what is this?

[jesfirth]

Hi,

This thread runs in parallel with my brain ache one. I am just pulling out the starter motor - it died today. In the photo below you can seee a metal cross with my finger with 4 hoses attached to it. I assume it is some kind of breather? One tube goes to the rear each of the inlet manifolds beneath the fuel rails, one to the drivers side airbox and one vanishes into the transmission tunnel.

I removed the fuel rail - in the photo it is the shiny silver thing top left

What do the tubes do and where does the one running into the transmission tunnel go?

Could this be part cause of my hot start and running problems?

Also the hose to the passenger fuel rail is folded such that I cannot believe any air etc could pass through it - obviously I will strighten it.

Edited by jesfirth on Sunday 31st May 18:20

[Onzlouk]

Are they not the fuel lines? As in, inlet, feed to two fuel rails and return for unspent fuel?

Edited by Onzlouk on Sunday 31st May 17:47

[spitfire4v8]

They're just vacuum lines , two pipes picking vacuum from the inlets, one pipe running backwards to the carbon can and one pipe running to the airbox through a tiny restrictor. they have minimal effect on running except if the carbon can is full of fuel, which might be worth checking. You can access the carbon can through the rear wheel arch (big black plastic container with pipes and an electrical connector in the top of it).

[jesfirth]

Joo - which side is the can?

[Onzlouk]

spitfire4v8 said:

They're just vacuum lines , two pipes picking vacuum from the inlets, one pipe running backwards to the carbon can and one pipe running to the airbox through a tiny restrictor. they have minimal effect on running except if the carbon can is full of fuel, which might be worth checking. You can access the carbon can through the rear wheel arch (big black plastic container with pipes and an electrical connector in the top of it).

Runs off and hides in embarassment...

If i had my car i could have had a look for you

[Nickccc]

jesfirth said:

Joo - which side is the can?

Passenger side rear wheel arch.

[jonbarrett]

When I checked my breather hoses, the one running to the carbon can had touched the exhaust manifold and burnt through. Can't have helped the running.

[jesfirth]

what does the carbon can do? Can I not get rid of it and vent this hose to air in the engine bay?

[spitfire4v8]

Carbon can is an emmisions thing. youre not allowed to vent fuel tank breathers to atmosphere on new cars so they vent through a charcoal filter, the filter is purged by inlet manifold vacuum through a valve which opens when the fuel pump is running.
You could take the carbon can out, block the pipe up from the manifold that leads to it and fit a race type roll over valve into the fuel pipe from the tank vent to prevent fuel spills should you roll the car. You'd possibly get some fuel smells from the valve but you might consider this a fair compromise. If it doesn't help you could always put everything back again. The car already has a rollover valve fixed to teh rear bulkhead but they're rubbish so don't trust it to seal the fuel flow if you turn it over, fit a proper race spec one aswell.

[jesfirth]

thanks Joo. I have cut and blocked the feed from the engine breather, removed the carbon can, taped up the electrical connections and etended the fuel tank breather the be flush with the bottom of the chassis. Just waiting for the valve to arrive in tomoorows post and we'll be there.

The carbon can was definitely empty - it rattles when shaken i assume the carbon granules inside. When they fill up with fuel do they take long to empty or does it just evapourate quite quickly?