360 Fuel line crack

Found this this evening! :(

Attachment 141718

Appears to be duel walled but it ain't going anywhere until it's replaced....
I haven't a clue how it's happened but it's recent.......

Well found,
Keep meaning to show my old fuel line pipes before I changed them last year, 25 years old.
Close inspection always shows the horrors hiding.

Nice save MIke

How come fuel hoses are not steel braided?

Don't know about other cars but mine (328) are just double stitched reinforced rubber piping to a certain
Pressure which I can't remember now as fitted:hmmm:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lotusk

How come fuel hoses are not steel braided?

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I guess it adds no benefit as you don't need a lot of mechanical protection where they are and the pressure is relatively low....3.5 barg I think.
Steel braid would still have a liner with the same consequences if it fails.
Issues on these lines and the connections to the tanks (plastic spigots) are why these cars will go up in flames though.

At the tank they are only push fit connectors seen here.

Attachment 141735

I'm more interested in how t could have split. At first I thought it had been nicked but it is actually a crack.

This is a better pic.....

Attachment 141736

I'm almost certain the inner is undamaged but as I can avoid using the car I will replace first.
Once it's off I will open it up and post pics of what I find.......M

That's only the shielding, not the pipe. Nonetheless, you should still change it...

It looks like I've been indescribably lucky with this!
I removed the line this afternoon and now off the car I could have a closer look.
When I first noticed it there was something oozing out of the split.
I've opened up the outer pipe and the inside is coated with sticky stuff with a slight smell of fuel.

Attachment 141745

and on closer examination there is a mark on the pipe where the split was in the outer.......

Attachment 141746

I was right not to consider taping up the outer and pushing my luck!

I've no explanation for this apart from mechanical damage but no idea when it could have happened but I t definitely pays to keep an eye on your car.

If available I will replace both......M

Very nice save there :thumbsup:

Got to say, I too am surprised that they are not steel braided. I get the point that if the inner fails it wouldn't matter but surely a steel braiding affords more protection than a rubber or plastic outer and the inner would therefore be less likely to fail in the first place? On my 348 they are steel braided but the ones I have on are aftermarket - thought the originals were as well but not sure tbh......

Been following your thread closely Mike, as others have said a good find.

Initially I thought it looked like an ageing failure in the outer rubber protection, but the nick on the primary pipe does suggest mechanical damage as you say. Again as others have said steel braiding may have protected against such damage. However, the hard plastic shrink fit primary plastic pipe is not something I've seen with a braided steel cover. Steel braid is normally the mechanical protection for a rubber primary:hmmm:

I'll be checking mine closely, thanks for posting :thumbsup:

Seeing the mark on the inner at full size I think it might be a kink. I'm pretty sure it is pinholed at this point but I'll have a look at it under magnification.
I'll also kink in in a different place when I finally take if off to see what kind of Mark that leaves.
Hopefully the parts are available although none are showing in stock.