My rudimentary assessment of Fuel Line Replacement Kits

[SCM]

It doesn't allow side-crimping but I bought my Oetiker-branded tool at the local irrigation supply store for about $25 when I was expanding my underground sprinkler system (maybe not every area such a store though).

Removing the clamps is actually super easy if you have a small flathead screwdriver. Just stick it into the "ear" and twist a couple times.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[djkeev]

Honestly the 7mm vs 5/16" fuel line debate is over rated.
The smaller the size, the less the small difference makes between mm and imperial sizes.
In my 1/4" sockets, I don't even carry metric sizes because the imperial ones fit just fine.
Same with 1/2" vs 13mm, the difference is so minor that I've rarely encountered a problem swapping them.
I say rarely because I have found a hex or two that were that fussy.

Probably the vast majority of WBX engines on the road with improved fuel lines are running 5/16
I Haven't ever heard of an issue.

I just saw a post by Injector-Rehab, the new miracle injector kid on the block, saying they mistakingly shipped some injector rails with 3/8" barbs instead of the proper 5/16" barbs!
Right there tells you something.......... 5/16" instead if 7mm simply is a non issue.
1mm is about the diameter of a small paper clip wire.

We commonly use 1 1/2" radiator hose without issues, 3/4" heater hose without issues, 5/32" vacuum line ........ there are real concerns in the World to worry about. Your fuel line being 5/16" is NOT one of them.
I have run across situations where you cannot use 1/2" hose on a 12mm fitting (A/C Evaporator drain nipple)

Anyway....... todays opinion for what it is worth.

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[termuehlen]

I have 2 Vanagons. The 5/16" Gates brand high pressure fuel line failed in both of them this year.

The Subaru powered Westy was moth-balled over the winter. This spring I removed the engine cover, checked the fluids, connected the battery and started it up. The main fuel supply hose looked like an irrigation soaker hose. Many tiny pinholes spewing gas in all directions. The hose was replaced with the engine conversion 10 years ago. Lesson learned. Don't wait ten years to replace the fuel hose. Fair enough.

The Syncro sat for almost 2 months towards the end of this summer. Opened up the engine cover, checked the fluids, connected the battery. Started it up (I was going to write fired it up, but that seems like a bad idea.) Before I was able to get out and walk to the back, I noticed it smelled rich, followed by it smelled like gas, so shut it down. Walk around back again, and sure enough, the right side fuel rail is soaking wet. In 2018, just over 4 years ago, I pulled the injectors, sent them in for service and reinstalled with Gates hose. In just over 4 years time, the hose is gooey on the inside and leaking between the hose and the fuel rail at the clamp locations.

I don't know if new German made 7mm high pressure fuel hose is going to be an improvement, but I am changing out all of my Gates hose now. I'll let you know in 5 to 10 years how the new hose performs.
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1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx

[ALIKA T3]

I've never had a problem until now.
Mind you, I never had a problem either until yesterday, the fuel filler grommet split in just 4 months. Fucking junk, GW supplied. Probably JP Group garbage, as usual with this brand.
It's becoming hard to get anything good made in rubber , this is a plague!
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Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[DanHoug]

[termuehlen]