Hi,
On Friday, I got off the train from Philly, put my top down and started the engine to drive home. I noticed a strong gas smell, but thought it was just the exhaust and the typical top down experience. Anyway, when I pull into my driveway, a strong smell of fuel is still there with a little smoke coming from my rear driver's wheel. I look down and see fuel showering on the exhaust. I immediately shut it down. Fortunately, there was no fire (huge luck here). I basically lost 1/4 tank in a short distance. I removed the rear tire and upon inspection noticed the fuel return line was leaking, no...cascading. Anyway, the culprit was the high pressure fuel line rubbing against the return line. The return line lost the battle. Thus, if your ride is older than 15 years, I would highly suggest you replace the flexible return and high pressure lines. It seems odd that Porsche would place two flexible lines in a position that would allow them to constantly rub together. Maybe the prior owner did this or is it a stock issue?

Martin
1988 930 Cabriolet

 

Yikes! Glad that thats all there was, could have easlily turned into engine fire.

 

Good point. I know mine are stock and need replacing just from age.

 

Whew! Close call.

I know Porsche issued a recall for 1989 models to reroute the fuel lines, noting that risk of leak/fire was especially high in cars that were lowered. I wonder if this had anything to do with the problem you mentioned. Had mine fixed under warranty at the time, no problems before or after.

Hope you can get that sorted out to prevent recurrence.

Ken

 

Good information post...thanks...I'll go take a look at mine. That tid-bit of information could very well have saved someone a nasty incident.

 

Bringing this one back from the dead. Let's talk about them fuel lines. Has anyone gone to the trouble to replace them all, from the fuel tank on back? Is the concensus to use stock or Aeroquip braided stainless? What about the lines inside the tranny tunnel? Just wondering. My car will be 20 soon, and the lines are all original.

 

Hi,
I replaced the flexible high pressure fuel line and the flexible return line from the engine. I used stock parts. They took a while to get here from Germany. Total cost plus installation by my mechanic was about 600. You may want to explore the aero route. Aircraft material is always safer. Anyway, my mechanic didn't think I had to replace all. The fuel lines in the rails have metal in them and they should last a long time. Thus, I just replaced the flexible fuel lines that ruptured.

 

I strongly suggest anyone that hasn't replaced all their fuel lines should do so. It's not worth the risk. If you don't, you better carry a good fire extinguisher. Even the ones in the tunnel are not that difficult to change.

 

"Spangler: I'm not real clear on this good/bad thing!"
"Agornne: Imagine every molecule in your body accelerating away from every other molecule in your body at the speed of light."
'spangler: Okay, Goood safety tip!...."

 

LOL! I'm not actually trying to determine *IF* it's a good idea to replace the lines, I know that it is, I was just wondering what was best to replace them with...factory or Aeroquip...

 

Replace the lines with the factory part.

 

Factory it is...thanks Geoffrey!

 

That's great info.. I will inspect mine tonight.. that's a scary thought..
i've seen 3 or 4 pictures of turbos that had a fire and all of them seemed to be in the drivers side rear fender.. maybe that explains it.

 

I had a similar problem...my mechanic found that one line was actually slow leaking...i had the lines replaced...

 

This thread has good timing. I just did two 930's with those same lines leaking. Definitly should be checked on the older cars. Sounds like one of those problems that is going to start showing itself with the age of these cars.