Fuel Pipe Woes
Discussion
OK, 2 weeks ago had to pull off the motorway due to stink of fuel (more than usual) - puddle of fuel, diagnosed as knackered fuel pipes.
Ok, I can live with that, replaced at local garage.
Went out this morning, started ok but running like a dog then it really struggled and died and won't restart.
Two small puddles of fuel at about 11 and 3 under the engine, exactly the same place as when I had to stop.
Is there something odd / particular that needs to be done when replacing the fuel lines? Or do I have to supsect a shoddy job replacing them?
Will try and get under it tomorrow and have a proper look.
Cheers
Ok, I can live with that, replaced at local garage.
Went out this morning, started ok but running like a dog then it really struggled and died and won't restart.
Two small puddles of fuel at about 11 and 3 under the engine, exactly the same place as when I had to stop.
Is there something odd / particular that needs to be done when replacing the fuel lines? Or do I have to supsect a shoddy job replacing them?
Will try and get under it tomorrow and have a proper look.
Cheers
Aside from the type of hose, there are 3 that need changing.The 2 main ones, as seen here

The access to the connection over the bell housing and beside the exhaust manifold is awkward, and therefore may need checking.
The 3rd pipe is at the back of the plenum chamber, is only a short piece and (on mine) has spring clips.
When changing mine I had leaks initially on the hose clips for the 2 longer pipes, simply nipping them up cured them.

The access to the connection over the bell housing and beside the exhaust manifold is awkward, and therefore may need checking.
The 3rd pipe is at the back of the plenum chamber, is only a short piece and (on mine) has spring clips.
When changing mine I had leaks initially on the hose clips for the 2 longer pipes, simply nipping them up cured them.
Quietlybonkers said:
Be careful - the leaks are right above a hot exhaust.....
True, but it's not the exhaust that worries me. Petrol requires a source of ignition in order to burn, not just heat. What terrifies me about fuel leaks is the possibility of dodgy HT leads that could be "leaking" a spark. And they're even closer than the exhaust manifold!This is what's so laughable about petrol stations banning the use of mobile phones. There's no earthly way the transmissions from a mobile could ignite petrol vapour. But dodgy HT leads on the car you've just driven in... They should definitely ban cars from petrol station forecourts!

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Quietlybonkers said:
Be careful - the leaks are right above a hot exhaust.....
True, but it's not the exhaust that worries me. Petrol requires a source of ignition in order to burn, not just heat. What terrifies me about fuel leaks is the possibility of dodgy HT leads that could be "leaking" a spark. And they're even closer than the exhaust manifold!This is what's so laughable about petrol stations banning the use of mobile phones. There's no earthly way the transmissions from a mobile could ignite petrol vapour. But dodgy HT leads on the car you've just driven in... They should definitely ban cars from petrol station forecourts!

Dr Mike is right but he hasn't mentioned that when you think your car feels a bit rough, it can often be that the number 8 plug lead is off.......and guess which one that is? BOOM!!! yes, you guessed right.
I had a bit of a general tidy up this morning a d got it started, but it was seriously unhappy and died shortly after.
Bit of smoke from under the bonnet suggests something's still leaking we're I can't see it and white smoke from the pipes was enougho to tell me to stop f🙊ing around with it altogether.
I await the pro's verdict, and their bloody invoice.
This weekend was suppose to clear the TVR blues after the last two, dammit.
Bit of smoke from under the bonnet suggests something's still leaking we're I can't see it and white smoke from the pipes was enougho to tell me to stop f🙊ing around with it altogether.
I await the pro's verdict, and their bloody invoice.
This weekend was suppose to clear the TVR blues after the last two, dammit.
o
Harrytsg said:
Aside from the type of hose, there are 3 that need changing.The 2 main ones, as seen here

The access to the connection over the bell housing and beside the exhaust manifold is awkward, and therefore may need checking.
The 3rd pipe is at the back of the plenum chamber, is only a short piece and (on mine) has spring clips.
When changing mine I had leaks initially on the hose clips for the 2 longer pipes, simply nipping them up cured them.
Don`t like that fuel pipe ! looks very close to the exhaust manifold ..what is that pipe going to the regulator on the return ..
The access to the connection over the bell housing and beside the exhaust manifold is awkward, and therefore may need checking.
The 3rd pipe is at the back of the plenum chamber, is only a short piece and (on mine) has spring clips.
When changing mine I had leaks initially on the hose clips for the 2 longer pipes, simply nipping them up cured them.
SILICONEKID340HP said:
o
The photo is a bit deceptive in that the braided hose goes back towards the bulkhead where it connects to the (rising) copper pipe.Harrytsg said:
Aside from the type of hose, there are 3 that need changing.The 2 main ones, as seen here

The access to the connection over the bell housing and beside the exhaust manifold is awkward, and therefore may need checking.
The 3rd pipe is at the back of the plenum chamber, is only a short piece and (on mine) has spring clips.
When changing mine I had leaks initially on the hose clips for the 2 longer pipes, simply nipping them up cured them.
Don`t like that fuel pipe ! looks very close to the exhaust manifold ..what is that pipe going to the regulator on the return ..
The access to the connection over the bell housing and beside the exhaust manifold is awkward, and therefore may need checking.
The 3rd pipe is at the back of the plenum chamber, is only a short piece and (on mine) has spring clips.
When changing mine I had leaks initially on the hose clips for the 2 longer pipes, simply nipping them up cured them.
Re the return/regulator- yes
Edited by Harrytsg on Sunday 18th November 17:22
Mine has the cold air duct at the back of the engine so its a swine of a job .what i did is
1 jack the car up and stick it on axle stands .
2 Remove front wheels
3 cut the flow and return copper pipes with a pipe cutter at a point where you can get a hose clip on .
4 feed the two new high quality fuel injection hose up and mark so the dont end up the wrong way round.
5 use some heat sleeve from fleabay
6 use quality fuel hose clips ,I fitted two clips on each copper line and pushed them on a good six inch.
7 repressurise and test ..
1 jack the car up and stick it on axle stands .
2 Remove front wheels
3 cut the flow and return copper pipes with a pipe cutter at a point where you can get a hose clip on .
4 feed the two new high quality fuel injection hose up and mark so the dont end up the wrong way round.
5 use some heat sleeve from fleabay
6 use quality fuel hose clips ,I fitted two clips on each copper line and pushed them on a good six inch.
7 repressurise and test ..
SILICONEKID340HP said:
Mine has the cold air duct at the back of the engine so its a swine of a job .what i did is
1 jack the car up and stick it on axle stands .
2 Remove front wheels
3 cut the flow and return copper pipes with a pipe cutter at a point where you can get a hose clip on .
4 feed the two new high quality fuel injection hose up and mark so the dont end up the wrong way round.
5 use some heat sleeve from fleabay
6 use quality fuel hose clips ,I fitted two clips on each copper line and pushed them on a good six inch.
7 repressurise and test ..
Should of just removed the plenum Daz 1 jack the car up and stick it on axle stands .
2 Remove front wheels
3 cut the flow and return copper pipes with a pipe cutter at a point where you can get a hose clip on .
4 feed the two new high quality fuel injection hose up and mark so the dont end up the wrong way round.
5 use some heat sleeve from fleabay
6 use quality fuel hose clips ,I fitted two clips on each copper line and pushed them on a good six inch.
7 repressurise and test ..

NOTAFINGA said:
SILICONEKID340HP said:
Mine has the cold air duct at the back of the engine so its a swine of a job .what i did is
1 jack the car up and stick it on axle stands .
2 Remove front wheels
3 cut the flow and return copper pipes with a pipe cutter at a point where you can get a hose clip on .
4 feed the two new high quality fuel injection hose up and mark so the dont end up the wrong way round.
5 use some heat sleeve from fleabay
6 use quality fuel hose clips ,I fitted two clips on each copper line and pushed them on a good six inch.
7 repressurise and test ..

Should of just removed the plenum Daz 1 jack the car up and stick it on axle stands .
2 Remove front wheels
3 cut the flow and return copper pipes with a pipe cutter at a point where you can get a hose clip on .
4 feed the two new high quality fuel injection hose up and mark so the dont end up the wrong way round.
5 use some heat sleeve from fleabay
6 use quality fuel hose clips ,I fitted two clips on each copper line and pushed them on a good six inch.
7 repressurise and test ..



Edited by SILICONEKID340HP on Sunday 18th November 21:29
400chm said:
Rossoc, white smoke coming off my exhaust was due to a loose clip on one of the power steering hoses, check your fluid and follow the pipes(first and only time a repair hasn't cost me anything!)
I read the post as meaning white smoke from the exhaust - as in out of the tail pipes. - either water getting into the mixture or oil.My power steering u bend is a little leaky so I get some white smoke from under the bonnet for a few minutes once the manifolds heat up - get some great looks at the traffic lights

This was finally traced to a knackered injector switching itself live and basically just dumping fuel at will (explaining whu it was intermittent)
The white smoke was apprently fuel vapour and the puddles of fuel were just being pumped out of the exhaust rather than leaking from the fuel pipes (easier to see in the daylight rather than the pitch dark!)
Unfortunately this took £700 at my local garage and £800 at a specialist to trace and fix. I think its fair to say the locals had my trousers down over the fuel pipes as they were blatantly fine and I'd like to think they were simply incompetent over the diagnostics rather than ripping me off, but the jury is still very much out and none of the family cars will be going back.
The specialist also missed a shot HT lead so a few miles after the pick up I'd used buckets of fuel and had an unnerving if not fatal misfire.
All in all, a couple of utterly cr*ppy weeks of ownership!
The white smoke was apprently fuel vapour and the puddles of fuel were just being pumped out of the exhaust rather than leaking from the fuel pipes (easier to see in the daylight rather than the pitch dark!)
Unfortunately this took £700 at my local garage and £800 at a specialist to trace and fix. I think its fair to say the locals had my trousers down over the fuel pipes as they were blatantly fine and I'd like to think they were simply incompetent over the diagnostics rather than ripping me off, but the jury is still very much out and none of the family cars will be going back.
The specialist also missed a shot HT lead so a few miles after the pick up I'd used buckets of fuel and had an unnerving if not fatal misfire.
All in all, a couple of utterly cr*ppy weeks of ownership!
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