Copper petrol lines reaction
Discussion
I've been using copper petrol lines for many years without any problems. However, when I took the system apart to replace some rubber connection hoses recently I noticed an unusual yellow coating inside the copper pipes, and in a couple of places it had built up into a lumpy deposit. The hoses that connect to the copper also look slightly yellow inside.
I've never seen anything like this before, but I guess it must be some sort of chemical or electrolytic reaction with the copper. The car is running standard pump fuel. It's been a decade or so since I had the system apart last time, and maybe modern ethanol mixes are responsible somehow.
I'm worried that this sort of deposit could interfere with injectors and pressure regulators and so on, as well as potentially floating around as debris.
Anybody got any idea what's going on? There's no direct metal-to-metal contact between the copper and anything else, but obviously everything is connected via the fuel.
I've never seen anything like this before, but I guess it must be some sort of chemical or electrolytic reaction with the copper. The car is running standard pump fuel. It's been a decade or so since I had the system apart last time, and maybe modern ethanol mixes are responsible somehow.
I'm worried that this sort of deposit could interfere with injectors and pressure regulators and so on, as well as potentially floating around as debris.
Anybody got any idea what's going on? There's no direct metal-to-metal contact between the copper and anything else, but obviously everything is connected via the fuel.
I've used copper myself, with no issues.
the only one thing I found online, was where a guy had used it in his fuel tank, and it developed a tarnish. But in that case as a pickup tube, it would see fuel, air, fuel, air, fuel, air etc....so I'd guess that is the cause.
But always filled or in contact with fuel.....never had a problem.
Where is the filter located ? before or after the copper line ?
the only one thing I found online, was where a guy had used it in his fuel tank, and it developed a tarnish. But in that case as a pickup tube, it would see fuel, air, fuel, air, fuel, air etc....so I'd guess that is the cause.
But always filled or in contact with fuel.....never had a problem.
Where is the filter located ? before or after the copper line ?
This is from Hagerty website discussing ethanol:
Although many cars run E5 without significant problems, doubling the amount of ethanol in the fuel can cause a variety of issues in older cars. Ethanol is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water from the atmosphere. And that water, in turn, finds its way into your car. This can lead to condensation in fuel tanks, fuel lines and carburettors and cause corrosion in brass, COPPER, lead, tin and zinc components.
Although many cars run E5 without significant problems, doubling the amount of ethanol in the fuel can cause a variety of issues in older cars. Ethanol is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water from the atmosphere. And that water, in turn, finds its way into your car. This can lead to condensation in fuel tanks, fuel lines and carburettors and cause corrosion in brass, COPPER, lead, tin and zinc components.
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