Help - Absolute Novice - Fuel Tube to Engine

[jumpingjackdan]

Hi, ok, first time I've picked up a wrench, so be kind.

My brother has a Mk5 fiesta zetec s, we thought we would try a quick service, oil in the spark plugs, looks like the rocker cover gasket has gone. While unhooking all the pipes etc we thought the fuel line that runs over the top of the engine need to come off. It looks like a regular rubber tube so we gave it, as Basil Fawlty would say "a good thrashing", It moved a bit but then we thought this might not be necessary or the best way to do it or the correct way, as there is some white catch that looks like it would pull apart. However, we have moved it back a bit from the connector. So, have we buggered it, I dont want it to leak, or is it just a case of pushing the rubber tube back all the way. It doesn't want to go so any ideas?

[LarJammer]

You need to unclip the white part which may need a special tool. The outer part is just a protective cover. The inner (dark black part) is the fuel hose. As long as this is still secure and you haven't kinked it it should be fine.

[GreenV8S]

It looks as if the hose is pushed on to a plastic end fitting which has a latched connection to the fuel rail. I'm not familiar with that specific connector, but often these have a ring on the side facing away from the hose, which needs to be pushed towards the hose to unlatch it. It looks as if what you're done is pull the hose itself part way off that end fitting. If so, you do need to push it back so it is fully on. This might be easier to do if the hose is warmed, for example by dribbling very hot water over it for a few minutes (then dry it off to make it easier to handle). Be careful to support the connector you are pushing the hose on to - you don't want to break it.

[jumpingjackdan]

Thanks chaps... I now have another problem.

Firstly, at the rear of the rocker cover there are two bolts that are not like the others. The other 10 came off fine, thought, this is going well until I got to the rear ones, which are not like the hex headed bolts. They are more like nuts on a screw pointing up. Can't get the socket down on it because of the length of the bolt pointing out, so tried a spanner but does not grip the bolt. I assume its 8mm like all the others, maybe its rusted a bit? I tried WD40... useless, now left plus gas on it. I dont want to go down the blow torch approach as the cover gasket is plastic and I'd imagine it will end in tears.

Secondly, according to the packaging of the new gasket seal, I need to tighten in a certain order to 3nm and then 9nm. How can I do this on the bolts at the rear if the socket cannot reach the bolt?

Is it wise to cut the bolts down, this would be hard due to the location.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

jumpingjackdan said:

Thanks chaps... I now have another problem.

Firstly, at the rear of the rocker cover there are two bolts that are not like the others. The other 10 came off fine, thought, this is going well until I got to the rear ones, which are not like the hex headed bolts. They are more like nuts on a screw pointing up. Can't get the socket down on it because of the length of the bolt pointing out, so tried a spanner but does not grip the bolt. I assume its 8mm like all the others, maybe its rusted a bit? I tried WD40... useless, now left plus gas on it. I dont want to go down the blow torch approach as the cover gasket is plastic and I'd imagine it will end in tears.

No, you need to set a suitably deep 8mm socket (a good quality one), then they should come off no problems

jumpingjackdan said:

Secondly, according to the packaging of the new gasket seal, I need to tighten in a certain order to 3nm and then 9nm. How can I do this on the bolts at the rear if the socket cannot reach the bolt?

With the correct socket! (3 and 9nm are also extremely low torque figures, do you have a suitable torque device for measuring or are you just going by feel?

[jumpingjackdan]

Ahhh... deep socket, didn't know about them, are these easy to get, obviously online etc but I need to get this done ASAP? Yes, I thought the torque was low. I have a torque wrench but its something like 20NM to 150NM or something. So I would need to buy a lower torque one, or could I do it by feel? I hesitant to do it by feel as the level is so damn low. Thanks for the help.

[imagineifyeswill]

A long reach socket is what you want, I doubt youll find a torque wrench that goes as low as 3nm, tighten by feel as the majority of mechanics will do. As for your fuel pipe problem, push down slightly on the pipe while pulling upward on the white plastic part.