Fuel System: Lesson learned .... check your fuel lines often

[okc63avanti]

My avanti is just 1 year off a complete restoration, yet I discovered a fuel leak on the short piece of hose between tank outlet and stainless steel line running to the engine bay. I thought my differential cover gasket was leaking but when I crawled under the car I found a drip drip drip of gasoline coming from above the differential. Apparently the 3/8" fuel line looks like it was a bit frayed through outer casing like it rubbed on something. My avanti is stored in a metal shop garage with race deck tiles and apparently the gasoline was getting underneath the plastic tiles and evaporating before I ever noticed it. The last time I used the avanti the tank was full so over the last month approximately 20 gals dripped out. I managed to wrap a short section of fuel hose around the leak and put a clamp on it until I could drive to a buddy's tire business after he closed today so that he and I could put the car up on his hydraulic rack and replace the fuel line. We also adjusted e-brake cable, tightened lose exhaust pipe to header connection and changed the oil while at it. After doing so the car is starting and running a lot better as apparently the fuel pump was pulling in some air through the leaking fuel hose. Afterwards I took him and his wife out to dinner to thank him for letting me use his lift and tools. I am so thankful this situation ended as well as it did, if the leaking gasoline had caused fumes to built up and an ignition source ignited them it would have been catastrophic for the Avanti and the 51 Champion.

Lesson learned ..... thankfully the easy way versus the hard way.

[showbizkid]

A very good piece of advice!

I had my rear springs replaced and the shop had to drop the tank to do it. The rubber hose fractured like it was made of glass when they tried to remove it, and spilled about 10 gallons on the shop floor before they got it stopped up.

It could easily have happened on the road.

[Noxnabaker]

We were on our way to Denmark once & had to make it to the ferry & suddenly the car was goin' slower... & slower...
So we went back to a gas-station we just passed & replaced the rubber hoses everywhere & went away again but after a while the car started to slow down again...
I had already checked for rust in the tank so I couldn't understand it, we went back to the gas-station again.
The when I looked under I saw that the line was slightly wet on a spot where it traveled straight & ran free.
There had been condense-water in the pipe 'cause the car had been of the road for 30 years before I got it & the rust had eating it from inside!
But there was no hole yet, only a really thin layer of rust...
So when we drove on the highway the pump & carb sucked more air than gas since air is easier to suck.

[JoeHall]

I no longer use the rubber gas line that costs about a dollar per foot. It ain't what it used to be. I only use the latest stuff that is supposedly for EFI and impervious to modern fuels. At around $4per foot it is expensive, but cannot afford NOT to use it, considering the potential hazards.

[sweetolbob]

I no longer use the rubber gas line that costs about a dollar per foot. It ain't what it used to be. I only use the latest stuff that is supposedly for EFI and impervious to modern fuels. At around $4per foot it is expensive, but cannot afford NOT to use it, considering the potential hazards.

Amen, Brother!!!

[Mike Van Veghten]

My 54 Conestoga, I have stainless steel braided line (rubber) from my tank to the engine. There's a short piece from the filter to the pump. It's only been on the car a coupla years and last summer...I noticed a fuel leak....it was the short piece...luckilly. I'm looking at using stainless braided teflon as a replacement and also for my other 54 wagon (daily driver).

Not exactly cheap, but it will combat not only age deterioration and road hazards, but will also stand up to anything the govt. decides to put ino the fuel...!

Mike

[SN-60]

my avanti is just 1 year off a complete restoration, yet i discovered a fuel leak on the short piece of hose between tank outlet and stainless steel line running to the engine bay. I thought my differential cover gasket was leaking but when i crawled under the car i found a drip drip drip of gasoline coming from above the differential. Apparently the 3/8" fuel line looks like it was a bit frayed through outer casing like it rubbed on something. My avanti is stored in a metal shop garage with race deck tiles and apparently the gasoline was getting underneath the plastic tiles and evaporating before i ever noticed it. The last time i used the avanti the tank was full so over the last month approximately 20 gals dripped out. I managed to wrap a short section of fuel hose around the leak and put a clamp on it until i could drive to a buddy's tire business after he closed today so that he and i could put the car up on his hydraulic rack and replace the fuel line. We also adjusted e-brake cable, tightened lose exhaust pipe to header connection and changed the oil while at it. After doing so the car is starting and running a lot better as apparently the fuel pump was pulling in some air through the leaking fuel hose. Afterwards i took him and his wife out to dinner to thank him for letting me use his lift and tools. I am so thankful this situation ended as well as it did, if the leaking gasoline had caused fumes to built up and an ignition source ignited them it would have been catastrophic for the avanti and the 51 champion.

Lesson learned ..... Thankfully the easy way versus the hard way.

wow!.....twenty gallons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul Keller]

On my '63 Hawk the line ran under the frame at the rear door post - After years of "grounding" on bumps, the line was just about smashed closed. Removed the bad section, rerouted the line above the frame (as it is on the rest of the car) - Now all OK.
Paul TK

[53commander]

wow!.....twenty gallons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yea that could have been very ugly. Imagine someone walking in with a lit cigarette.