Fuel Line lube

[Memnon]

I need to remove 3/8" bore 'braided rubber' fuel pipe, from the side of petrol pump/filter combination unit.
Hook up temporary fuel supply (part of the winterizing process) then refit original fuel pipe.

This fits onto a brass 'barb' male fitting - then secured by jubilee clip ...... The issue is it is at full arms stretch, bad enough to pull the thing off, trying to push it back on is pretty difficult.


Is there any lubricant I can smear onto barb to help refit, obviously don't want to put anything on that would damage fuel injection system, by putting 'lube' on the bar would minimise it getting into the tube.

Is there a trick mechanics use ?

[GreenV8S]

Warm the pipe before refitting it. It makes the rubber much softer and more flexible so it can stretch over the barb more easily.

You can also use dish soap as a lubricant. Don't use any sort of oil as this will attack the rubber.

[Memnon]

Was thinking of using a smear of 2-stroke oil, on the logic fuel lines work OK on 2-stroke.
OK .... will try hot air gun (or hot water

[tapkaJohnD]

Red rubber grease?

JOhn

[SAS Tom]

Vaseline

[Memnon]

I have vasaline use it on battery terminals ... is there any risk to fuel system, or would it just dissolve.

[SAS Tom]

No risk to the fuel system it’s petroleum jelly

[hidetheelephants]

GreenV8S said:

Warm the pipe before refitting it. It makes the rubber much softer and more flexible so it can stretch over the barb more easily.

You can also use dish soap as a lubricant. Don't use any sort of oil as this will attack the rubber.

It's fuel hose, any polymer(it won't be rubber) that can stand up to the witches' brew that is modern petrol will shrug off the assault of vaseline, grease or any other common household lubricant. I'd use vaseline but whatever you have handy that's clean and soluble in petrol will do.

[Memnon]

The spec of the hose states:
"High Quality Cotton Over Braided Rubber/Nitrile Fuel Pipe "

[Andy 308GTB]

GreenV8S said:

Warm the pipe before refitting it. It makes the rubber much softer and more flexible so it can stretch over the barb more easily

This on its own should be enough.

[Spare tyre]

Petrol? Or bit of diesel?

[Spare tyre]

Cut pipe and have a new male male joiner in easier position?

[Belle427]

I usually just use wd40, can’t see it harming a proper ethanol proof fuel hose used sparingly.

[Evoluzione]

hidetheelephants said:

It's fuel hose, any polymer(it won't be rubber) that can stand up to the witches' brew that is modern petrol will shrug off the assault of vaseline, grease or any other common household lubricant. I'd use vaseline but whatever you have handy that's clean and soluble in petrol will do.

True. Any fuel proof pipe will be oil proof too, petrol being the much more aggressive of the two.
Slap whatever lube you have to hand on it, it's a non-issue.

[Memnon]

Its says its rubber in specification "High Quality Cotton Over Braided Rubber/Nitrile Fuel Pipe"

[GreenV8S]

Evoluzione said:

True. Any fuel proof pipe will be oil proof too, petrol being the much more aggressive of the two.

It's common to have a layered construction which is fuel/oil tolerant on the inside only. For example, SAE R6 is "Inner Resistant To Petrol, Diesel, Oil Or Vapours, Ozone & Heat Resistant Outer".

You could argue that the lube is only applied on the inside, but in reality it's going to end up everywhere.

A few minutes exposure is harmless as long as the contamination isn't left for months, but soap works just as well and is completely harmless to the rubber. I don't see any reason to use oil over soap.

[Memnon]

I looked up spec ... it says:
Outer Braiding: Cotton/Polyester
Construction: Rubber/Nitrile
Pressure Limit: 10 Bar
Colour: BLACK

Conforms to DIN73379 TYPE B Standard



Only concern on soap is whether than could have any issue if it got into fuel injection system, oil would be fine as engine can handle 2-Stoke even though it’s a 4 stroke engine.

[GreenV8S]

Memnon said:

if it got into fuel injection system

It would do no harm.