Engine fuel lines on the 964

JWPATE · 09-30-2006, 03:49 PM

Hi,
With the engine rebuild I am starting on a '90 964, I set down today and started to build an order for new rubber fuel hoses. Surely, after 16 years they are due for replacement, or so I thought before I looked at the prices. After the tab went over a thousand with several sections still to go, I canceled the order for the time being. Better rethink the wisdom of this.

With that kind of expense, it starts one wondering about replacing the lot with AN fittings and steel braided hose.

What have others done? The hoses of course are all made up of rubber sections with crimped fittings to metal tubing and nice end fittings. They are well made hoses, but it does not appear feasible to just replace the rubber. And we certainly cannot expect rubber hose to last forever.

James

chancecasey · 10-01-2006, 09:29 AM

It sounds like you don't have a bottomless wallet for this project - so my advice (which, combined with $3.75 will get you a small coffee at Starbuck's) is to forget about the hoses for now until they need replacing.

If anything, just replace the sections on the engine itself - you can always go back to the other sections if/when needed. I've seen some pretty slick braided hose setups before - and if I'm not mistaken, there are only 4 sections in the engine - 2 between the fuel rails and pressure regulator, between fuel filter and one rail, and between filter and, something, I dunno. Then there is the return line - ok that's 5 sections so far. Most of these have the threaded fittings - I'm sure someone makes a ready-made braided version of these.

At least then you know you're relatively safe from fire - leave the rest. Of course, I'm still using my old ones - they look ok to me - and remember that rubber almost never sees UV light.

JWPATE · 10-01-2006, 03:36 PM

Thanks for your thoughts on the subject Chance,
You have decided to leave well enough alone on your engine, and that probably is the wise course.
Yes, my fuel hoses also all look so good you would think they were new rubber. But we know they are not, and I simply wondered what the considered opinions are.......is there a generally excepted lifespan for the fuel lines? They are 16 now. Will they last for 20? 30?
I have already ordered a full set of oil lines because one is damp at the end crimp fitting on the cooler inlet. They are the same age, though they do operate at slightly higher pressures, and are more exposed to the elements.
Still thinking about it, on the fuel lines.
James