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Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:36 pm

Hi All, I have tried various 5mm fuel hose from multiple suppliers and they all split or crack within 2 years. German or China makes no difference. We do not have ethanol fuel where I live, but dry climate we do have. I am on my second set of fuel tank vapor hoses as well and after examining them today, need to order yet another set. Can anyone advise me a cure or something I can spray on them to keep from cracking and leaking? Is there a silicone fuel hose that won't split? Thanks

Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:52 pm

What brand hose are you getting? Do you have any local industrial hose/fitting shops? They should have something that should last longer.
Where on the car is this hose located at the front or rear?

Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:52 pm

Try 6mm/1/4-inch i.d. fuel line for fuel injected vehicles. Like Gates.

Sun Dec 04, 2016 9:15 pm

I believe the correct size hose should have a 5.5mm ID. Rebuildable VW OEM fuel pumps with plain push on pipe connections are 6mm OD so 5mm ID hose is going to be stretched too much and comprimise the hose integrity in the medium and long term. Later VW OEM non-rebuildable fuel pumps had a barbed push on connection and have a straight section OD of around 6.1-6.2mm and 7.1mm at the barb. So clearly 5mm ID hose is not going to work on the later non- rebuildable pumps.

Sun Dec 04, 2016 9:16 pm

Continental and China brands. I thought german would be better, but no. This issue is with both ends of the car, today was leaking under gas tank, last time at fuel pump. This happens too many times using what should be superior cloth hose. We do have a local industrial hose store, thanks for the tips!

Sun Dec 04, 2016 9:19 pm

Hose size seems small for sure, maybe you are on to something. This is a 73 with throw away type pump. I will research that thought furthef, thanks!

Sun Dec 04, 2016 9:57 pm

I assume your fuel pump looks like this but with the earlier style top.

Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:32 pm

Sounds like you may have gotten some bad fuel line. I usually buy the "German" made 5.5 woven fuel line from Wolfsburg West. In 10 years here in hot Phoenix, I've never seen it split or even dry out. I change it after 3-4 years for peace of mind. Even the old hose I pull off looks fine. I could probably go 5 years.

You could check with your Mercedes or BMW dealer as well. I read somewhere that they also sell this style fuel line or can get it to support their older cars. I'm sure it's top quality stuff.

Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:47 pm

Cusser wrote: Try 6mm/1/4-inch i.d. fuel line for fuel injected vehicles. Like Gates.
X2, and some good FI style smooth clamps to squeeze it down onto some of the smaller fittings. I gave up on all the German and metric line from unknown sources, Goodyear or Gates J30R9 rated 1/4" FI hose hasn't let me down since.

Mon Dec 05, 2016 12:01 am

I get my 5mm German hose from Wolfgang International, and I replaced some of it recently. It was several years old, but it really didn't need replacing. I did it anyway because it was under the tank. Since I was pulling the tank for other reasons, it seemed like a good idea to change it.

By the way, it gets very hot here in Redding, Ca. Many summer days over 100F to 110. On a few days, I've seen 114-116.

Try Wolfgang. I can only assume from experience that they sell the "good" German braided hose.

Tim

Mon Dec 05, 2016 12:01 am

If you go to the link below it gives you all the information that you need to knw about fuel hose.

http://www.volksbolts.com/faq/fuelhose.htm

Mon Dec 05, 2016 5:56 am

Meiang wrote: I assume your fuel pump looks like this but with the earlier style top.

Yes Meiang, very similar, but angled top due to alternator.

Mon Dec 05, 2016 5:57 am

wcfvw69 wrote: Sounds like you may have gotten some bad fuel line. I usually buy the "German" made 5.5 woven fuel line from Wolfsburg West. In 10 years here in hot Phoenix, I've never seen it split or even dry out. I change it after 3-4 years for peace of mind. Even the old hose I pull off looks fine. I could probably go 5 years.

You could check with your Mercedes or BMW dealer as well. I read somewhere that they also sell this style fuel line or can get it to support their older cars. I'm sure it's top quality stuff.

I have gotten fuel line from different sources, I think the size is my next quest. Apparently 5mm is too small and I should go with 5.5 or 6MM.

Mon Dec 05, 2016 6:00 am

Tim Donahoe wrote: I get my 5mm German hose from Wolfgang International, and I replaced some of it recently. It was several years old, but it really didn't need replacing. I did it anyway because it was under the tank. Since I was pulling the tank for other reasons, it seemed like a good idea to change it.

By the way, it gets very hot here in Redding, Ca. Many summer days over 100F to 110. On a few days, I've seen 114-116.

Try Wolfgang. I can only assume from experience that they sell the "good" German braided hose.

Tim

Thanks Tim. This issue is not only annoying for me, but dangerous as I caught the line on the engine leaking before i drove it...what if I had drove off and it decided to pour all over the hote engine?! UGH, I will get something different and report back.

Mon Dec 05, 2016 6:05 am

busdaddy wrote: Cusser wrote: Try 6mm/1/4-inch i.d. fuel line for fuel injected vehicles. Like Gates.
X2, and some good FI style smooth clamps to squeeze it down onto some of the smaller fittings. I gave up on all the German and metric line from unknown sources, Goodyear or Gates J30R9 rated 1/4" FI hose hasn't let me down since.

Thanks busdaddy, I used to use clamps but found it hastened the hoses demise where it attaches to the pipe. I still have the smooth clamps and prefer to use them, maybe I can with new hose. I think the fuel injection hose is the way to go.

Mon Dec 05, 2016 6:06 am

Meiang wrote: If you go to the link below it gives you all the information that you need to knw about fuel hose.

http://www.volksbolts.com/faq/fuelhose.htm

Bookmarked! This is a great page and explains a lot. Thanks Meiang!

Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:02 am

Cusser wrote: Try 6mm/1/4-inch i.d. fuel line for fuel injected vehicles. Like Gates.

I have been using the last of my stock of woven and have been moving over to Gates. Not buying the "German" woven anymore because of the same problem you have had with splitting in a couple years. Don't think you need the Gates fuel injected though. The regular hose is holding up very well. Plus the FI hose is more expensive.

Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:08 am

wcfvw69 wrote: I usually buy the "German" made 5.5 woven fuel line from Wolfsburg West. In 10 years here in hot Phoenix, I've never seen it split or even dry out.

I'm resurrecting my 1970 VW at the moment after 23 years of sitting (in a dedicated, different thread). I used new 5.5mm woven fuel line from Wolfsburg West on that, under the fuel tank to an all-metal fuel filter, then to the port on the front of the pan (my 1970 still had the original fuel line there !!!). I have more woven fuel line to replace after the tube exits the pan at its rear, and then in the engine compartment once I get the engine done.

Mon Dec 05, 2016 12:59 pm

Glad I'm not the only one who has had issues with braided fuel lines. I've always ordered mine from Wolfsburg West, but I'm lucky to get two years out of it before I start to notice cracking and need to change it. Pretty much everywhere here has ethanol in their gas, so I suspect that's what's causing the problems. Looks like it's time to switch over to something more modern, I've bookmarked this page for reference :)

Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:06 pm

TheRustySuper wrote: I've always ordered mine from Wolfsburg West, but I'm lucky to get two years out of it before I start to notice cracking and need to change it. Pretty much everywhere here has ethanol in their gas, so I suspect that's what's causing the problems.

Remember: I haven't tried out my Wolfsburg West hose yet with gasoline, ordered about 2 months ago, just installed it on my 1970 so far.

That said: we've had ethanol in the gasoline in Arizona for at least a decade, and the fuel lines in my 1971 Convertible are at least that old, and have not split. So I don't think that ethanol in the gasoline is the whole reason.

I suspect that cost-savings by the suppliers (to a less-resistant formula of rubber) would be the reason; we even had cost-savings projects for soap bars, soap bar wrappers, cartons, etc.