Old Fuel Line Lesson Learned

[EverettB]

[Mos6502]

[Patty B.]

Geeze I was cringeing over fire too!!!!!


I just replaced a length of leaky fuel line.. So suprised I didn't catch fire as it was right over the dist cap!
I smelled gas but always smell gas--it's an on going aggravation and always keep checking the lines beause of it. Despite this I've had both a fuel line nipple come out of the carb while on the road ( last year) AND a cracked fuel line when two days before it was all fine.
This was a two yr old fuel line. One end was split but not leaking the other looked brand new but there was a split in the line about 2mm long when I cut the line in half to check it.
I had one of those something isn'tright feelings, check the motor after moving my car up the driveway and the engine was wet with gas and starting to pool in the well under the pulley.
I read here once --someone mentionned that you should expect a smell of gas from a carburated car but please don't think it is usual--check your lines and fuel pump!

This is what I have on the car but have no confidence in it:

[ROCKOROD71]

Line from tunnel to engine compartment should never get old if you keep your fuel filter there for 2 reasons.
1) you'll be checking the filter every so often for debris anyhow
2) esp. if using the cheap plastic filter- it'll never come off easy without cutting/removing the line, at least one part of it.
I have a pile of scrap fuel line from cutting the filter out and replacing with new. Now I just put the length of line together with the filter in place and pull the whole thing off at once to minimize gas spillage (pointing nose of the car downhill for this helps too). Then I cut the filter out and keep the old lines for the next time, new line gets into rotation as the old ones become to short or show signs of cracking/wear/age.
I feel ok with this as I replace the fuel filter about twice a year so I get a good look at the fuel line in that spot each time.
Now, the fuel line from the tank to the tunnel is a PITA job and I just replaced mine a few months ago after letting the old one go for YEARS. Like 6-7 years probably, and the line that came off was still good and not weeping. It was Continental line.

Ethanol resistant line in Metric sizes at www.belmetric.com
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1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI

[vamram]

[ROCKOROD71]

Vamram, It'd be worth taking the top of your carb off and having a look anyways. I had an intermittent fuel delivery problem a while back. Swore it was the fuel pump and I changed THAT and some other stuff before figuring out there was a tiny piece of rubber from a fresh cut fuel line that worked its way to the float needle valve and would block it intermittently, causing problems. Would explain why you got fuel goin into the bottle when testing the pump but still had issues. Even if the line was weeping it should still have delivered fuel to the pump/carb, but if the line has been disintegrating for a while, especially AFTER the filter you could have some crud in the carb. Worth the ten or so minutes to take the top off, remove the float valve and blow everything out and re-install. AFTER replacing the line and filter of course.
Sucks to happen on show day, but glad the bug didn't burn down! We only learn from screwing up, or at least I do!
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1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI

[Yehan73]

Hi Guys, from my experience it's not the ethanol in the gas but the crappy quality of the braided gas lines vendors sell that's the cause. Even of the gas lines say GERMAN, it's poor quality. The way I know, is I buy good quality real German hose from my VW dealer for my Passat. These hoses have not failed in 12 years, still look new and no cracks. The stuff you get as the braided German hose, in less than two years fails.
as a habit now I either use VW dealer hose or the standard hose (fuel injected, non braided) if I really can't find the size.
Please stop buying the sub standard German braided and save your bug.

[Tim Donahoe]

I just got mail from Amazon. They apparently know I own a beetle. One of the advertised items was Germal braided 5mm fuel hose, made by Continental and supplied by Pepco(?). It says it does well with "most" ethanol fuels.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[scrivyscriv]

When I bought my bug a couple years ago and filled the tank up for my first engine run, I got a stream of gas at the back of the car about thirty minutes after putting gas in the tank.

I finally found this:

Yes lots of rat action in there - a PO had replaced the fuel line at some point, and they spent a good bit of money on rubber fuel hose, which the rats really enjoyed. I found at least five good chewed-through spots when I pulled that crumbly, janky fuel hose out!

I know that's not the fuel line you're specifically referring to, but your story reminded me of my fun day cleaning up gas!
Ironically, the 25' roll of coiled steel 1/4" tubing I used to fix this problem cost less than the rubber fuel hose would have.
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.