Fuel Filter and Lines

Hi Guys,
Has anyone ever heard of the plastic type line craking and causing fires in the engine bay from th fuel filter?

i want to replace the line with some Braided Fuel line just wondering if anyone has any info on this and which way i should run plumb it throught the engine bay. Any advice would be more than welcome.

Years ago when Escort 2Lts were more common in wrecking yards, there were quite a number that had had under bonnet fires. It is not usually the plastic lines that crack though - the metal barb on the carby from the fuel inlet pops out of the carby... This is convieniently placed over the top of the dizzy, and with a float bowl of fuel will still continue to pump fuel for 30 odd seconds - enough time for a dog bark (Woof!) First thing the owner usually knew was that their engine had conked out, but on pulling over an underbonnet fire was evident, and by the time it was out....[:u] well you get the picture!

The plastic lines seem quite durable, however remember that they are now 30+ years old, and if feeling hard, then should be replaced. @lt cars had the 3 fuel / vapour lines coming up the passenger side rail with the crossover in the diff area, while Kent engined cars had their 2 fuel and vapour lines running up the drivers side rail..... Whereever you cross the lines over to the other side of the car - give the exhaust a wide berth....[B)]

The problem with 32/36 and similar carbs was that the inlet's are brass and only pressed into an alloy carb body. Over time as the thing goes through the heat up and cool down process the inlet fittings become loose, leak fuel and boom, instant engine fire.

The factory service fix was to stake the fitting, actually a little steel pin that was driven into the join.

A more common fix is to take the top cover off, wiggle the inlet fitting out, then tap the cover and use a screw in fitting with some thread sealer, loctite or similar.

If you have any intentions of ever competing in your Escy throw out all the plastic fuel lines and just use new rubber fuel line, 5/16 is enough for anything running less than twin 48's. Bin the return line at the same time (Not needed)

If you are going to rally and want to run the fuel line inside the cabin you will need to use either steel line or most commonly braided line as the cams specs call for a metal cover over fuel lines running through the cabin area. I could not recommend copper lines anywhere in a comp car as they weaken and crack with age.

Cheers

Shaun B

quote:

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Originally posted by na.charrett
Whereever you cross the lines over to the other side of the car - give the exhaust a wide berth....[B)]

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due to a PO being massively dodgy, i nearly set the state on fire a few years ago (40+ish heat and massive wind). fuel line was waving round and melted on the manifold. car died (under some massive pine trees [xx(] ), opened bonnet to find petrol dripping onto the very hot mannifold and just sizzling & evaporating.
seems that luck was on my side that day [:0]

quote:

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Originally posted by smiley_666
...opened bonnet to find petrol dripping onto the very hot mannifold and just sizzling & evaporating.
seems that luck was on my side that day [:0]

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Petrol has an auto ignition temp of around 390 degrees C so you would have to be pushing the car hardish for the manifold to reach that. Lucky all the same!!