Engine fires and bad fuel line?

[suckerpunched]

Theres been a couple engine fire threads on here lately and its got me thinking. My Bronco is not finished and it will be EFI, but on one of my other vehicles the rubber fuel line I bought at NAPA lasted one year and developed deep cracks. I thought it was the NAPA hose, so I bought Gates hose, same problem. doesnt seam to matter what hose I put on it, it only lasts a year. Whats going on here? is all fuel line crap? fuel lines used to last a long time. Is it the modern gas? ethanol? California gas? or a government conspiracy to get rid of older vehicles? anyone else having this problem?

 

[broncnaz]

I think its the way they make rubber nowadays it doesnt seem to last as long just look at tires. I've seen tires that are over 20 years old that look better than some of todays 5 year old tires.
Also on gas lines its the outside that cracks not the inside where the gas is. Usually look inside and the line looks new. So heat, exposure to air ect all effect todays rubber. Like everything else they just dont make it like they used to.
I also figure that a lot of todays engine compartments are hotter than they used to be. Might not be so true in a bronco but in other vehicles with small compartments and heat sheilding everywhere the heat is there.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I have seen some bad fuel hose as well, but can't source it. Our forklift at work was recently serviced with new hoses. I downed it this past summer becasue the fuel line was splitting so bad. Generally our stuff comes from NAPA. I don't know if they just got a bad batch or what? NAPA doesn't make there own hose, they source it, maybe from Gates? I have had plenty of rubber hose last a good long time. I know some that has been in service for 10 years and still has a little flex in it (but stiffer then when it was new). I would start looking for another source of hose.

 

[Scoop]

I got some bad fuel line AND had a fire on my 78 with efi! My issue was more related to deterioration of the hose from the ethanol in the fuel. The inside of the hose would begin to disolve (which effectively loosened the clamps) and the high pressure connections would come apart. Had it happen about 4 times before I figured it out. The first few times it was at the frame rail pump and/or filter but the last time it was at the fuel rail and it sprayed gas on the back of the engine.

I cranked the engine and no start. Cranked again and no start. The third time I tried to start it the fumes must have hit the starter and "pop" the engine caught on fire. Luckilly I had an extinguisher nearby and got it out before it did any real damage.

Since then I have replaced all the high pressure hose, eliminated a couple of unnecessary connections, and double clamped all the non-barbed connections. You can see some smoke/soot discoloration and some of the harness wrap is melted. Would have been much worse (total loss??) had I not had an extinguisher. Make sure you get the high pressure fuel injection hose and use the fuel injection hose clamps.

 

[chuzie]

It is hard to find gas without ethanol these days. I am 100% rubber except for my fuel rail and do worry about a fire. What is cheaper, replacing a Bronco after a fire or purchasing SS braided or hard lines?

 

[Rustytruck]

Go to your local marine supply and get type A marine fuel line this line is rated for ethanol it is thicker and special lined. It is much harder to push over automotive fittings but is severe service stuff. do not use the silver class B hose. I buy mine from West Marine just because they are right next door to a place I eat at on the weekends.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=50632&subdeptNum=50650&classNum=50651

 

[Bronco Junkie]

I have a supply of the small rubber piece of fuel hose over the mainfold....I change out every year. Broncos are notorious for catching fire there.

 

[okie4570]

I have a supply of the small rubber piece of fuel hose over the mainfold....I change out every year. Broncos are notorious for catching fire there.

Probably a good idea, and something I plan to do yearly.

 

[LTL4life]

On a side note Avoid gas filters like the ones that are in glass. A guy at carquest tried to sell me one. I asked? what if it cracks while the engine is Hot and running. I'm using rubber that is " Supposedly" fuel injection line:-X I keep my eyes on it just to make sure.

 

[DirtDonk]

Even though there are some good high-pressure hoses out there, I still like to make mine out of bent steel tubing. It's a lot more work (but a lot of fun too) to bend your own, but very rewarding and pretty much lasts as long as you car to use it.

The factory EB plastic line is hit-and-miss too. Some of my original from '71 is still in fantastic shape. But I've seen some that was so brittle that when you tried to remove rubber sections or push some new rubber over it, the plastic just shattered right in your hand. Not confidence-inspiring at all!
I've also used the clear glass and then plastic filters for the long-term (over twenty years in some cases) with no bad results. I check them frequently for tightness or deteriorating seals, and always protect them by wrapping a length of split heater-hose around them. The top "split" remains open so you can see the fuel, and a pair of zip-ties holds it together.
I just never trusted that they wouldn't either bounce around on hard surfaces, or having something hit them while bouncing around under the hood.

Anyway, steel is good.

Paul

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

Even though there are some good high-pressure hoses out there, I still like to make mine out of bent steel tubing. It's a lot more work (but a lot of fun too) to bend your own, but very rewarding and pretty much lasts as long as you car to use it.

The factory EB plastic line is hit-and-miss too. Some of my original from '71 is still in fantastic shape. But I've seen some that was so brittle that when you tried to remove rubber sections or push some new rubber over it, the plastic just shattered right in your hand. Not confidence-inspiring at all!
I've also used the clear glass and then plastic filters for the long-term (over twenty years in some cases) with no bad results. I check them frequently for tightness or deteriorating seals, and always protect them by wrapping a length of split heater-hose around them. The top "split" remains open so you can see the fuel, and a pair of zip-ties holds it together.
I just never trusted that they wouldn't either bounce around on hard surfaces, or having something hit them while bouncing around under the hood.

Anyway, steel is good.

Paul

That sounds pretty cool. Steel gas lines hmmm. Did you do this on your bronco? Post up some pics if you did.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[DirtDonk]

Thanks. Yes I did, but mine is half-way dismantled right now, waiting for time to do the EFI install. So no pics for the time being.

I've used the same type of 3.8" steel line to bend up fuel lines, PCV valve lines and other vents, as well as return lines (5/16") and vacuum lines (3/8 to 3/16) on many different vehicles.
Unlike the fuel system, the steel isn't really a necessity on those other items. But it sure cleans up an engine compartment, and makes sure that things stay leak free for a lot longer.
And when it does finally come time to change out some old rubber hose, it's simply a quick change of a couple of inches of hose here and there.
Easy peasy.

Paul

 

[jarhed1984]

Currently my carb/lines leak so much the house smells like gas for two days after I start the Bronc. For the last twenty years I have built experimental aircraft. I have bet my life during that time on Aeroquip fuel lines. Just do a teflon line and replace it every few years. You can reuse the fittings forever and the line is not that expensive. Teflon will not react as readily as rubber to alcohol but its life is very unknown. E15 is on its way.

 

[broncnaz]

On a side note Avoid gas filters like the ones that are in glass. A guy at carquest tried to sell me one. I asked? what if it cracks while the engine is Hot and running. .

X2 I went to look at a 74 bronco for sale a few years ago. the guy told me he bought it new in 1974 had it 6 months put on one of those glass filters and went for a ride. filter broke truck burnt down and had been sitting in his back yard ever since.
I didnt buy the bronco but I should have the body was in great shape but not much else was left of it. the C4 was a melted glob no interior at all no paint left on the body even the leaf springs had bent due to the fire.

 

[suckerpunched]

For the most part I wanted to bump this back to the top to remind everyone to check there fuel lines before any more Broncos burn to the ground. The recent limo fire in northern Ca. got me thinking about this again, I wonder how the builder extended the fuel lines? I just recieved my fuel line from west marine (post #6). Really tough looking stuff with a plastic liner bonded to the inside. I am pretty sure this is the answer to the bad fuel line problem.

 

[taipeichris]

I had a similar problem with my soft fuel lines going bad early too but mine were flattening out when they warmed up with the fuel pump drawing fuel. So I changed as much of my fuel lines as possible with hard metal lines and only used the high pressure EFI lines to connect things with double clamps too. Check out the pre-bent hard line kits Chuck at B.C. Broncos sells, they look awesome and affordable. Also I've been considering a remote fire extinguish kit to run under the hood. I'll post links later tonight.


Scroll to the bottom of the page for the hard line kits, the have both carb and EFI kits.

http://www.bcbroncos.com/fuelcarb.html

http://www.bcbroncos.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1876

Halon Systems from Summit

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/saf-lt5aab

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sts-930/media/images

 

[patterdale]

Why do we complain about ethanol and rubber line going to pot in efi systems? If you look under the hood of most modern day efi cars the lines are all plastic and steel. Might be time to upgrade to that type of system instead of using rubber.

 

[lowbush]

The best way to avoid engine fires is a 4BT swap, cures the problem 100% of the time.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The best way to avoid engine fires is a 4BT swap, cures the problem 100% of the time.

No, they still burn down when the injector pump starts pissing fuel. Get a little too much Bio in the fuel and those lines have issues as well. Not fixing the problem, just trading it for others.

 

[av bronco]

I'm running Teflon, had for about 5 years and still like new, kinda pricey but cheaper then burning the forest down.