braided fuel lines took a crap

[gEtyOpAPiOn]

So I decided to start my car after 3yrs and let's see pump turned on and all the fuel lines started spraying fuel like an irrigation setup for a green house lol
I guess I now have to replace all of them =[ I wonder if it had to do with sitting for so long or having 110 fuel on it

[DeltaT]

What brand and part name did you use for your fuel lines? Like Earl's Perform-A-flex or Ultra-flex.

There's some cheap stuff out there that just happens to have a braided steel covering on it.

I'm glad you didn't have a major disaster with it - imagine it starting to spray when everything was hot and moving 120mph!

Jim

[gEtyOpAPiOn]

I forgot what kind but it was earls

[gEtyOpAPiOn]

I remember you from the g2g in oct 06 at speed merchant

[JohnUlaszek]

You don't want to use braided line for fuel unless it teflon lined or the vendor specifically states it is compatible with current fuel additives. The additives have changed in the last few years and will eat your fuel lines resulting in smells, bits of the fuel line fouling injectors and pumps, and even leaks.

Anyone running braided line should go out to their garage and "smell" their fuel lines -- if you can smell gas, replace it with hard line or compatible flex line.

Fortunately I haven't heard of anyone losing a car, but I know of several people this has impacted including John Parsons at the Run through the Hils last year.

[gEtyOpAPiOn]

Well I thought these lines were correct for my use when I asked the salesperson I guess he misunderstood me or he just didn't know ,too late now haha.Well thanks for the info I will choose my flex lines more carefully this time ,I'm kinda wondering if pro-lite is compatible with 110 ,I usually run pump gas just once in a while I be using 110

[EFI69Cam]

This is what I am going to use on my fuel system.

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3490

All the other rubber lined stuff will disolve in fuel eventually.

[JohnUlaszek]

John has a write up about it here
http://www.maxchevy.com/columns/pars...parsons-1.html

[gEtyOpAPiOn]

Ok after checking out them links I feel better now ,I'm never buying from them again hehe ,I think I spent close to 800 in lines and hose ends >=[
Thanks guys

[MuscleRodz]

Don't ever buy Earls or Russel for for hose, absolute junk. Use only Aeroquip, Stratflex, or any other MIL-SPEC quality hose.

[gEtyOpAPiOn]

I'm just glad it didn't start or it would of got lit up like 4th of july because its leaking everywhere

[JohnUlaszek]

Don't ever buy Earls or Russel for for hose, absolute junk. Use only Aeroquip, Stratflex, or any other MIL-SPEC quality hose.

It's not enough to buy top of the line, you have to buy the right hose.

[MuscleRodz]

It's not enough to buy top of the line, you have to buy the right hose.

true enough. More specificly MIL-H-8794 which would be Aeroquip 303 or Stratoflex 111.

[JohnUlaszek]

true enough. More specifically MIL-H-8794 which would be Aeroquip 303 or Stratoflex 111.

Problem with Mil-Spec is that you can have a product that meets the spec, but is still not compatible with your application; I saw this happen with a reformulation of Aeroshell 7 grease.

Compliance with a mil-spec would make it a lot easier to know if you are getting the right product for your application, but without having seen the spec, I am curious about the following,
1. Does the spec insure compliance with automotive fuel additives?
2. When was the last time the spec was updated -- this additive incompatibility is a relatively recent problem based on my discussions with Purechoice Motorsports and Aeromotive.

[asifnyc]

I'm glad I saw this thread... I have 3 sections of braided hose with -6 AN fittings between my carb and mech. fuel pump. recently one of the 3 sections developed a leak. I had some leftover braided line so I made a replacement piece... the next weekend I start the car and one of the other two sections had a bad leak?! I built these lines about 9 years ago and my car has had a very on again, off again existence (on the road for 6 months, off the road for 2 years, repeat).

anyway, I bought some Russells "pro classic" hose (which after reading this thread probably isn't the best choice. but at least I feel like now I know what happened. I better get in the garage and replace all the pieces with new hose...

[MuscleRodz]

Problem with Mil-Spec is that you can have a product that meets the spec, but is still not compatible with your application; I saw this happen with a reformulation of Aeroshell 7 grease.

Compliance with a mil-spec would make it a lot easier to know if you are getting the right product for your application, but without having seen the spec, I am curious about the following,
1. Does the spec insure compliance with automotive fuel additives?
2. When was the last time the spec was updated -- this additive incompatibility is a relatively recent problem based on my discussions with Purechoice Motorsports and Aeromotive.

303 and 111 are medium pressure hoses and is what used on all light airplanes for fuel and oil lines for the last 30 odd years. Although I have not checked useage with new automotive fuels, I have never seen one fail within a couple years as Earls and Russel seem to be prone to. They do recommend replacing every 5 years on certain aircraft where heat is an issue, but not a requirement. It would be a simple enough test to submerge a piece of hose for a determined length of in fuel and check for compatability issues. I assume one of the major additive issues is ethanol and its affect on rubber? If so, one maybe forced to use a TFE hose or similar hose in order to eliminate the rubber/ethanol issue.

[gEtyOpAPiOn]

All good info on hoses I guess they just looked strong but in reality they aren't strong or usefull for an everyday car

[CarlC]

Been there, done that with rubber lined braided, along with a good friend as well. John Parsons has a write up somewhere on this site documenting his experiences. Nasty stuff.

The PTFE hose is really the best way to go. It is not that much more expensive and will last the life of the car. It is also easier to assemble than standard fittings and has replaceable ferules, so the fittings can be reused many times. Aeroquip makes the nicest ones I've used.

[Andrew McBride]

just out of curiousity, wouldn't running hard lines be a better route?

fuel lines is something I don't know a lot about, so sorry if its a dumb question.

[EFI69Cam]

Been there, done that with rubber lined braided, along with a good friend as well. John Parsons has a write up somewhere on this site documenting his experiences. Nasty stuff.

The PTFE hose is really the best way to go. It is not that much more expensive and will last the life of the car. It is also easier to assemble than standard fittings and has replaceable ferules, so the fittings can be reused many times. Aeroquip makes the nicest ones I've used.

Maybe my google-fu is weak, but I was not able to find PTFE hose like what is commonly used for the high pressure side of the PS system in -8.

When hard lines are used, there is always need for flexible hoses like from the tank to the hard line and from the hard line to the frame.