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Terry Kay
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Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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 Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 10:50 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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"Why the snark? "
It was in the back of my mind--sounded good at the time.
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 3:24 am Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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| timichango wrote: |
| djkeev wrote: |
| Honestly, in Nine years I've personally changed my views on many things in life. |
Oh, no doubt. It's not everyday that you get to poll someone on why their opinion has changed on a particular subject, particularly after nine years. I figure there's got to be some valuable insight behind the change of mind, so worth asking.
| djkeev wrote: |
| Feeling that Vanagons were the low point of VW as a Company being one of those things. |
Hahahahah... wait, so which side of that opinion are you currently?  |
Honestly?
For a long time I viewed the 1966 Beetle as the high point of VW.
They perfected the 6volt system!!
1967 runs a very close 2nd but Oh! those 12v systems......
68 was the beginning of the end with extensive plastic use, emission crap, giant fugly bumpers, etc.
I wasn't a fan of late Bays with the 2.0 Air Cooled and then they brought out the Vanagon! What a horrible horrible thing they created!!!! Then they made it a water pumper!!!!!! UGH!!!!
I've obviously changed my mind but it took DECADES to do so.
Dave
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Merian
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Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
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| Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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to get back On Topic...
Porsche used those hard plastic fuel lines in 1975 and they still work just fine today. Assuming VW did not find some horrid 3rd World country to make inferior ones 15 years later, you are fine.
The Vanagon has plenty of real manf. defects and aged things to work on (see my sig.). I don't think this is one to worry about.
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takeiteasy
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Joined: August 11, 2016
Posts: 169
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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Are there any issue removing the plastic and using the german rated fuel lines straight from The filter to the firewall fitting? I wouldn't mind eliminated the additional connections.
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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rubbachicken
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Joined: October 05, 2004
Posts: 3058
Location: socal
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| Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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i've not heard ever that there has been a problem with the hard plastic lines, only if or when some fool has used garden hose pipe clamps and has over tightened them, at that point i would cut them back, but only to cut off the damaged pipe.
there are other areas that could use improvement over what VW did, those pipes are not one of them
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Terry Kay
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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<<Fuel hose sags and can get snagged on a spinning axle or drape against exhaust. Tie them up good and you're golden! (Though poorer, good fuel line ain't cheap) >>
Synflex fuel line is no bargain, but pretty much bullet proof.
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15394
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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in my brother's burned van that we brought back to roadworthy
those vinyl hoses were melted on the ends from the fuel induced fire over the transmission..
now don't get all scared, the fire was mechanic error not some failure of the parts..
long story short the ends of the vinyl lines were melted..
when we clipped them fuel ran out..
IMO they burned/melted and sealed themselves..
now I don't feel that they are rodent proof. but I haven't had to deal with that yet, and we have had vans with rodent chewed wires and foam sound padding.
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52499
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 9:29 am Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
in my brother's burned van that we brought back to roadworthy
those vinyl hoses were melted on the ends from the fuel induced fire over the transmission..
now don't get all scared, the fire was mechanic error not some failure of the parts..
long story short the ends of the vinyl lines were melted..
when we clipped them fuel ran out..
IMO they burned/melted and sealed themselves..
now I don't feel that they are rodent proof. but I haven't had to deal with that yet, and we have had vans with rodent chewed wires and foam sound padding. |
It is my understanding that this is what they are supposed to do, seal themselves off when a fire first starts. Unfortunately I don't think this is what actually happens, at least not very often. I think I would be adding a check valve at the fuel tank end of the return line whether I kept with the original plastic or went to metal lines. |
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leathersmyth
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Joined: September 23, 2012
Posts: 122
Location: Calgary,Alberta
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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Two years ago, I had filled up and started heading down the road.
(I had changed fuel lines in engine compartment,replaced the plastic rails etc few years before....)
I was about three minutes from the house heading out of town. (live edge of town so takes 30 seconds to hit road..) Looked down and saw the gas gauge dropping like a rock.... Pulled into first side drive and looked under van. Gas was pouring onto transmission. A nice person had a tow rope and towed me back to the house. Once i had back where there was light (it was dusk when heading out) I crawled under the van and what had happened was behind the firewall fitting there is about a 3" or so fuel line attached to the non engine side of the firewall fitting and from there the hard plastic goes to fuel tank. It is a pressure fit/ The hard plastic fits into the standard fuel line and is clamped. What had happened was the hard plastic had popped out of the fuel line and was spraying like a fire hose ( but the van had not gotten up to temp yet) I ordered the gw hard plastic which uses a barb fitting to transition for hard plastic to soft instead of relying solely on a pressure fit to hold together.
So lesson learned that a) not only do you have to replace the fuel lines in the engine bay, B) You also should look behind firewall and replace that little chunk of fuel line that is hidden from sight as well.
After i had replaced hard fuel line, i contacted gw and they said, yes you can just get the transition barb fittings from them as well... |
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15394
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:14 am Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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I find that many (most) who say "fuel lines were replaced by PO/Garage" don't actually have had that fitting & short 3in section hidden behind the firewall replaced.. I find far too many with stock hose & rusted clamps..
| leathersmyth wrote: |
Two years ago, I had filled up and started heading down the road.
(I had changed fuel lines in engine compartment,replaced the plastic rails etc few years before....)
I was about three minutes from the house heading out of town. (live edge of town so takes 30 seconds to hit road..) Looked down and saw the gas gauge dropping like a rock.... Pulled into first side drive and looked under van. Gas was pouring onto transmission. A nice person had a tow rope and towed me back to the house. Once i had back where there was light (it was dusk when heading out) I crawled under the van and what had happened was behind the firewall fitting there is about a 3" or so fuel line attached to the non engine side of the firewall fitting and from there the hard plastic goes to fuel tank. It is a pressure fit/ The hard plastic fits into the standard fuel line and is clamped. What had happened was the hard plastic had popped out of the fuel line and was spraying like a fire hose ( but the van had not gotten up to temp yet) I ordered the gw hard plastic which uses a barb fitting to transition for hard plastic to soft instead of relying solely on a pressure fit to hold together.
So lesson learned that a) not only do you have to replace the fuel lines in the engine bay, B) You also should look behind firewall and replace that little chunk of fuel line that is hidden from sight as well.
After i had replaced hard fuel line, i contacted gw and they said, yes you can just get the transition barb fittings from them as well... |
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timichango
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Joined: April 07, 2012
Posts: 858
Location: Squamish, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing stock plastic fuel lines with stainless hard lines |
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| leathersmyth wrote: |
Two years ago, I had filled up and started heading down the road.
(I had changed fuel lines in engine compartment,replaced the plastic rails etc few years before....)
I was about three minutes from the house heading out of town. (live edge of town so takes 30 seconds to hit road..) Looked down and saw the gas gauge dropping like a rock.... Pulled into first side drive and looked under van. Gas was pouring onto transmission. A nice person had a tow rope and towed me back to the house. Once i had back where there was light (it was dusk when heading out) I crawled under the van and what had happened was behind the firewall fitting there is about a 3" or so fuel line attached to the non engine side of the firewall fitting and from there the hard plastic goes to fuel tank. It is a pressure fit/ The hard plastic fits into the standard fuel line and is clamped. What had happened was the hard plastic had popped out of the fuel line and was spraying like a fire hose ( but the van had not gotten up to temp yet) I ordered the gw hard plastic which uses a barb fitting to transition for hard plastic to soft instead of relying solely on a pressure fit to hold together.
So lesson learned that a) not only do you have to replace the fuel lines in the engine bay, B) You also should look behind firewall and replace that little chunk of fuel line that is hidden from sight as well.
After i had replaced hard fuel line, i contacted gw and they said, yes you can just get the transition barb fittings from them as well... |
Yep, that slip/friction-fit connection with no flare is part of my paranoia. I've inspected mine and they're well-connected, but it still worries me some, for exactly the scenario you described.
Regarding just adding a male/male barb fitting between the hard plastic and rubber, I'm not so sure that's better in my mind - I'd be concerned that the old plastic would be brittle enough that the localized forces with fitting the barb to the plastic, and/or the new stress-riser created by the barbed transition, might lead to a crack or longitudinal split in the end of the plastic tubing.
If I were going the route of staying with plastic, I'd probably want to replace it with new nylon fuel line, preferably with a bubble flare on the ends. My aim is to reduce the number of connections in the system, ultimately.
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djkeev
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