Split Fuel line, What bore is it ?
Discussion
Seen this discussed on here before but I have it now and want to use the car tomorrow evening. One of the two flexible fuel hoses that appear from behind the engine and connect to the fuel rail is split. The split appears to be fairly close to the fuel rail so my initial plan is to remove it, cut it back and hope there is enough length to refix. Changing the entire pipe doesn’t seem a quick option as I can see the far end just above the bell housing which seems impossible to get at without removing lots of bits first.
In case this turns out to be the only option please can someone confirm the bore. It looks to be about 8mm id, but without de pressurising and taking it off it is only a guess. It looks as if one of the two pipes has already been replaced as they appear of different manufacture. The one that is leaking has a Ford logo.
Thanks
In case this turns out to be the only option please can someone confirm the bore. It looks to be about 8mm id, but without de pressurising and taking it off it is only a guess. It looks as if one of the two pipes has already been replaced as they appear of different manufacture. The one that is leaking has a Ford logo.
Thanks
OK Thanks for that. Just tried to cut back and refix but not successful as the whole length is perished. How do you get at the joint above the bell housing. It looks as if it may just be possible with the plenum off or is there another way ? Can’t see that it would b reachable from underneath.
Do they both join at this point ? only one of them is visible from above on my car. If I take the plennum off what gunk is it round the seal ?
Do they both join at this point ? only one of them is visible from above on my car. If I take the plennum off what gunk is it round the seal ?
Just measured the pipe on mine and looks like 8mm too. If you haven't got the replacement yet I'd def recommend the stuff used in boats, it's thicker but stronger apparently due to regulations regarding fire. Obviously get the unleaded quality stuff.
If you're doing the longer pipe too, it's a right git to the lower clip, I found the easiest way was using an 18 inch screw driver that would reach through all the gubbings to the clip from diagonally above.
As for the other one I posted the same question a couple of days ago but no replies yet so if you give it a go I'd appreciate any tips on here as I'll be attempting mine probably on Sunday now.
If you're doing the longer pipe too, it's a right git to the lower clip, I found the easiest way was using an 18 inch screw driver that would reach through all the gubbings to the clip from diagonally above.
As for the other one I posted the same question a couple of days ago but no replies yet so if you give it a go I'd appreciate any tips on here as I'll be attempting mine probably on Sunday now.
Which one do you call the longer one ? as I can’t see the end of one of them I don’t know which is longer. The one I need to replace is 50cm or so long and joins solid pipe above the bell housing.
A very long screwdriver, that sounds a cunning plan. I can see that you could get long screwdriver to the clip from above but how do you get your hand down to that point to fit the pipe without taking the plenum off ? Unless perhaps the flexible pipe is a loose enough fit to slide over the solid pipe simply with a shove from above. Somehow I doubt I would be that lucky.
I only plan to do the one that is split at the moment, it looks like the other one has already been replaced.
A very long screwdriver, that sounds a cunning plan. I can see that you could get long screwdriver to the clip from above but how do you get your hand down to that point to fit the pipe without taking the plenum off ? Unless perhaps the flexible pipe is a loose enough fit to slide over the solid pipe simply with a shove from above. Somehow I doubt I would be that lucky.
I only plan to do the one that is split at the moment, it looks like the other one has already been replaced.
Jack the car up you can get your hand up on the driver side. Beside the gear box.
First you need to cut the cable ties on the pasanger side of the gear box that are holding the copper fuel line this lets you move the pipe closer to you were there is more room making it easy to change the rubber fuel line.
First you need to cut the cable ties on the pasanger side of the gear box that are holding the copper fuel line this lets you move the pipe closer to you were there is more room making it easy to change the rubber fuel line.
steve-V8s said:
Which one do you call the longer one ? as I can’t see the end of one of them I don’t know which is longer. The one I need to replace is 50cm or so long and joins solid pipe above the bell housing.
A very long screwdriver, that sounds a cunning plan. I can see that you could get long screwdriver to the clip from above but how do you get your hand down to that point to fit the pipe without taking the plenum off ? Unless perhaps the flexible pipe is a loose enough fit to slide over the solid pipe simply with a shove from above. Somehow I doubt I would be that lucky.
I only plan to do the one that is split at the moment, it looks like the other one has already been replaced.
The longer one I'd say is nearer a metre long and goes right behind the block to the nearer the nearside, sorry I'm not very techy to describe it.A very long screwdriver, that sounds a cunning plan. I can see that you could get long screwdriver to the clip from above but how do you get your hand down to that point to fit the pipe without taking the plenum off ? Unless perhaps the flexible pipe is a loose enough fit to slide over the solid pipe simply with a shove from above. Somehow I doubt I would be that lucky.
I only plan to do the one that is split at the moment, it looks like the other one has already been replaced.
I managed to get to get the pipe by reaching to it with my hand, the new pipe seemed to slip on fairly easily so not too much brute was needed. The long screwdriver made the job pretty simple after I'd spent a few hours trying to get to the clip. I can't remember if I tried getting to it from below or not though.
I hear what people are saying about the fuel sizes of 8mm BUT...the fuel line connections onto the fuel exchangers on air conditioned cars (which is an inline unit fitted to these cars) is 7mm, the last time I tried to source this I ended up going to TVR Power.
Adrian@ (I have changed many fuel lines and include these as service items)
Adrian@
Adrian@ (I have changed many fuel lines and include these as service items)
Adrian@
I guessed at 8mm before removing it. After removing it I measured the fuel rail fitting and confirmed 8mm but this is not an air con car. The local autofactors seem to think 8mm is fairly standard for fuel line so that is what I bought. Thanks for the tip about reaching from underneath, I will bunk off soon and give it a try.
OK changed them both and it was not as bad as expected. The longer one (on my car at lest) is 50cm and joins with a solid copper pipe above the bell housing. To get at this I removed the bonnet and lifted off the plenum, that made access fairly easy with a quarter inch socket. There may be theories that it is 7mm pipe but the 8mm I used was a fairly snug fit, getting 7mm on would have been a struggle. The shorter pipe actually gave me more hassle as the transition between rubber and solid was hidden behind the rocker cover. The copper is flexible enough to tease it out over the manifold to get at it a bit better. Job was all done in about two hours, including two cups of tea and a Danish pastry.
The really important point here is to check the underside of these pipes or better still replace them. I had been inspecting mine after hearing of other people’s problems and they looked fine from the top all the cracks (and they were both cracked over the entire pipe length) were on the underside (inside of the bend). Would be a shame to have a car catch fire for the sake of a £2 length of pipe.
The really important point here is to check the underside of these pipes or better still replace them. I had been inspecting mine after hearing of other people’s problems and they looked fine from the top all the cracks (and they were both cracked over the entire pipe length) were on the underside (inside of the bend). Would be a shame to have a car catch fire for the sake of a £2 length of pipe.
steve-V8s said:
There may be theories that it is 7mm pipe but the 8mm I used was a fairly snug fit, getting 7mm on would have been a struggle.
The post I wrote has to read with the comment of air conditioning cars as this applies to the heat exchanger that is inline on those cars, IMHO the connections on these are not safe with a 8mm pipes on as they blow off under the fuel line pressure.I also would NEVER use Jubilee clips on either ends of the fuel connections, these J-clip bodies are to flat to crimp up on the small bore pipes and I would advise changing these for the correct fuel line clips.
IT WAS WHEN MY WIFE... got out of a customers Chimp 500, that had ignited on startup with 8mm fuel connections on that had blown off and shouted "F*** it let it burn" I formed that opinion!! 1 coat, burnt hands and no eyebrows later.....
Adrian@
Edited by Adrian@ on Saturday 16th June 18:47
Adrian@ said:
I also would NEVER use Jubilee clips on either ends of the fuel connections, these J-clip bodies are to flat to crimp up on the small bore pipes and I would ad[b]v[b]ise changing these for the correct fuel line clips.
Very important point, I fully agree, Jubilees are the spawn of the devil IMHO but it just takes folks too much time to get the correct sized petrol pipe clips :-(Dave
spend said:
Adrian@ said:
I also would NEVER use Jubilee clips on either ends of the fuel connections, these J-clip bodies are to flat to crimp up on the small bore pipes and I would ad[b]v[b]ise changing these for the correct fuel line clips.
Very important point, I fully agree, Jubilees are the spawn of the devil IMHO but it just takes folks too much time to get the correct sized petrol pipe clips :-(Dave
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PRO-CLAMP-8MM-HOSE-FINISHER-PACK-OF-10-CHROME_W0QQitemZ220068573509QQihZ012QQcategoryZ122139QQcmdZViewItem
Edited by crackedfinger on Sunday 17th June 22:14
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