Warning re fuel pipes

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (OldNoccer) — Sat, 23 May 2009 11:29:50 GMT

Not on my Marcos, but on my Calibra. I had the rear petrol pipes replaced 4 or 5 years back, and one of these has suddenly started leaking in the middle. This is a different source of hose altogether - but I run all my cars on Shell's V-Power. Two entirely different hoses from different sources have started leaking - its as if the petrol is dissolving them. Both times it is the pressurised line from the tank. As I work for Shell I will take it up with their research guys next week. This...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (Mike009 Gardner) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:35:09 GMT

Many thanks from me too Hydraulic, it`s good to have such well informed data on this. Like Noccer said , hopefully current fuel hoses meet the required spec. for un-leaded petrol. I think I`ve still a piece of my new stuff somewhere so will have to look at info on it to save crawling under car again to look.
Fully support your advise on too tight a bend in rubber hoses, the simple law of fluids shows that a slow bend it best at it doesn`t restrict flow and hence increase pressure and...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (OldNoccer) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:44:55 GMT

Brilliant ! An expert in our midst.

You have overwhelmed me (us?) with information and I am sure when I decode this it will explain everything - but seriously - it is great to have an expert. I might even rip a bit of braiding off the old hose and see if I can figure out what it means. It would be especially useful to report my Demon Tweeks braided hose leak back to the supplier - or at least A supplier - of hose. The problem is with braiding that it hides the codes and it hides the...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (HYDRAULIC1) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:25:08 GMT

Regarding hose and identification we are not allowed to sell hose that has a shelf life of over 5 years, in fact the ministry
of defence will not except an hose if it is older than 6 months, as i said about the lay line on the hose, normally it will carry the following information either imbossed into the rubber or printed on the hose, a good quality maufacture will
have part number, type spec, r6 firbre reinforced, R1T, one wire reniforced, R2T, 2wire reinforced specs go up to R13...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (HYDRAULIC1) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:40:10 GMT

Regarding compression fitting fuel lines water lines ect. we are the largest distriubtor in the country for aeroquip, we suppl braun f1. mclaren williams as well as all comercial customer if you need anthying i would be gald to help obile is 07850 010136 we have a 60,000 plus range of adaptors normally off the shelf and a 725 page catalougue if you can tell me thread and tube sizes i can normaly do it. demon tweeks and think automotive by from us as an oem, i will gladly quote and supply...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (Tobyjugs) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 08:06:09 GMT

Thanks HYDRALIC1. I have been looking into getting some new lines for the Mantula but i keep coming up against the same problem. I do like the teflon lines from Goodridge ie the 811, it seems you have to be a bit creative to fit it to the fuel manifold on the engine. I spoke to a Martin at goodridge and another man at Demon tweeks and the told me that they sell no compression fittings that will join onto the 8mm outside diameter fuel manifold to the fitting for the fuel line. Can you solve...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (OldNoccer) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:57:23 GMT

Top marks for Mr Hydraulics - a man who knows his rubber hoses. All we need is to map it into our novice world, so for example :

Can I assume all rubber fuel hose sold now (albeit R6 spec, but braided or otherwise) will now be designed to handle unleaded fuel ? In which case only old fuel hose could have a problem. If someone was selling unsuitable hose now, then surely it would lead to a court case ?

I should also point out that my hose failed in spite of only using...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (martineztop) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:38:28 GMT

nice to have these 'warnings from the grave' confirmed by an Engineer.
I remember seeing the video of the Marcos catching fire (posted here somewhere) owner just had to stand and watch.............nasty eh

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (HYDRAULIC1) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:05:52 GMT

Normally most people will fit compresion fittings on copper pipe, these are wade or a cheaper copy, be careful if going this route copper tube is soft and nomally thin walled 21swg, When we supply compression fittings for nylon or copper
We also supply a tube insert, this slips into the end of the tube, and when the olive bites it supports the tube and stops the olive cutting through the pipe and causing fractures from over tightening, if you use st/steel tube use a st/steel olive...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (HYDRAULIC1) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:56:10 GMT

i am an hydraulic engineer by trade we also make up hoses and distribute for aeroquip, alfa and and conti hose, the problem with standard nitrile hose which in most cases is 5/16 bore r6 spec for fuel lines is that it was initially manufactured for the leaded fuel supplied for years, The problem with unleaded fuel is it has higher levels of ethelene additives which over a period breaks down the natural compounds use in this type of hose, there are other typrs of hose you can use, whch again...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (OldNoccer) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:49:56 GMT

Its the issue of chafing that led me to use armoured hose, but you can't check the condition of the hose as the armour is in the way - you buy it as fuel hose and expect it to behave. One thing that did cross my mind is that the stainless braid might actually filter out and collect oil vapours/mist in the engine bay and eventually soften the rubber by exposing it to the collected oil.

I agree that it is hard to think how leaded or unleaded would affect rubber hoses differently....

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (mendamantis) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:21:43 GMT

When I replaced the fuel hoses on the mantis, one of the originals, rooted by marcos between the back of the engine and the bulkhead had rubbed through the outer rubber case and the reinforcing fibres leaving only the inner core intact. Caused by the "gentle" rocking of the engine chaffing the hose

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (Mike009 Gardner) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:38:51 GMT

I would be interested to know what the effect of un -leaded fuel could be on rubber hoses, after all un-leaded has been around for a long time. Age and heat has to be the biggest killer and there is no shortage of either on most of our cars.

Well worth checking them over periodically, especially the ones to the fuel pump and filters tucked away above the diff. Mine were like snakeskin with lots of external cracking and lost most of their flexibility. They were not leaking (...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (OldNoccer) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:11:21 GMT

I had a leak in the middle of a stainless steel-braided (armoured) fuel line I bought from Demon Tweeks (this was not on the Marcos), I had been smelling petrol but had checked all the connections as OK. Clever MOT man found the leak was on the return hose from the Efi pipe about a foot behind the engine. As the supply side is higher pressure, and this was on the return, I am wondering if the combination of the fuel type and the warmth of the returning fuel was enough to weaken it. I have...

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (socramsnalla) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:53:32 GMT

A word to the wise. Get yours checked. I got caught out between Paris and Calais with an armoured fuel line (next to the manifold) spouting petrol all over the bulkhead. The rubber core had spilt but it did not show under the external metal weave.

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (marco mantara) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:08:46 GMT

Hi -is this trait common to all Marcos or are there particular models which need checking out? Is "age" a factor? (perished rubber)
l am starting to get paranoid with all the warnings of potential disaster---petrol tanks rusting from inside out, top of front shockers liable to collapse,diff. mounting on chassis likely to crack/break, etc.?

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (boycey) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:15:45 GMT

The Lm600 fuel lines where looking a bit perished, so as a precaution while the car was in bits we have replaced the old fuel pipes with new braided ones and new fixings, so definately worth looking into!

Re: Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (Tobyjugs) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:29:40 GMT

I have also had problems with fuel pipes. When i went to collect my car from the previous owner's son the return line started leaking onto the exhaust. This was a bit scary and then two years later another pipe came loose after the fuel filter. I have two copper lines running from front to back on my car the ends are not flared. I am now planning on replacing the rubber lines with something which has compression fittings ie you must use a spanner to loosen the line. The only problem i...

Warning re fuel pipes

feeds@yuku.com (martineztop) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:40:29 GMT

having recently replaced my fuel pipes due to failure, and having read from others who've suffered a similar problem, I was concerned to read on another website that the cause is Unleaded fuel.
So if like me you start to get rough running problems and find bits of black stuff in your carb (which for those of you who followed last years antics with my car will remember), expect the pipes to fail not long afterwards cos they will need replacing.
Don't...