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Copper and braided fuel lines, can I?
AdrianH - 5/5/11 at 06:39 AM

I am just wondering, on my new build can I use the copper tube to run fuel lines in the tunnel area but go to braised fuel lines in the engine and tank area's?

Is there a particular clamp on fitting that would go on the copper pipe. Or, does one use a different tube/pipe and buy it in lengths etc.

It will be a pressurised line for EFI and I would like it to pass an MSA inspection if it every gets that far.

Cheers

Adrian

Ben_Copeland - 5/5/11 at 08:09 AM

Minibore copper is fine, most people use it.

Don't use braided fuel line. Use the correct grade rubber fuel line so you can see if it's degrading/leaking.

Theres been quite a few posts recently on the subject of fuel hose so it's worth a search.

The braided hose can't be checked for quality when new and condition when old.

40inches - 5/5/11 at 09:04 AM

Swage the ends of the copper with a brake flaring tool.

02GF74 - 5/5/11 at 10:13 AM

^^^ wot they say.

I had to replace the blinged braided hose on my Land Roer as the hose failed - was not a hapy bunny but could have been worse had the damn thing caught fire; hose was not more than 9 years old.

fatbaldbloke - 5/5/11 at 03:05 PM

quote:

Swage the ends of the copper with a brake flaring tool.


Agreed, just a light swage on the end to stop the correct rubber hose (as mentioned above, not bling braided hose) moving. Also, there are hose clips specifically for fuel hose that have a more uniform compression than standard jubilee type hose clips.

AdrianH - 5/5/11 at 04:35 PM

Sorry for the delay in responding to any posts been at work.

On my existing build I have used the copper tube from the engine compartment area down the transmission tunnel and as it exited the diff area changed to fuel grade rubber tube. The ends of the copper, rather then swagging I used brass olives flow soldered on in place, passed the tube over them (With some effort) and used fuel clamps as mentioned where I could.


The bit that has me confused in the Blue Book
is the following
:

Fuel Systems
5.13.1. Have any fuel lines passing through the
driver/passenger compartment protected and, if non-
metallic, to be internally or externally metal braided
hydraulic pressure hose or fuel lines complying with
FIA specifications.
5.13.2. They may only be joined by screwed sealing
joints or vehicle manufacturers approved joint.


So section 5.13.1 i should be OK as they are in the tunnel and copper,. but wondering about them in the engine and tank area's if they needed to be braided and only have screw style connections.

I find the book confusing to say the least.

Adrian