Teflon/PTFE Fuel Hoses

Teflon/PTFE Fuel Hoses

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Plan B

Original Poster:

347 posts

124 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
I have just replaced all of my flexible fuel pipes with R9 spec hose (i.e. ethanol resistant) thinking all would be well for a number of years. However I've just read a sobering US article about the implications of using the high ethanol fuels we are having to use in increasing concentrations. As we all know our particular cars experience high under-bonnet temperatures and combined with high alcohol content fuel we have the basis of the perfect storm. The article claims R9 (or R12) based hoses perhaps aren't as great as we'd imagined. Bottom line it's saying we need to be considering using Teflon based hose - and that most new cars today are using this. This isn't a scan read - http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/hrdp-1101-perf... but I would be interested in hearing other viewpoints and whether this has merit or is over hyped. Extrapolating a little it also seems that there could be an argument to say using Teflon based braided hoses might be used without fear of hiding any failure points????

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Tuesday 4th November 2014
quotequote all
I may be reading that slightly differently to you.
As I read it they are pointing the finger at braided aero style hose which has not yet moved with the times and is still the older material formulation.
They are saying you would be better going to R9 than the existing braided with the next step up from that being the braided teflon.

Steve

Plan B

Original Poster:

347 posts

124 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
Hi Steve
If you read further they are saying that with higher ethanol fuel - R9 hoses are breaking down within 2 years and the only material that seems to be holding up are PTFE lined hoses which appear to last more or less indefinitely. We haven't seen the problem over here up to now as E5 has been the highest concentration on sale however E10 is just around the corner for us. The USA has been on 10% and will soon have 15% ethanol on the forecourts hence their early concern.
Metal braided rubber fuel hoses are not recommended today because you can't see if the rubber is breaking down. However what I am thinking is if these PTFE lined hoses are actually everlasting then using metal braiding around them becomes a possibility with all the benefits they can bring - physically tougher and look nicer…….. Or is this all just scaremongering.