New fuel hose busted-fire narrowly averted

[plymouthcolt]

I got in my car to drive it one last time for the weekend. As I start driving out of my neighborhood gasoline fumes hit me. There is no other car around so it has to be my car. I quickly pull over and shut down the engine and open the lid.

I see gasoline in pools on the left side of the engine and the fumes are overwhelming.



Fortunately I am around the corner from my house so I start the car, accelerate, and shut down the engine and coast back to my parking spot.

I'm trying to figure out where the leak originates so I start the engine for quick look. I see a spray of fuel just like a garden hose when you put your thumb on the opening.

This is the culprit-it was replaced just four years ago (see this thread) Help with fuel hose removal 3.2







It was getting too dark to investigate further but either the hose split inside the crimp, or there was never enough lead into the crimp to make a strong connection.

It also appears the brass crimp is too long. That section is at an angle and the seems to put pressure on the rubber.

Should I bring this back to the shop that did it, or should I find another shop?

[dw1]

THANK YOU

Thanks for posting this cautionary tale - with good pics, too. I haven't check my fuel lines in awhile, but I certainly will now. As I suspect lots of others will also do so in the near future.

[88-diamondblue]

Scarry!

I sent mine to Mesa Hose and they brazed threaded ends on to use stainless braided fuel line. I can replace them anytime I need to. Not sure what the life is of the braided hose but is available at local diesel shops as Mesa was just a bit short on one line they did so I redid it myself.

On another note I am not sure why one couldn't use fuel injection hose clamps(special for high pressure applications) to put rubber fuel hose on the existing metal connections. When I got my car the PO had one of the connections with this and had been that way for 4 years before I got it. Never any problems with it.

[dshepp806]

Just replaced all of mine,..all lines found to be the original lines from 1989...I'm one lucky mofo.

Doyle

[fat cab]

I have a newly repaired fuel line from my 88 3.2, never been on the car. will part with it for $250.00

[RWebb]

why is the back end of that crimp not flared?

[rick-l]

It looks like who ever did the repair just re-crimped it instead of going through the pain and suffering of replacing the ($358) hose.

[john walker's workshop]

i had a leak on a repaired hose that used that same type of crimp collar years ago. the crimping pinched the hose.

[plymouthcolt]

It appears the sharp non-flared edge of the collar, and angle of the tube into the collar cut into the rubber. As you can see the rubber started to separate near the end of the collar.



I used my rotary tool to gently grind down the crimp until it split. Then I used a screwdriver to pop it off the hose on both ends.









For this section I am going to buy new fuel injection hose and clamps so I don't have to fight with removing the whole assembly. It may not look as nice, but I really don't want to repeat the tear down. It's just no fun.

[BoxsterGT]

I suspect you have a failure caused by the rubber hose being crushed by the aftermarket crimp sleeves you are using that are too long.

The fuel lines & fittings on our Porsches are designed to have these crimp sleeves........



The OE crimps are much shorter and are meant to seal & retain the hose on the fitting, not crush the fuel hose where it passes over the bump on the fitting.

This is what they should look like when assembled..........



Len at autosportengineering dot com

[plymouthcolt]

Originally Posted by BoxsterGT

I suspect you have a failure caused by the rubber hose being crushed by the aftermarket crimp sleeves you are using that are too long.

The fuel lines & fittings on our Porsches are designed to have these crimp sleeves........



The OE crimps are much shorter and are meant to seal & retain the hose on the fitting, not crush the fuel hose where it passes over the bump on the fitting.

This is what they should look like when assembled..........



Len at autosportengineering dot com

YIKES! Then the remaining ones may fail too. I think I'll replace them all. There is just too much of a chance another could fail in the middle of August when temps are at 100. Poof!

[88-diamondblue]

Howard,

Mesa Hose did mine for $175.00. Just have to ship the lines to them. The hoses are replaceable and are heavy duty as the same thing is used on semi trucks as I needed some hose and the local Kenworth dealer had the hose in stock.

[BoxsterGT]

In addition to the 944 and 3.2 Carrera "Fuel Hose Fix" kits I offer.........





I also make up hose adapters like these...........



Available in any length, including from the tunnel up to the filter or engine.

You can make up your own AN -6 hose or AN -8 assemblies for any Carb or fuel injection system desired.

Len at Autosportengineering dot com

[RichHawk]

Low Cost 3.2L Fuel line replacement

I'm watching this thread closely, as I have a similar crimp method, just done. see parallel discussion link above. no leak on mine so far. But I paid deliberate attention at install to minimize the hose bending angle relative to the crimp fitting and made sure there was no hose twisting.

The Hydraulic guy I took mine to said damage at the barb can occur if they over crimp the brass fitting. the key is the long fittings get less hydraulic pressure than small steel crimps because they cover a longer area.

[RWebb]

BTW - any new fuel hose needs to be compatible with Et-OH - the new Goodyear hose used to have a blue liner, but I think they changed the color

[BoxsterGT]

The rubber hose used in all the fuel line assys I make up is imported from Cohline in Germany (the original hose mfg for Porsche) and is the latest "multi-Fuel" rated hose available.

Len at Autosportengineering dot com

[Laneco]

Count me in as another BIG fan of Len's hoses.

This is a 3.0 chassis, cutback supply hardline (a request from me to "clean up" the conversion), to a 3.2 engine using the hoses that Len made. I wanted a very sanitary looking install - Len helped me out with the correct adaptor for the fuel filter, hoses, etc.

The use of the OEM fittings was a great touch and the hose material itself is extremely high quality.

"Butters" says THANK YOU Len!

angela

[wildcat077]

Yeah,

I have Len stored in my email contacts,i will be replacing my hoses as well whenever i do my next engine drop.The quality seems really good as compared to some "other" fuel line repair folks ...

Cheers !
Phil

[Creve]

Originally Posted by BoxsterGT

In addition to the 944 and 3.2 Carrera "Fuel Hose Fix" kits I offer.........





I also make up hose adapters like these...........



Available in any length, including from the tunnel up to the filter or engine.

You can make up your own AN -6 hose or AN -8 assemblies for any Carb or fuel injection system desired.

Len at Autosportengineering dot com

The braided fuel hose assembly in the box. Is it available from your site, & if so how much? I took a look at your website and did not see complete assemblies for 911. Any info this kit for sale would be appreciated.

Thx!

[BoxsterGT]

My apologies, our web site is woefully out of date. Perhaps with the snow we are getting, I will find more time inside where its warm and be able to correct this.

Yes, all hose assys are available in plain rubber, braided zinc, or braided SS. They are all Metric hose imported from Germany.

I started making this 3.2 Fuel Hose Fix about (5) years ago, and it has evolved & improved with time & all the comments & feedback I have received.

Many, many years ago I wanted to modify my own Porsche and the only custom fuel & oil lines available were Aeroquip. To fit a Porsche everything had to be cut & welded or modified or changed in some way. No one offered Metric fittings & hoses locally.

While on a PCA treffen to Germany I searched out the original source for what Porsche was using.

They were Aircraft type lines & fittings, some of which are still found on original late 60's & early 70's 911 models.

I import most of what I have available today from Germany and modify or make what I cannot get elsewhere.

I am now making custom oil hose fittings............



and hope to offer soon a reasonable cost high-clearance oil hose system for 911C & SC models.............



(The above of course is a mock-up and all hoses will be properly crimped once a layout is finalized.)

If you have interest in any of the above or questions in general its best to email me. Don't PM me as my PM box always seems to be full and I cannot send photos via PM.

Len at Autosportengineering dot com