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debbiej
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1554
Location: las cruces, nm
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 Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:28 pm Post subject: Really...do check fuel lines |
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Today decided to drive the westy to do some errands. My fuel lines are about 4 years old, and they look good.
But I still check them periodically, and the fuel rails and connections.
Today, while stopped at a light, I saw a police car behind flash his bar and he was gesturing to pull over. Odd, I thought, and the light changed green and I went through the light and pulled over. "Get out of your van, it's pouring gas" he called to me (keeping his distance) sure enough, there was a BIG PUDDLE of gas under the engine compartment and running out behind. A flood of gas!
Not only that, there was smoke billowing out, so I think fire was an eminent possibility!
He and a kind passerby pushed the westy into a close parking lot and I opened the engine compartment, expecting to see a leak at the fuel rail. All the fuel rail connections were dry. I called my
DH who came with tools. (Mine were at home  )
While I was waiting for him I searched the lines for leaks. Then turned the key for a minute to have the fuel pump come on. Found a wet line by running my fingers along the lines. Ah, a wet spot. I squeezed the fuel line and a lot of gas came out all over my hand. When my husband got there he took that line off and it was really cracked. But the rubber looked good and I wouldn't have thought there was anything wrong with it. He went to flap and bought new hose, we put it on and checked for leaks, good, and drove home.
Many mixed thoughts.......but bottom line is I was glad to be familiar with the engine, to know where to look. But won't drive it till we change the fuel lines.
Last edited by debbiej on Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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photogdave
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Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3052
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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debbiej
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1554
Location: las cruces, nm
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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Not a kit, it was fuel line my vw shop had on a spool. I watched and helped so I'd be comfortable doing it next time. That section was changed, but it was a section we didn't put the sheathing back on. I'd read it wasn't necessary, but maybe it was.
When we took the leaky line off, The ends of the hose looked fine, there was no wearing or rubbing, just this odd cracking that you can't even see unless you bend or squeeze the hose. It was the line that ran from the tee (below fuel pressure reg?) then between block and alternator to the fuel rail. |
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sanchius 
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Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1451
Location: IN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: Really...do check fuel lines |
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| debbiej wrote: |
Today decided to drive the westy to do some errands. My fuel lines are about 4 years old, and they look good.
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I just had that happen to me as well.
Surely there has got to be a more durable solution to this than replacing our lines every 4 years.
Does anyone have any ideas on a better fix for this?
Last edited by sanchius on Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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SCM
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Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3115
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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Which section of hose was it? It seems bizarre to me to hear these stories of fuel lines only lasting a few years. Mine were original when I changed them 2 years ago and they looked fine inside and out (at least the few that I sliced open).
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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debbiej
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Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1554
Location: las cruces, nm
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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It was the line that ran from the tee (below fuel pressure reg?) then between block and alternator to the fuel rail.
No sheathing on this section and supposedly the best fuel line hose |
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ThankYouJerry
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Joined: September 01, 2012
Posts: 2271
Location: Shakedown Street
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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Damn! That was a SERIOUSLY close call! Maybe the one and only time you actually want to THANK the policeman  !!!
I wonder if ethanol has anything to do with it?
There have got to be bulletproof fuel lines out there. If you find them… please post a link!!!
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1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD |
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Chuey
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Joined: October 18, 2010
Posts: 855
Location: Oceanside, California
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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There is some fuel hose that is premium grade. It is made to resist all fuels in use today, even those with ethanol.
Go Westy's premium kit is supposed to be of this quality. If you're rolling your own, there is a hose called Gates Barricade. There may be different qualities with that name. Hopefully, someone with more specific knowledge will come along.
By the way, that's pretty cool that the cop helped you out.
Chuey |
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Phishman068
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Joined: February 19, 2007
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Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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insyncro
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Currently I use Goodyear and Gates...the expensive stuff, even on the low pressure return side.
The Gates has a green core, at least my spool does and the Goodyear a blue core.
The exterior of your hose degraded quickly from heat.
I use heat sleeves from Aeroquip...they cost more than the hose per foot, but work very well.
For what it is worth, my personal vans are getting custom bent hardline for the fuel as I have billet fuel rails and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator.
I am even making the Syncro breather lines that are on top of the fuel tank out of hard line.
Better safe than sorry. |
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mackaymanx
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Location: Australia
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SCM
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Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3115
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| mackaymanx wrote: |
| SAE30R6 is not rated for fuel injection, you were sold the wrong hose. |
That should put an end to the guessing. You got lucky alright.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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tam_shops
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Joined: November 15, 2012
Posts: 1530
Location: Vancouver BC
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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Am I only supposed to be checking what's shown in the Bentley 10.8? Or are there more to check? If so page and/or pictures please!
I replaced mine. Haven't looked at them since, used the good quality gowesty kit, thought that was the end of it for 8-9years when I'm supposed to do it again! 
tam
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50338
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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This is why we keep harping about using only 30r9 or 30r14 fuel line. The other stuff out there isn't safe to be used on much of anything any more, not even carbureted rigs. Most shops just aren't aware that the fuel line they likely have on a spool isn't safe to use on any engine period.
Be aware that there is a low and high pressure variant to 30r14 hose, fuel injection rigs need the high pressure variant. 30r9 hose is high pressure rated and can be used with both carburetors and fuel injection.
The original poster needs to take her van back to the guys that changed her fuel lines and make them aware that their hose is unsuitable for use on any automobile engine any more.
It is hard to go in to any autoparts and get the right line. The guys behind the counter just don't understand this issue. I have had to go into the back with the parts guys pretty much each and every time I have wanted either 30r9 or 30r14 hose. The typical parts guy doesn't know what he sells, all he knows is that the one hose is way more expensive than the other and he just assumes that you want the cheap stuff just like 90% of the other people that come in to buy hose. If you just tell them you want FI rated hose they will most likely bring you the wrong hose even if they have the correct stuff in the back. You have to specify the hose you want by the SAE spec number, this being either 30r9 or 30r14 and when they guy brings the hose out to you, you need to verify that it says either 30r9 or 30r14 on the hose.
Note that there are European hoses that are okay to use as well, but few normal autoparts are apt to stock any. |
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singler3360
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Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 1191
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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Debbiej, glad it turned out ok.
Anyone know the life expectancy of the high quality hose like the GW deluxe kit? |
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debbiej
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Joined: December 14, 2008
Posts: 1554
Location: las cruces, nm
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| Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the very valuable information. We will now know the right hose to get. Just amazingly lucky today. Drove about 4 miles before alerted to the danger. |
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bugeye72
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Joined: April 24, 2011
Posts: 144
Location: Warren, ME
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| Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| Wow, that is super scary! Makes me glad mine's a diesel. I'll try to remember that when I'm going 35 up a not-that steep hill. |
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djkeev
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JudoJeff
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Joined: May 24, 2013
Posts: 1179
Location: Near Springfield, MA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:28 am Post subject: |
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On Ebay: $4.00 per foot in 10 foot lengths.
5/16" X 10' FUEL INJECTION FUEL GAS LINE HOSE R9 THERMOID FI-503
This is 30R9, read the blurb for more info. Useful info.
This is what I'm going to use on my Westy. |
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Christopher Schimke
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Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5390
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:16 am Post subject: |
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Gates Barricade is good stuff!
From the manufacturer:
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Exceeds SAE J30R14T2* as well as low-permeation
requirements for CARB (* Except for kink resistance) |
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