Checked fuel lines today...why do they look so new?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 28
From: Northern Virginia
Checked fuel lines today...why do they look so new?
After reading the stories of fires caused by ruptured fuel lines and seeing photos of the ones that looked like they were one turn of the key away from bursting.... I decided to closely inspect mine. I had decided to replace all pressure lines with Greg Brown's hoses (the no soft hoses with clamps on barbed fittings argument is convincing) and everything else with Roger's kit with clamps.
Today I pulled the intake tubes and airbox and was surprised to find metal lines all shiny with gold cadmium and soft rubber outer sleeves over the pressed on hard plastic lines. No cracking anywhere. (I do have one new Porsche fuel hose..the cross over line running under the oil filler neck).
The hoses and cad plating look like 3 to 5 year old hoses on a typical car.
The car has 86K miles. It had spent most of it's early life in New York and had just 24K on it in 2004 when purchased by the PO. The PO then used the car as a daily driver until mid 2013. I think most of the miles were highway miles.
Since I can't SEE external reason to replace any of the hoses (in the engine bay), I'm left wondering about the condition of the plastic pressed on hoses (with rubber outer layer). Could they still be toast due to 26 years of exposure to gasoline?
I'm wondering if cars from hot climates are experiencing more of the cooked and cracked hoses, or cars with much higher miles (more heat soaking, possibly in slow traffic). I really expected to see at least the beginnings of checking and cracking. I expected the cadmium plated metal lines to be oxidized to gray.
Looking forward to all the comments that will help others who find their old lines look much better than expected.
The small U-shaped hose is shown in the mirror. I spent some time inspecting this hose from different angles with the mirror. Looks great.
Today I pulled the intake tubes and airbox and was surprised to find metal lines all shiny with gold cadmium and soft rubber outer sleeves over the pressed on hard plastic lines. No cracking anywhere. (I do have one new Porsche fuel hose..the cross over line running under the oil filler neck).
The hoses and cad plating look like 3 to 5 year old hoses on a typical car.
The car has 86K miles. It had spent most of it's early life in New York and had just 24K on it in 2004 when purchased by the PO. The PO then used the car as a daily driver until mid 2013. I think most of the miles were highway miles.
Since I can't SEE external reason to replace any of the hoses (in the engine bay), I'm left wondering about the condition of the plastic pressed on hoses (with rubber outer layer). Could they still be toast due to 26 years of exposure to gasoline?
I'm wondering if cars from hot climates are experiencing more of the cooked and cracked hoses, or cars with much higher miles (more heat soaking, possibly in slow traffic). I really expected to see at least the beginnings of checking and cracking. I expected the cadmium plated metal lines to be oxidized to gray.
Looking forward to all the comments that will help others who find their old lines look much better than expected.
The small U-shaped hose is shown in the mirror. I spent some time inspecting this hose from different angles with the mirror. Looks great.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Gatineau, Québec, Canada
I would take a close look and if everything looks good I would leave everything in place... For a while. Go there regularly to make sure everything is good.
You'll need to change those some day of course but if everything's good, no rush.
But that's me.
You'll need to change those some day of course but if everything's good, no rush.
But that's me.
You can call me Otis
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From: Terre Haute, Indiana
For whats it's worth, I am also on a learning curve with the 928 ownership, just 2 yrs in, my '85 was pretty much ALL original parts, even the plug wires and fuel lines etc. are still original, even just yesterday removed the MAF while I was in there for other stuff,and they dont look that bad, but my lines will be replaced before the car is on the ground. Although my car is just 3 yrs older than yours, your lines and wires appear to be much newer. If mine looked as good of condition as yours, I would not worry about immediate replacement. That being said, my flex plate is broken due to vibrations from a TT bearing and forward shaft clamp that went unchecked for 29 years.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 28
From: Northern Virginia
OTR -
What happened to your flex plate is hard to comprehend. Have you checked your crank endplay? The dial gauge with magnetic base (separate items) from Harbor Freight is the best way to do it. I think I paid less than $30 without any discount coupons. I had put all projects on hold until completing the crank endplay check.
Your car looks great. I really like the color.
What happened to your flex plate is hard to comprehend. Have you checked your crank endplay? The dial gauge with magnetic base (separate items) from Harbor Freight is the best way to do it. I think I paid less than $30 without any discount coupons. I had put all projects on hold until completing the crank endplay check.
Your car looks great. I really like the color.
You can call me Otis
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,661
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From: Terre Haute, Indiana
OTR -
What happened to your flex plate is hard to comprehend. Have you checked your crank endplay? The dial gauge with magnetic base (separate items) from Harbor Freight is the best way to do it. I think I paid less than $30 without any discount coupons. I had put all projects on hold until completing the crank endplay check.
Your car looks great. I really like the color.
What happened to your flex plate is hard to comprehend. Have you checked your crank endplay? The dial gauge with magnetic base (separate items) from Harbor Freight is the best way to do it. I think I paid less than $30 without any discount coupons. I had put all projects on hold until completing the crank endplay check.
Your car looks great. I really like the color.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: California
My hoses looked good prior to pulling them off... once removed several had minute cracks and when I bent them they fell apart. The plastic inserts were quite brittle as well. Car was babied it's whole life in So Cal and kept in a garage, 85K miles when I changed them. Unless you know for sure they have been changed then I would do them. Not a hard job and then you can relax about it.
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Nordschleife Master
Joined: May 2012
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From: Thousand Oaks California
Everything on my 81 was original and looked good. As soon as I got it driving again every soft line began to slowly fail.
So I replaced the fuel lines,they looked good at first but they had cracks when I bent them and could have burst at any time because they were over 33 years old.
So if you do not know the age of your soft lines, replace them. That means all of them. Even the power steering pressure hose, as that can burst, spray ATF all over your hot exhaust manifold and catch fire.
Err to the side of caution when dealing with possible sources of fire under the hood of these cars.
So I replaced the fuel lines,they looked good at first but they had cracks when I bent them and could have burst at any time because they were over 33 years old.
So if you do not know the age of your soft lines, replace them. That means all of them. Even the power steering pressure hose, as that can burst, spray ATF all over your hot exhaust manifold and catch fire.
Err to the side of caution when dealing with possible sources of fire under the hood of these cars.
Last edited by The Forgotten On; Apr 6, 2014 at 08:02 PM. Reason: Wrong word
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 87
From: Netherlands
Flexible fuel hoses wear on the inside more than on the outside! A fuel line can look ok on the outside but may look like a dried up riverbed with cracks due to all those gallons of fuel running through it. Also, fuel composition has changed in recent years. More ethanol in it means other components are extracted from the rubber/synthetic material. The result is a nice looking fuel line on the outside while being totally worn out on the inside.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Central Virginia
I would like to reinforce the statements made in the last three posts. Mine "looked" fine, and the u-shaped line broke in half on the bench. Those lines are way too old to trust IMHO, no matter what they look like.
Electron Wrangler
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From: Phoenix AZ
But I agree this is one place where its hard to know the condition, and the risk could be high.
If you are really thinking to defer it - try this - buy one fuel hose and replace it - evaluate the one you took off, if its good you have a good reason to leave the rest for a bit - if not do all the rest.
Alan
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,095
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From: Northern Virginia
Thanks all. I posted the thread because I think many who find hoses in what appears to be good condition will defer replacement. I was already thinking I should replace them anyway just because I think they are original. Alan, I like your suggestion. It's true about peace of mind...there is none until the old lines are replaced.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 268
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From: Germantown, TN
Err...?
But I agree this is one place where its hard to know the condition, and the risk could be high.
If you are really thinking to defer it - try this - buy one fuel hose and replace it - evaluate the one you took off, if its good you have a good reason to leave the rest for a bit - if not do all the rest.
Alan
But I agree this is one place where its hard to know the condition, and the risk could be high.
If you are really thinking to defer it - try this - buy one fuel hose and replace it - evaluate the one you took off, if its good you have a good reason to leave the rest for a bit - if not do all the rest.
Alan
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Southern Alberta, Canada
I would suggest that a car built in 1988 requires the fuel lines to be replaced just from the age status alone.
We know they fail, the cars catch fire and destroy completely. Heaven forbid anyone is trapped inside when theres a fire.
Change the hoses......all of them IMHO
We know they fail, the cars catch fire and destroy completely. Heaven forbid anyone is trapped inside when theres a fire.
Change the hoses......all of them IMHO