black fuel pipe

C

chris varming

Member
Gentlemen, the black fuel pipe going from the fuel tank to engine is being replaced as I have discovered a leak. This fuel pipe is almost 40 years old, made of plastic or what they had in these days. The pipe is stiff, fragile (minus 2 celcius in my barn) but otherwise OK. - (that was the introduction... and now the question): How do I fit the metal tube with union nut to the plastic pipe? Do I put the pipe in boiling water to make it soft? - Have you ever faced that problem? - Regards, Chris Varming
 
Hello Chris,

Where abouts is the fuel pipe leaking? Had the pipe developed a split or was it worn through due to physical contact with the body etc?

Are you using a modern variation of the same type of pipe,..ie a hard plastic pipe? I assume you mean when you say the metal tube with union nut that this applies to the fuel tank end?

If I ever have to replace mine, I would likely use a rubber fuel hose, probably made in the USA by either Goss and just slide it over the metal pipes at fuel tank and at engine end, then secure with hose clamps. I would likely coat the metal pipes with Permatex #3 before sliding the hoses into place.

Ron.
 
Chris,
My fuel lines had been badly bodged at some point so I replaced them with 8mm micro bore copper connected to the tank outlet with steel braided fuel line and hose clips.
Regards,
Dave
 
Seconded on the 8mm copper pipe Chris. I bought mine from a local hydraulics place, Pirtek, for a tenner.

Here's a bit more info about how I did mine http://www.classicroverforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7342 which included fitting an electric fuel pump but you could miss that bit out.

I found the old lines easy to remove with garden secateurs and then used a knife to clean up the old metal unions. The copper pipe runs the length of the car with short rubber hose sections to join to the tank and engine at either end.
 
Thank you all for your advise. I will probably go for testriders solution, and thanks for the informative photos. - Anyhow, it did not answer my question about how to fit the metal tube to the plastic hose, but perhaps it is pre-made from the factory? - I have plenty of tube from a spare Rover. I did try to make the tube soft by using boiling water, but no luck. Chris Varming
 
Sorry Chris, I forgot to anwer that bit. The plastic tubed are simply pushed on presumably when warm, the metal tubes are barbed to hold the plastic pipe in place.

If it's cold in your garage and heating the plastic pipe didn't work then maybe you need to warm up the metal parts too as they maybe cooling the pipe too quickly and stopping it being flexible.
 
Testrider, so far I've been unsuccessfull in connecting the tube and the metal union, I've tried heating the tube but the plastic breaks and I begin to suspect the ageing of the plastic tube to be the reason. Is there really no one else of the forum members who has come accross this?? However, I will go for your solution with the copper tube or Ron's suggestion of a rubber tube from USA- Goss. chris varming
 
Hello Chris.
I've just replaced all the fuel plumbing in my P6. I used a 'hard' plastic (nylon or 'PA'/'PU', sorry, I don't know exactly what it is made of) pipe which I bought from a hydraulic supply company, who sold it per metre. It is 8mm outer diameter, and runs from the electric pump beneath the back of my car along the transmission tunnel and up into the engine bay. Initially I had it attached directly to the IN and OUT fittings of my fuel pump, which are of the press-on type. I had to gently warm the plastic tubing with a hot air gun in order to get it to push fit onto the pump. I've now changed the set-up a little bit, using short lengths of 10mm OD (8mm ID) rubber hose on the pump IN and OUT fittings, and overlapping the now slightly shorter hard line a couple of inches, cinched with a hose clamp. In the engine bay the same 10mm OD (8mm ID) rubber hose slips over the hard line and runs on to the carbs. I used a smear of petroleum jelly (vaseline) to help push fit the pipes together. The pipe I've used is a bit thinner than the original black plastic fuel hose, but not as brittle as that had become after almost 40 years.
The fuel pipe wasn't completely fitted when I took these photos of the underside of my car. Perhaps they'll be helpful to you. I'll take more photos this weekend of the completed installation. I'll also take a closer look at the remainder of the pipe I bought, so I can tell you exactly what is printed along it's length.
p6repair-69.jpg

p6repair-70.jpg
 
Thanks Mr. Task for your informative description, I'll look fwd to seeing your next photos. What type of electric fuel pump are you carrying? - I also note that you have your reserve fuel tap very close to the fuel tank and not in the engine bay. - What is the advantage of that?? Regards Chris Varming++
 
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