anything else I could look at ?

I drove 300km yesterday in a cooler 28C and the freelander 2 had no issues at all. I really do suspect that the 40C day and being stuck in a traffic jam for 30 mins led to some kind of fuel starvation in the line between the pump and the injectors. Excessive heat build up in the fuel rail, vapour forming and maybe cavitation in the fuel pump.

Maybe the fuel pump could not deliver enough pressure in the hot conditions under the hood to keep the fuel in liquid form. Anyhow, it looks like it was a one off freak incident, as it's all good now. Luckily the gauge only hits 40+ on a couple of days each year. Give me 40F anytime ! Freelander 2, Nissan Elgrand Autech Rider.