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When to replace fuel lines?
My coach is 13 years old, should I be considering replacing fuel lines?
Roy
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5 Replies
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In my opinion, fuel lines are good until they’re not good anymore. We install about 250 aux. fuel tanks in trucks every year. Very rarely do we have any fuel line problems. The only time we replace them on older units is when replacing a sending unit or pump and the line is too hard to work with and we have to cut it off.
There is one line on our coaches that will eventually leak. I’ve seen it on mine and my dad’s coach as well. The line going from the secondary fuel filter to the top of the head has two clamps that hold it in place. Both times, the lower clamp just above the starter has rubbed a hole in the line. If Im not mistaken, there has been others that have run into this fuel leak as well.
Not a big deal to fix, $62 fuel line (you have to have it made as Detroit has discontinued it), getting your body in an absolute pretzel position, and 300 swear words later you will be good to go. In fact I was leaving Florida and noticed the drip of fuel about every 10 seconds and still drove back to Texas to fix it in my shop.
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Thanks Patrick, where do I get that fuel line made?
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Is there a threaded bung in the tank? Threaded fitting where the line goes into what … the fuel pump? Does it make sense to make the fuel out of braided stainless line or the state of the art fuel/oil lines that are used on race cars?
What material should the fuel lines be made out of? Any special materials better than other?
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Patrick, I had that same hose blow just before pulling into Las Vegas Motorcoach resort. June, 115 degrees out, hot engine. Was lucky that there was a mechanic at the resort who was willing to replace the line that day. 4 hours and at least that many swear words later we were able to move into our slot for the night. I had to remove the floor aft of the bed so he could access the upper fitting. This was on the day that I took delivery! Hose and work covered by seller (thanks Steve Bennett).
Keep an eye on that hose.
Doug
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As far as I can tell it looks like there are 6 fuel lines.
1. From fuel tank to the primary filter
2. Primary filter to fuel pump
3. Fuel pump to secondary filter
4. Secondary filter to engine <--- Suspect to leak b/c of the clamp rubbing a hole in it.
5. Engine to fuel cooler
6. Fuel Cooler back to fuel tank
The line I replaced appeared to be a high quality AN6 nylon/stainless hose. For as much as it cost ($2.81/inch), I hope it is pretty high quality. I figured the first one lasted 17 years, if I get 17 out of this one I’ll be happy.
Roy, any place that makes hydraulic hoses will be able to replicate the fuel line you give them. The guy at Stuart Hose here in Fort Worth didn’t even blink when I handed it to him. He took it and came back out in 5 minutes with the new one.
Dick, there are threaded male ends on each side of the line making it easy to connect and disconnect. The problem is you can’t see where you are working nor hardly reach where you need to be. The top clamp has a bolt and nut making it especially hard b/c you have to hold both to keep one from spinning. The lower clamp just bolts into the block. The fuel line is not flexible hardly at all with how thick it is.
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