Fuel lines

[Divers]

So,

I am looking for real input. I have to replace the hard fuel delivery line with something. The standard answer is to replace with steel for safety. However, I question this. My car has part of the rubber hose in the cab where it connects to the hard steel line...in addition there are obviuosly rubber lines in the engine bay with 2 fittings. From a safety stand point why would I not want to run high pressure fuel line direct from the output of the filter through the cab and direct to the fuel rail. I would elimnate 2 fittings. The injector type hose is not prone to rust and should outlast my car?

Curious....?

[bradartigue]

So,

I am looking for real input. I have to replace the hard fuel delivery line with something. The standard answer is to replace with steel for safety. However, I question this. My car has part of the rubber hose in the cab where it connects to the hard steel line...in addition there are obviuosly rubber lines in the engine bay with 2 fittings. From a safety stand point why would I not want to run high pressure fuel line direct from the output of the filter through the cab and direct to the fuel rail. I would elimnate 2 fittings. The injector type hose is not prone to rust and should outlast my car?

Curious....?

The steel line won't be compressed/crushed in the interior as things shift around, it is quite a bit smaller, and is far less likely to cut. Steel lines are present in the interior exactly where such things can happen. I know people have run rubber lines and I think you could argue that modern high pressure line is more capable than old steel tubing anyway. Personally I'd run steel fuel line because it doesn't flex/bend/compress/burst (although the likelihood of all is probably quite low).

You can buy the stuff anywhere, NAPA, etc.

[4uall]

I had to do both in a pinch


Hard gas lines by itzebtze, on Flickr

[RRoller123]

These (and all) engines shake and move a bit on their mounts, you must have flexibility in the last section of the fuel delivery line at the engine or it will all crack pretty quickly, causing obvious problems. Think of the rubber line as a U-Joint.

[bradartigue]

I had to do both in a pinch

On a fuel injected car you would not want to do this except as an absolute stop-gap to get you home. Carbureted cars only have about 3-4psi; fuel injected 10x that.

[Divers]

I have decided to run 5/16" fuel injector line directly from the filter output...through the cabin and into the fuel rail. After looking at options and reading this and other sites, I am happy with this decision.

Thanks for everyone's opinion on this matter.

Robert

[4uall]

I had to do both in a pinch

On a fuel injected car you would not want to do this except as an absolute stop-gap to get you home. Carbureted cars only have about 3-4psi; fuel injected 10x that.

@Brad I just want to make sure I understand you. I am running modern day FI lines (rubber). Are you saying I should only run steel?

[Danno]

i always kinda felt it was like this:

If you poke a hole in a hard material that hole will leak under pressure. If you poke a hole in a soft/rubbery material, the hole will leak under pressure and the pressure will expand the hole at that weak point.'

Inside a car is not a place I want fuel, neither option prevents fuel from an eventually failing line, but one might lead more fuel than one would want spraying all over.

Although, then you have the catastrophic accident scenario, then I wonder if a rubber hose might not fair better from an impact than the steel line.

Heck, i don't know what I think anymore. I replaced steel line with steel line and rubber with rubber.

[Divers]

Don't forget this is not soft material. This is high pressure fuel injector hose, NOT regular fuel line. I would much rather have a fuel leak under the carpet in my cab than a leak near my hot engine anyday....but that is just my opinion.

Anyway...its a done deal for me.

[Danno]

Don't forget this is not soft material. This is high pressure fuel injector hose, NOT regular fuel line. I would much rather have a fuel leak under the carpet in my cab than a leak near my hot engine anyday....but that is just my opinion.

Anyway...its a done deal for me.

noted. I wasn't paying close attention (shocker, I know)

[bradartigue]

i always kinda felt it was like this:

If you poke a hole in a hard material that hole will leak under pressure. If you poke a hole in a soft/rubbery material, the hole will leak under pressure and the pressure will expand the hole at that weak point.'

Inside a car is not a place I want fuel, neither option prevents fuel from an eventually failing line, but one might lead more fuel than one would want spraying all over.

Although, then you have the catastrophic accident scenario, then I wonder if a rubber hose might not fair better from an impact than the steel line.

Heck, i don't know what I think anymore. I replaced steel line with steel line and rubber with rubber.

Agree, steel lines and proper flares. But if you can't or won't do that then get the 200+ psi fuel injection line from NAPA and run it continuously, w/o connections except at the start and termination.

[Danno]

and for the sake of reference purposes (in case anyone ever searches for this info) factory used a bubble flare. I found that to be a PITB, a double flare would work as well, but shhh, don't tell people, I used a mild single flare. proper clamps ensure there is no slipping off, but the danger with a single flare is that you might cut the inside of the rubber line it's mated to.

[Divers]

Ending....ran new line..engine started and ran with my foot gently on the pedal....now on to my electrical gauge issues.