Braided fuel ruptured- Good news nothing bad happened.

[Mick40]

I'm running fuel injection that is plumbed with steel lines running from the tank to the engine compartment. Then, they transition to braided lines for both supply and return. Both are less than a foot in length. The return line leaked in the middle dumping fuel at the top of the engine. Fortunately, this happened on startup so the engine was cold. Both braided lines are only 4 years old and the engine has been only run enough to log about one mile. Lots of idling, however. So my question; should I replace this with another braided line? If not, what are my options? I'm obviously concerned that this may happen again and I may not be so lucky. I made the lines so initially, I was concerned they would leak at the fitting but, didn't. My only guess was the twisting needed to install the line so I may have weakened the rubber?

Any thoughts and suggestions?



Thanks,
Mick

[egchewy79]

Use teflon SS lines. More resistant to gas. I have around 15ft of SS regular fuel line left over if you'd like to make an offer. I think I paid around$70 for the 20ft length from jegs. I made a short line connecting my pump to filter before deciding on going to teflon

[D Stand]

Check this site out. I purchased my parts from them. They have some good write ups on your exact issue and how to solve with different hose. https://hotrodfuelhose.com/

[Mick40]

Egchewy79, Thanks for the offer, I'm learning more about fuel lines wish I had taken the time years ago. D Stand, I'm going to check what they have and will likely give them a call.

Thanks
Mick

[bobl]

The older braided lines were not rated for ethanol so they will fail for sure. You can buy braided lines now that are rated for ethanol/methanol and they will hold up fine. You just have to make sure what you are buying. You do not have to buy teflon lines, but they also work very well.

[Fman]

I went with Fragola PTFE they hold up to about anything you can throw at them.

This was a great price for 20 ft.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/FRA-602006

Fluid Type
Alcohol
Automatic transmission fluid
Diesel
E85
Engine coolant
Engine oil
Ethanol
Gasoline
Methanol
N2O
Power steering

[NAZ]

Ethanol is a fact of life now so we have to purchase fuel lines that are resistant to alcohol. You can use PTFE for fuel line BUT don't use the white Teflon liner as it's not conductive and can lead to arcing from the SS braid to the liner from static buildup. This can eventually break down the liner and you will end up with pin holes. Use the black Teflon liner, or more specifically, a conductive PTFE liner on fuel lines or any line that carries high volume / high flow rates as the higher flow will build up static electricity. Save the white liner for brake lines and low flow rate fluids.

https://www.new-line.com/nldocs/resources/Electro-Static-Bulletin.pdf

[Mick40]

All great info! I'm going to try and find a set with the ends already on and cut my hard lines accordingly. Maybe Mike F. will provide this service he is only 1 hour from me.

Thanks everyone for the sound advice.

Mick