Scary moment with petrol leak
Discussion
Greetings All
Started Chim yesterday for the first time this year, just to warm her up, with a view to a possible run out on the dry roads. A few seconds after starting I thought the exhaust fumes seemed to smell a bit rich, then noticed a vapour cloud coming from under the car just behind the drivers side front wheel. So switched off and looked underneath the car only to see the chassis dripping with petrol. Lifted the bonnet and the rear of the OS rocker cover looked wet, so switched the ignition back on, and there it was, a significant spray of petrol from the rubber pipe positioned directly above the rocker cover. Another job!
It would seem that this is now becoming a problem with these cars, which, I suppose is due to their age, and close proximity of the pipes to the exhaust manifold.
I am thinking about wrapping the manifolds to keep the under bonnet temps down a bit. Can anyone recommend a product, and where best to buy.
Started Chim yesterday for the first time this year, just to warm her up, with a view to a possible run out on the dry roads. A few seconds after starting I thought the exhaust fumes seemed to smell a bit rich, then noticed a vapour cloud coming from under the car just behind the drivers side front wheel. So switched off and looked underneath the car only to see the chassis dripping with petrol. Lifted the bonnet and the rear of the OS rocker cover looked wet, so switched the ignition back on, and there it was, a significant spray of petrol from the rubber pipe positioned directly above the rocker cover. Another job!
It would seem that this is now becoming a problem with these cars, which, I suppose is due to their age, and close proximity of the pipes to the exhaust manifold.
I am thinking about wrapping the manifolds to keep the under bonnet temps down a bit. Can anyone recommend a product, and where best to buy.
Plenty of varied opinion on the subject of heat wrap.It will obviously help out under bonnet temp but can also cause stress cracks on the manifold welds. A MUST do is all your rubber petrol pipes.....
....if one is perished more than likely they all will be....... .....Its not worth taking a chance change them all A.S.A.P..........Tom.
....if one is perished more than likely they all will be....... .....Its not worth taking a chance change them all A.S.A.P..........Tom.TJC46 said:
Plenty of varied opinion on the subject of heat wrap.It will obviously help out under bonnet temp but can also cause stress cracks on the manifold welds. A MUST do is all your rubber petrol pipes.........if one is perished more than likely they all will be....... .....Its not worth taking a chance change them all A.S.A.P..........Tom.
Thanks Tom......I must admit I hadn't heard of the wrap causing stress cracks in the welds, or even considered it. However, it is my intention to replace all rubber fuel pipes before taking the car out again. Cheers ....if one is perished more than likely they all will be....... .....Its not worth taking a chance change them all A.S.A.P..........Tom.
Consider yourself lucky. IMHO the rubber fuel lines in the engine bay should be a service item and replaced every 5 years at least...
I woudn't consider wrapping the manifolds for the reasons mentioned in the post above; I'd sooner whip them out whenever the gaskets need replacing, and have them ceramic coated by Zircotec or similar...
I woudn't consider wrapping the manifolds for the reasons mentioned in the post above; I'd sooner whip them out whenever the gaskets need replacing, and have them ceramic coated by Zircotec or similar...
As said above wraping the manifolds can cause more problems withthem cracking around the welds (there are quite a few threds on here about it).
Definatly replace the three fuel hoses in the engine bay though. JonnyZ on here sells a kit through the classifieds of the three hoses for about £135. (Just bought a kit off him but not fitted them yet).
Definatly replace the three fuel hoses in the engine bay though. JonnyZ on here sells a kit through the classifieds of the three hoses for about £135. (Just bought a kit off him but not fitted them yet).
V8NRG said:
As said above wraping the manifolds can cause more problems withthem cracking around the welds (there are quite a few threds on here about it).
Definatly replace the three fuel hoses in the engine bay though. JonnyZ on here sells a kit through the classifieds of the three hoses for about £135. (Just bought a kit off him but not fitted them yet).
£35 for the kit Definatly replace the three fuel hoses in the engine bay though. JonnyZ on here sells a kit through the classifieds of the three hoses for about £135. (Just bought a kit off him but not fitted them yet).
I have wrapped my manifolds around the pre-cat area only to dampen the ringing after they were removed. I found the darker graphite impregnated wrap was better than the white stuff which fell apart quickly. Got it off ebay.
Removing the pre-cats is supposed to reduce under bonnet heat, not sure I noticed but every little helps.
I am sure the 'kits' are good quality and value for what they are.
However I went to my local motor factor and purchased 5m of the correct injection hose and 10 fuel type jubilee clips for £27. Still have hose left over for other jobs. Cant see the value in the braded hose myself and it is more difficult to view its condition after time.
However I went to my local motor factor and purchased 5m of the correct injection hose and 10 fuel type jubilee clips for £27. Still have hose left over for other jobs. Cant see the value in the braded hose myself and it is more difficult to view its condition after time.
Thoughts and comments very much appreciated.
Think I am going to pursue the replacement kit using braded hoses. I know there are arguments for still using the rubber type, but if I am going to the trouble of changing, then I might as well have something that looks good. The originals have lasted nearly 12 years so might be worth replacing again in another five to six years, if I still have the car that is. (Owned this one for nearly six years)
Jury is still out on the exhaust wrap, but I can't use the car until hoses are replaced so will get them changed first.
Cheers
Think I am going to pursue the replacement kit using braded hoses. I know there are arguments for still using the rubber type, but if I am going to the trouble of changing, then I might as well have something that looks good. The originals have lasted nearly 12 years so might be worth replacing again in another five to six years, if I still have the car that is. (Owned this one for nearly six years)
Jury is still out on the exhaust wrap, but I can't use the car until hoses are replaced so will get them changed first.
Cheers
PxMetro said:
Thoughts and comments very much appreciated.
Think I am going to pursue the replacement kit using braded hoses. I know there are arguments for still using the rubber type, but if I am going to the trouble of changing, then I might as well have something that looks good. The originals have lasted nearly 12 years so might be worth replacing again in another five to six years, if I still have the car that is. (Owned this one for nearly six years)
Jury is still out on the exhaust wrap, but I can't use the car until hoses are replaced so will get them changed first.
Cheers
Dont forget all that heat from the manifolds has to dissapate somewhere! If you wrap the manifolds the heat will transfer further down the exhaust system[which gets hot enough as is] I personally would not want all that extra heat right underneath me. At least in the engine bay there are some heat shields to deflect the heat off the inner wing. The originals on my car were shot, so much so that the carpet in the drivers side footwell was actually burnt from heat transfer thru the fibreglass from the manifolds. I replaced the heat shields and also fitted some high temp cloth underneath the carpet at the crucial points. Just my opinion but something to consider "while the jury is still out"Think I am going to pursue the replacement kit using braded hoses. I know there are arguments for still using the rubber type, but if I am going to the trouble of changing, then I might as well have something that looks good. The originals have lasted nearly 12 years so might be worth replacing again in another five to six years, if I still have the car that is. (Owned this one for nearly six years)
Jury is still out on the exhaust wrap, but I can't use the car until hoses are replaced so will get them changed first.
Cheers
Nosh said:
I am curious - would it not be worth replacing the rubber hoses with the 'braided' variety?
Nosh
Probably, but the SS braid does make inspection of the actual hose underneath erm, difficult. Nosh
That point should be academic if the braided hose is a quality product using Teflon liners rather than plain old rubber, though.
Be sure all the fittings on such a line are assembled with the utmost care, or you'll trade one set of problems for another...Why not take copper pipe in to the engine bay then go to hose for the last section to the fuel rail..I have noticed the return pipe from the gearbox area to the tank is about 8mm soft copper.Think some of the last cars have copper petrol lines.The braided hoses would i think get very hot due to the metal braiding.
SILICONE 339BHP said:
Why not take copper pipe in to the engine bay then go to hose for the last section to the fuel rail..I have noticed the return pipe from the gearbox area to the tank is about 8mm soft copper.Think some of the last cars have copper petrol lines.The braided hoses would i think get very hot due to the metal braiding.
But surely the copper pipe would also get hot and heat up the fuel. (Just a thought) 
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