Gas Line Leak at Fuel Rail?

neildeshpande · 10-13-2003, 05:58 PM

Gruppe:

I have a gas drip at the fuel rail. There are two lines coming from near the passenger side strut tower and going to the rail, one to a damper-like thing facing rearward and another to facing forward. The forward line is leaking between the hex section and hard line. Tightening does not help as far as I can tell.

Do I have to replace the line or is it an o-ring/washer that is needed? Additionally, what else should I get while in there and how hard is it to get to the other side of this line. Appears buried in the car.

Thanks for any pointers.

Neil Deshpande

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Neil, you have 93 posts. When the heck are you going to put your cars year and model in your signiture line?

If the hose is leaking you must replace it. An engine fire is not a pretty thing.

neildeshpande · 10-13-2003, 07:28 PM

Hugh:

1987 944 NA 5-sp. It has an H in the VIN, indicating 1986 manufacture.

Sorry about that. I'm not sure how to make a signature line, but I'll put the make and year in. I usually put that information in the post, but forgot this time as I was shuttling between garage, PET and trying to sketch and match the hose configurations in the car with those in the PET.

I'm not driving the car so there is little risk of an engine fire. I'm just looking for some BTDT advice so I can do a good job when I go in there.

Neil Deshpande
87 (86 manufacture) 944 NA 5-sp

neildeshpande · 10-13-2003, 07:46 PM

Hugh:

Got the signature sorted out I think. Also, I rechecked my VIN info and I think the "I" is not used so it is 1987 and not 1986.

Neil Deshpande

ae1969 · 10-13-2003, 08:18 PM

You may as well go to stainless braided lines now.....

neildeshpande · 10-13-2003, 08:30 PM

Alex:

Tell me more. Where would I get them? How much more are they? Do I replace all three lines? Or, just the two? On my BMWs, it is all the flex stuff. About 3m does it for the whole car - stem to stern. On this one, each line has special ends!

Neil Deshpande

Eric 951 · 10-16-2003, 06:37 AM

Neil,

I curently have the exact same leak in the exact same location. Since evrything else on my car is stock, i orederd stock-style replacements from Lindsey Racing. They just delivered this week and appear to be quality units. I intend to install them as soon as I get time(and a small pipe-cutter to chop the hard fuel lines.)

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Eric 951
Neil,

I curently have the exact same leak in the exact same location. Since evrything else on my car is stock, i orederd stock-style replacements from Lindsey Racing. They just delivered this week and appear to be quality units. I intend to install them as soon as I get time(and a small pipe-cutter to chop the hard fuel lines.)

The flares at the ends of the hard fuel lines are there for a reason; 60 pounds of fuel pressure.

I would not trust a slip fit and clamped hose at that pressure.

Eric 951 · 10-16-2003, 07:28 AM

Socal,

They have a metal-to-metal compression fitting on the ends that attach to the hard lines. I too would not trust a slip and clamp on these ends.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Which/whos compression fitting? I've seen some steam fittings that are amazing.

Eric 951 · 10-16-2003, 10:15 AM

SoCal,

Not sure who MFG. the fittings themselves--I didn't check them closely for markings, but I am impressed with the quality, and I have confidence in Lindsey not wanting to sell a junk product. Now the big question is do I replace my injectors while I have it all apart(still debating on this)

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

I would replace them. Take your old injectors and have them gone through for spares.

Think the steam fittings I used were Parker-Hannifins. Needed a press to get them to seat on the tubing. No thread cutting!

ae1969 · 10-16-2003, 10:22 AM

The lines from lindsey are great... I have those on my NA.

I ordered a complete new fuel rail and pressure regulator from them for the turbo..... it looks so nice....... yummmmmmy.

Eric... I wouldn't bother replacing the injectors unless you are planning on doing some upgrades. You can send them out to be cleaned and flow matched if you want? Otherwise I would save my money for the day you want larger 55, 72 lb injectors.

Eric 951 · 10-16-2003, 12:35 PM

ae,

I am glad to hear the Lindsey lines worked well on the NA. I just picked up a mini pipe cutter this morning to chop the hard lines. Did you jack up the front of the car, remove the wheel, and splice the lines before they enter the hole in the wheel well, or did you splice them in the engine bay? I am looking at doing the former.

ae1969 · 10-16-2003, 12:57 PM

I am doing them underneath in the 951 and your game plan on doing it sounds right but on the NA I spliced in at the engine bay side....

Eric 951 · 10-16-2003, 01:15 PM

ae,

Cool. I am going to splice them just below the factory retaining clip in the actual wheel well itself. I will post back when job is complete.

neildeshpande · 10-16-2003, 05:58 PM

Gruppe:

Thanks for the pointers! The lines are $102 and $130 or so at the dealer. I'm not one to skimp on cars, even such old ones, and do a bunch of preventive feel-good work on them, but that is plain ridiculous. You could make up some nice Aeroquip stuff for far less.

Am I right in thinking the Lindsey lines are $110 for the pair? I'd appreciate some comments from those who've done the metal cutting though I think I could take care of it. Also, I think the pressure on the BMWs is about 40psi and the hose clamped lines work quite well. I replace mine the minute I buy the cars and I've only had one weep a little at 180k miles one time.

Neil Deshpande

Eric 951 · 10-20-2003, 01:26 PM

neil,

I just finished installing the feed line from Lindsey. It worked great--no leaks. Biggest PIA is cutting the hard line inside the fenderwell, but after that everything went smoothly. I only replaced the 1, because that is all that was leaking, so I may sell the return line, along with the silver heat wrap. If looking for OEM-style lines, the Lindseys work just fine. Injectors next!

neildeshpande · 11-08-2003, 09:20 PM

Eric:

How did you cut the hard lines in the fender well? Pipe cutter or hacksaw? I got the lines and they look great. I'm going to do the install on Sun (Nov 9). Looking forward to having the car back on the road. Thanks!

Neil Deshpande

neildeshpande · 11-09-2003, 05:44 AM

FR Wilk:

The section that is leaking is not part of the recall.

However, I'll be at the dealer on Monday to get a replacement for a mushroomed brake pad retaining pin and will check if the recall has been performed on my car.

Thanks!

Neil Deshpande