aluminum or steel fuel lines

[AU Bronco]

I am going to rerun the fuel lines and was wondering if there was a preferred metal....summit has aluminum, steel (factory style), and stainless....im thinking of getting the aluminum....the aluminum has a bigger i.d. than the others but the same o.d....i know aluminum will be easier to bend too...any other pros or cons?

 

[70_Steve]

From reading all the posts on this forum, I don't know if I have been able to determine a clear preference in material for the fuel line. I used steel line... I thought stainless was overkill, as my Bronco is anything but a show rig. And I liked the extra mechanical strength of the steel vs aluminum, giving maybe a little extra crush resistance when wheeling. The steel tubing from Summit has been plated for corrosion resistance. Also, the little difference in ID between the steel and aluminum should not make that much difference in anything but an all-out race engine... We are talking 3/8" tubing, right?

Also, for any of the three types of hard tubing, you really should use a tubing bender. If not, you will surely kink the tubing.

 

[lars]

Use steel, stainless steel or hose. Leave the aluminum for aircraft. Too easy to split, vibration-sensitive, etc. Bending steel tube isn't hard. Look for a set of the spring-type bending guides, they'll help you make smoother bends.

 

[AU Bronco]

ok steel it is then....i have a tubing bender and cutter i purchased from home depot...yea i assume its 3/8"

 

[BwoncoHowie]

Use steel, stainless steel or hose. Leave the aluminum for aircraft. Too easy to split, vibration-sensitive, etc. Bending steel tube isn't hard. Look for a set of the spring-type bending guides, they'll help you make smoother bends.

I second this...

Materials that are soft like copper and aluminum will sometimes crush with the tightening of a hose clamp and start leaking eventually. Someone, a Previous owner of my bronco replaced a plastic line with a copper one. I later replaced the copper with steel because the hoses kept leaking in the area of the clamps. I found out when I pulled the hose off the end of the tube why.

 

[bronko69er]

Another benefit of SS over Al would be its resistance to heat transfer. Al would absorb a lot more heat running next to the exhaust and thus be transfered into the fuel. Hot fuel not good. Cold fuel better.

 

[lars]

Another benefit of SS over Al would be its resistance to heat transfer. Al would absorb a lot more heat running next to the exhaust and thus be transfered into the fuel. Hot fuel not good. Cold fuel better.

Which is one of the reasons to put firesleeve over the fuel line in an airplane. Working on that...

 

[72Sport]

Which is one of the reasons to put firesleeve over the fuel line in an airplane. Working on that...

McMaster Carr has some fabric insulating material. I think it is Kevlar. My gas lines are insulated with it from the gas tank to the carb. It comes in various id's. I bought stuff that was big enough to slide over the fittings after the lines were bent and installed.

 

[A&Mbronco]

I'be been running aluminum line for about 2yrs now, no problems so far

 

[EBCRAWLR]

I'be been running aluminum line for about 2yrs now, no problems so far

i second that, but im installing the lines now! no reason why i went with aluminum, just did! as with crush factor, i plan on running on top the frame (have a 2" BL) so i would have to pull of a miracle to crush it. heat ... well thats interesting, ill consider the exhaust when the final run is done!

all in all, do what you want!
FYI im only running 5/16 line. the bc tank is 3/8 and the hard line on the efi is 5/16! trying to adapt the 3/8 to the stupid efi fitting is harder than adapting a piece of hose to the tank! my .02

 

[ken75ranger]

I have aluminum lines in my rig for 5 years. No problems here. You do need to flare a small bump at the ends to hold the hose on. Really you should do that with any hard line.