Fuel pipe routing

[ukbiggles]

Hi all

I discovered a fuel leak in the pipe that goes from filter to carbs in the engine bay. When I took the pipe off, I found out that it wasn't a 5/16 pipe, but more like 1/4".

I went to my local motor factor's and bought some 5/16 pipe for unleaded fuel.

On fitting it and reassembling the air filter etc, I see that the pipe is touching both the air filter elbow and the cam cover (slightly compressed at this point). Is this a safe arrangement or will the heat from the cam cover affect the rubber pipe. Don't particularly want another leak spraying fuel around when hot.

Cheers

Gord

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[richardthestag]

i route my fuel line slightly further forwards so it is under the airbox and not the elbow

I also find that the cam covers are significantly "less hot" than the inlet manifold. So long as you have proper fuel line and not a bad fake I see no problem

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[ukbiggles]

Thanks Richard, looks like a good idea to route it 'the long way round'. I did use a longer piece of hose which is fitted further forward than the old one. Still touches both elbow and cam cover but more free moving and less compression of the hose. I am using Gates W hose - SAE J30 R6. Seems a reputable make but I wouldn't really know. Do you have an opinion?

Cheers

Gord

[stag8manod]

Hi Gord, Try using a cable tie to secure the pipe against the inlet elbow to stop iit vibrating and shuffling.
Cheers Ian A

[mallardstag]

There should be a clip securing the pipe to the cam cover....

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[dasadrew]

Can't check at the mo, but IIRC there is not one size hose which goes from the filter to the carbs, there is a larger hose which goes from the filter to the T-Piece and, from that T-piece, two smaller bore hoses go to the carbs. The T-piece is asymmetrical, having one large stub pipe and two smaller ones.

Drew

[ukbiggles]

There should be a clip securing the pipe to the cam cover....

Thanks for this. I didn't realise that this clip is attached to the cam cover. On my car, it has always been used to secure the hose to the top of the suspension turret!!

[ukbiggles]

Drew, thanks for this. Yes, I was aware that the main pipe is 5/16 and the hoses beyond the T piece are 1/4". My car was wrongly fitted with 1/4" from filter to T piece and didn't contact the elbow/cam cover as much as it was a thinner hose. Fitting the bigger hose led to my concerns.

[Nigel W]

Thanks Richard, looks like a good idea to route it 'the long way round'. I did use a longer piece of hose which is fitted further forward than the old one. Still touches both elbow and cam cover but more free moving and less compression of the hose. I am using Gates W hose - SAE J30 R6. Seems a reputable make but I wouldn't really know. Do you have an opinion?

Cheers

Gord

I have just been reading up on fuel pipes, and am in the process of updating those on my Stag. You may be aware that with the introduction of ethanol in fuel, some pipes are not suitable. My understanding is that R6, 7, and 8 are suitable for normal unleaded fuel, but not fuel with ethanol. For those that are in the TSSC, there was a good article on the subject in their Feb issue of the Courier magazine. I recently had a problem with an MG which had fuel coming out of the overflow pipe. A strip of the carb revealed that it was full of small black particles which where causing the float valve to stick. this I believe is the fuel pipe degrading because of the ethanal content in fuel. Its a serious problem, and I believe there have been some serious fires as a result.

[KOY 23]

R9 is ethanol resistant high pressure resistant fuel pipe for EFI systems, easily available and fine for low pressure systems as on the Stag. R14 is the low pressure equivalent but probably difficult to source.
See here: http://www.volksbolts.com/faq/fuelhose.htm
Get a reputable source such as Codan, there’s a lot of rebranded R6 on auction sites.

I’m sure a lot of carbs are condemned due to other problems such as wrong pump or crap in fuel lines.

[Nigel W]

KOY 23, thanks for the link, very useful. What I don't understand is why is fuel pipe that is not compatible with modern fuels, and is a safety risk being sold. All seems very odd to me.

[ukbiggles]

Many thanks for the guidance on the hose standard required for fuel with ethanol.

I'll be changing mine over to R9 now.

Cheers

Gord

[KOY 23]

KOY 23, thanks for the link, very useful. What I don't understand is why is fuel pipe that is not compatible with modern fuels, and is a safety risk being sold. All seems very odd to me.

Very good question..