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Fri Sep 13, 2013 4:22 pm

I'm looking for any ideas/experience as to how to clear the rigid fuel line that's inside the tunnel...got the tank all clean, but now I need to clear that line :?

Fri Sep 13, 2013 4:24 pm

Spray brake cleaner in one end and then use compressed air to blow it through. Put a length of hose on the other end and and put the hose in a soda bottle to catch the junk that gets blown out.

Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:18 pm

You might be able to push a braided wire through. Something like a speedometer cable, only longer. Bend the ends so that acts like a tiny wire brush.

Fri Sep 13, 2013 10:47 pm

Bore snake.

Sat Sep 14, 2013 4:29 am

Captain Spalding wrote: Bore snake.

One more procedure and I will have reached the bore snake stage...

Capt', Have you used the 22 cal, 5.56 mm size for this use or is there a better size?

I have a super plugged metal fuel line on our current 74 resto. With both ends disconnected, I ran solvent/compressed air then braided steel from both ends of the steel line with no blockage relief. I have a speedo cable section on a drill to ream with today. If that does not clear the line, a bore snake is next on the list. I built an all new front end (Beam to Drum for this car 7 years ago. Now after watching time slip by, the owner is having me put the car back on the road. The car's "new" fill pipe was solid with varnish (now clear). The last registration tags on this car are 2000. So it has had over a decade to plug the fuel line nicely. I have a 73 that I got in 2001 it had not run since 87. But the PO left it outdoors with the fuel in the lines so once the flexible lines were replaced all flowed as required with no issues.

Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:36 pm

'87. Kmann?? That'd be Pre- ethanol garbage, right?? That stuff is killing our vehicles today!

I like the speedo cable on a drill.. If that doesn't
Do it, I don't see how a bore snake will.....

Sat Sep 14, 2013 6:39 pm

I guess I neglected to mention that this Thing has been off the road since '82? I made some progress today with carb cleaner and an old accelerator cable, but still have a blockage. It's right up near the front where the blockage is, probably no more than 7 inches in... :roll: from the rear I can feed in about 5 or more feet of cable...

Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:58 am

Raise one end of the car a bit so the carb cleaner will rest against the blockage and leave it in there and go out periodically throughout the day and spray more in there and then try the compressed air in a day or so.

Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:05 am

The VW fuel system is designed as a gravity flow from the tank to to fuel pump. Even the fixed steel fuel line enters at the top edge of the tunnel and exits the bottom edge. But adding extra gravitational angle as a solvent portioner. I like it. Great tip.

Cleared Line = Success/Finally I found hard black tar for the first 4" of the front fuel line. After the first few inches were cleared brake cleaner was used. Then I switched to the speedo cable. The steel line was so plugged with black tar like crud that it had to be carved out using a long drill bit turned by hand. Once I have a few inches I attached a rubber line asn sprayed in brake cleaner. After that I used the speedo cable on the drill. The goo kept jamming the speedo cable. It finally sprung the outer sheath. So I removed the inner core of the speedo cable sprayed it with carb cleaner and was finally able to break through. After the pipe was cleared nearly a gallon had to be pushed through the line until the crud stopped and clear gas would flow.

UPDATE: Instead of lifting the car, I attached a old rubber fuel line to the metal line and raised it above the fender opening. Then using the little straw-nozzle I sprayed the brake cleaner into the line until it filled the hose. Left it sit, came back asn the speedo cable got fuel to flow once again...

Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:07 pm

kubelmans last post has me inspired, but I spent the better part of yesterday messing with the fuel line, with little to no progress...the blockage is only about 7" in from the front end. that's where it stops dead. I've made no progress that I can see on that end. From the rear< i've fed an accelerator cable about 5 1/2' up there. Been using carb cleaner liberally, I've gone through about a can. I was almost resolved to run a new line, but maybe I'll try again after a good soak...How much line should I have sticking out of the tunnel on the front end? I'm also beginning to wonder if someone in the past pushed the rigid line into the tunnel, kinking the line inside the tunnel? does that make sense? seems like a possible explanation, since the blockage is so close to the front?...

Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:25 pm

I have been waiting/working this fuel line for over a while. I took a old brittle length of rubber fuel line that was long enough to be higher that the fill tube on the gas tank. Then I took the spray tube on the carb cleaner/PB Blaster and sprayed until the hose wqs full to the top. Once I made some progress I also put gasoline down the line. I took my speedo cable and using my small grinder I ground a spar edge on the end of the cable so that it would cut when it turned. I kept pushing it in asn taking it out. I also soaked the cable (alternately) in the three solvents. Brake/carb cleaner, PB blaster, gasoline. I have cleared a good number of VW lines but this one was one of the more challenging wiht no rust or rotten metal just fuel crud residue. (Our current U.S. gasoline is not great...) After a time the speedo cable started to fray and would not fit in the fuel line. So I removed the harder steel center core from the speedo cable and that was the tool that finally broke the path. I ran over a gallon of gas through the lines before it stopped coming out dark chocolate brown and turn clear gasoline colored. You can get this clear .

Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:59 pm

I ran into my line being stuck as well when putting my car together. Really torqued me as I had the body off for the longest time,and you guessed it,this was all that was keeping me from driving after all that work! Mine took two days to clear. I used a strong piece of wire and made it kinda pointy. My fix was pouring in acetone and letting it sit overnight. The next day with the air gun,there was a sudden loud pop,lots of gummed up fuel,and much to my shock a big hornet shot out into my buddies rag he was holding over the other end. Keep at it,you will get it!!

Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:11 pm

thanks for the encouragement guys, I guess this is to be expected with a car left sitting so long, the tank was really gummy, no rust, just laquer gum, same stuff I'm getting in the fuel line. I'm just discouraged by the lack of progress from the front end...I'll keep at it, and maybe pick up some acetone...

Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:21 am

I set up a gravity feed to soak the lines with acetone, and used this alternately with compressed air. After several days, I finally have a clear line! I ended up cutting the end off of an old air hose, and clamping that with a hose clamp onto the front end of the line. Then, I pressured up the compressor and turned it off, and left it that way. Next day, when I turned on the compressor, I could hear a tiny hiss from the rear. So, I soaked it with acetone again, overnight, and this morning after powering up the compressor, I heard a loud POP. The front side of my firewall now has a very cool 80's style black on white splatter painting on it! :lol:

Sun Sep 29, 2013 12:19 pm

That's great news!

Sun Sep 29, 2013 1:43 pm

WELL DONE!!!!

If you want to get something done RIGHT_ON DIYS

Having just spent several weeks clearing the line in the current resto, I know how good it feels to RESTORE the fuel system to OE especially when a semi-terminal blockage in the line has solidified. Replaced lines are rarely well done and never as good as plain jane stock unless there is a big motor or performance stuff cooking. Again I say WELL DONE!!!!

Sun Sep 29, 2013 3:05 pm

Victory!! Glad to hear you got it clear! Here is another tip for all regarding acetone. Go buy a spray bottle,fill half with acetone,the other half atf dextron 3. You will have the best penetrating oil on the globe. It works killer getting things on things loose!

Mon Sep 30, 2013 5:19 am

last time I did a body off resto, the pan I got had a blocked line.
tried everything listed here to no avail. I gave up and ran a rubber hose through the car. that was working fine when I sold it

Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:04 am

Yes you can always just by-pass the stock fuel line and replace it with a length of steel line/rubber hose of braided stainless steel outer with silicone center. I have had a number of VWs that had a fuel line replaced with copper tubing that had been run along the bottom edge of the tunnel on the passenger side. This had no apparent effect on the cars performance. In fact, I never realized that the fuel line had been altered until a fuel delivery issue arose. But none of those are mounted at the CONSTANT downward angle of the stock fuel line. The standard fuel flow/delivery test on a stock VW is to disconnect the cloth braided rubber fuel line as it comes into the fuel pump. Place the line in a container and if the system is working correctly the fuel will immediately and with slight force come out of the end of the hose clear and free. This occurs as a result of the force of gravity acting on the constant downhill fluid delivery system. The central metal fuel line points downhill doing most of the work for the poor little mechanical fuel pump. Although the fuel pump can in fact pump fluid uphill it is a far better system to pump downhill at a constant angle.

Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:02 pm

I had considered running a new line along the tunnel, but just didn't like that idea as much as getting the original clear. I know I'll probably be the only person who ever notices, but then, I'm the only one I'm trying to impress! Thanks for all the advice and congrats guys. I really can't believe how happy I am even still today about finally getting it clear!