Fuel Lines - small leak.

[clivvy]

hey guys, wonder if you can give me some of your awesome advice?

The other day I noticed a very small fuel leak from one of the fuel lines, the one in the photo below with the rusty hose clip

I tried to remove the pipe but obviously got a shower of diesel so put it back together and went to halfords to buy some new hose clips. I put the first clip on after getting the rubber pipe as far onto the metal fuel pipe as I could (tricky as covered in diesel) and tightened but it still dripped. Put the second clip on near the end and tightened up much more than the first, then nipped up the first and the spill seems to have stopped.

My question is though, with the fuel pipe being so thick and strong, am I causing damage by tightening up too far, or can the pipe take it? Its a really stiff pipe, and I cant see how a hose clip can possibly create a good seal unless I tighten up pretty good....?!!

 

[zippy656]

Id just replace from tank to filter and be done with it.

 

[clivvy]

Id just replace from tank to filter and be done with it.

hmm..ok, but you know the pipe, how stiff should it be? The smaller pipe in the photo is what id class as normal rubber that is bendable easily. The bigger pipe, the one that's leaking, is really difficult to bend/squeeze, hence why that hose clip hasn't really done a good job.

Is it worth replacing it since its already been done?

If I did, all that diesel that's pouring out, where is it from, just the pipes, or will it continue to pour from the tank??

:bow

 

[zippy656]

My thinking would be its the wrong kind of pipe and has suffered from diesel.

The pump suckes from the tank, so when running you will besucking in air.

May start to run roughly and get hard to start

 

[makeitfit]

I think Zippy is on the money here. It looks like a replacement pipe to me and I bet it's the wrong size and or wrong rubber
Could you feel the flange on the fuel pipe ? If not it's possible that the previous spanner monkey cut off the old rusty pipe and your rubber is just slid on
A good quality j/cip is worth buying too and if tightened with a socket it shouldn't be able to squash the steel pipe as the load is predominantly around the whole pipe and not localised (much)
Enjoy :thumb2

 

[clivvy]

ok, looks like i had better order some new pipe and a j-clip then!! do you know what size that original fuel pipe is? the one im sliding the new rubber onto?

 

[zippy656]

99% Sure 8mm from tank to filter. Dont bother with the pipe across the bulkhead, just more to leak.

Look at http://oilybits.com/ great bloke to deal with.

 

[clivvy]

what you mean "pipe across the bulk head"??

thanks for the help by the way, ill order some new 8mm pipe.

 

[makeitfit]

He means you could bin that too but there's an argument that says it's best left as it gets pretty hot round there :thumbs

 

[clivvy]

oh ok, well all I want to do is replace the 8mm pipe that's leaking. its just running from the area by the gearbox, back to the tank. Ill check the downloads section for how to do it and make it a job for Saturday!

 

[zippy656]

He means you could bin that too but there's an argument that says it's best left as it gets pretty hot round there :thumbs

Ive had no troubles.

 

[clivvy]

how long would you say it was from tank, to around the gearbox areas, where the original fuel pipes go up into the engine bay??

 

[zippy656]

I think i got 5 m but that was to change all pipe.

Also i passed his place on way home from work

 

[clivvy]

ok, ill buy plenty just in case, cheers Zipster!

 

[zippy656]

Return pipe is 6mm


No worries always here to help


Note to self GET A LIFE

 

[Banshee]

99% Sure 8mm from tank to filter. Dont bother with the pipe across the bulkhead, just more to leak.

Look at http://oilybits.com/ great bloke to deal with.

I can 2nd this 8mm ID and also the guy at Oilybits is great

While you're at it, why don't you get some clear pipe and do your filter feed and return as well, you can se whats going on then as well;

 

[zippy656]

Yep replace wll the pipe, i used clear. Was looking for where the air was getting in.

Easy to sort with clear pipe.

 

[clivvy]

cheers, the return pipe seems totally fine, just the 8mm pipe that's leaking.

is braided rubber hose ok??

 

[zippy656]

As long as it says on for diesel bio and veggie oil, will be ok


Ask on oilybiys for best one

 

[clivvy]

what about unbraided? im seeing lots of nitrile rubber hose which isn't reinforced/?

looking on oily bits, cant even see rubber hose....!