Do these fuel pipes need replacing?
Do these fuel pipes need replacing?
Author
Discussion

Mystic Slippers

Original Poster:

406 posts

233 months

Monday 12th May 2008
quotequote all


In steve heaths book it says the lines are metal covered in rubber are these the lines he means ?
the cracks on the rubber are surface and dont appear very deep.
What would you wise wedgers reccommend?
The smallers lines around the plenum etc all look pretty fresh.

GreenV8S

31,021 posts

314 months

Monday 12th May 2008
quotequote all
That looks like visible cracking on the surface, in which case they need replacing immediately (as in, if you have to drive to the shop to collect the hose, take another car).

Mystic Slippers

Original Poster:

406 posts

233 months

Monday 12th May 2008
quotequote all
So the centre of the pipe is not metal?

GreenV8S

31,021 posts

314 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
Mystic Slippers said:
So the centre of the pipe is not metal?
The picture shows two fuel hoses. These are basically rubber usually with a layer of braiding embedded in it to increase strength. There's no metal in it. (Sometimes an external layer of metal braiding is added to protect the hose from damage - these hoses don't have that.)

If you follow the hoses back you'll find that they connect to metal pipes that run to the rear of the car. At the far end you'll find more hoses connecting to the tank, fuel pump and fuel filter. I'm not sure where the suggestion that they're metal came from, but I suspect it was referring to the metal pipes running the length of the car.

BadRedWedge

3,450 posts

258 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
Stuart, ditto all that V8S is saying and check the rear around the tank / pump area. get the right spec of hose, the feed is a much higher pressure than the return, see bible for details. Petrol pipe is alot cheaper than a fire.

flames


Mystic Slippers

Original Poster:

406 posts

233 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
Cheers guys,is it straightforward job a local garage could do or a tvr specialist type job ?
thanks stu

jmorgan

36,010 posts

314 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
DIY even. If you feel up to it and know and are happy what you are doing. Any decent garage should be able to do it otherwise. Just make sure the go and returns are not crossed.

blueone

133 posts

253 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
The metal pipes don't exist on some. My 350 has hoses from front to rear and its not the only one I have seen. Think it's another if the factory was out of pipes, hose did the job. Yes I would change them the consequences of leaks are to bad to imagine.

mikeb

2,869 posts

312 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
Thats the good bit of pipe you can see!.....

If you have that max power braided stuff then it may be even worse. Ensure that you get the right pressure pipe and some descent jubilee clips NOT choclate ones from WHAT! or you're local pound store.

Have a poke around the swirl pot and pump area at the back of the car for similiar degredation. Be prepared for a spurt of petrol when you take the pipe off though.

Easy enough to do unless you want to start messing around with Aeroquip fuel hose! Remember Jeff?

MikeyB

grahamw48

9,944 posts

268 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
eek



jmorgan

36,010 posts

314 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
Aye Mike. That new pipe was a bit of a sod to get back in without kinking it knowing what that stuff does when it bends.

adam quantrill

11,679 posts

272 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
Yeah those are the high-pressure pipes.

In the past I've found it hard to get unleaded-rated pipe as long as this, so I replaced the lot with cunifer lorry brake pipe with the same inner diameter, and just jointed the ends with short lengths of rubber.

I notice on the 400SX that the pipes in the sills seem to be metal - at least where they emerge.

TVRleigh_BBWR

6,553 posts

243 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
That looks like visible cracking on the surface, in which case they need replacing immediately (as in, if you have to drive to the shop to collect the hose, take another car).
All the fuel hoses are at least 2 layered, the top layer can get quite bad before the 2nd layer starts to degrade. so would say you should take another car to the shops. I'm sure it been that bad for at least a year. every wedge on the road will have similar dedregation, unless they have had there's changed. my 89 wedge with only 30k on the clock had the same cracks.

I have changed all mine, and did cross section on all the hoses. and on all of them it was only the top layer that was deadregrated.

but yes you should change them asap. also remember to get injection rated hose, to cope with the pressure.

Most of the hose is 8mm. but at the swirl pot end there will be some 6mm 13mm and the top of the swirl pot will be 1.5" or 2" IRRC.

Mystic Slippers

Original Poster:

406 posts

233 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
Many thanks,the pics make it look worse than it is.Just popped car into my local garage to show mechanic.
Should have it sorted for the weekend smile

350zwelgje

1,820 posts

291 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
quotequote all
It can be a DIY job, but keep in mind there is petrol in the hose(s) and tanks. My personal test for fuel hose is to take it off and bend it and it should show no cracks. So if you can see cracks without bending it, I agree with previous posting: don't drive before it has been replaced.

And I have a wedge with no metal tubing running rear to front (and back) as well and not running along a sill but within the centre backbone tubing of the chassis.

While at it is worth to consider to replace the fuel filter at the back
and even install a pre-fuelpump filter as well. The swirlpot could be worth a look as well. A search on the forum can give you more information on this.

Congratulations to still owning a non-burned wedge.

Rob

matt-man

2,667 posts

249 months

Wednesday 14th May 2008
quotequote all
Change them quick!! I did mine, which were worse than that, but be ready for a fact of 99 ron!! yikes

Cheap easy (but messy) repair thumbup