da_raabi
Trailer Park Supervisor
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2013
- Posts
- 1,403
- Reaction score
- 901
- Location
- FloriDUH
- First Name
- Adam
- Truck Year
- 1986
- Truck Model
- c30
- Engine Size
- 454
Back Story:
Approximately 2 years ago I purchased a 1986 C30 Big Dooley. It had a few issues including a bad fuel pump, and a bad fuel sender. At that time I replaced both components as well as all the associated rubber fuel lines. I used the bulk fuel lines you can get at any auto parts store (Advance Auto in this instance) and they are rated SAE 30R6.
Flash-Forward to Last Week:
So last weekend I started getting a very strong smell of fuel in the cab - so much so that it was sickening. So I popped the hood and the first thing I noticed was the fuel line going to the pump. It was cracked all the way along its length with string showing through. It was leaking A TON at the pump, and was actually pooling on the engine cross-member. It would not have taken much to go BOOM.
Yesterday:
After I parked the truck for the week I went ahead and pulled all the rubber fuel lines out, dropped the passenger fuel tank (leaving the driver's for later as I don't use it) and removed all the 2-year old rubber lines. All were marked SAE 30R6. All showed signs in varying degrees of the same problem.
SAE 30R6 vs 30R9:
I did some research on the topic, and it would appear that fuel hose sold at auto parts stores (the stuff you get when you say "I need some fuel hose please") is rated SAE 30R6. This means it is rated for old-school fuel - NOT modern ethanol-laced fuels. What I experienced is the result of that.
It turns out that another hose is made with an SAE 30R9 rating. These hoses are generally referred to as "Fuel Injection Hose" because they are rated for a much higher pressure - but more importantly they are rated for use with ALL fuel types including alcohols, fuel-oils, diesels, etc etc. They don't tell you this at the parts store. 30R9 is much more expensive than the old school stuff, but it is built to handle government-required bull-sh... sorry ethonol-mixed fuels we find at 99% of gas stations today.
This link talks about this topic in detail. They refer to SAE 30R7 in this article, but the same goes for the 30R6 found in auto parts stores. They key is where they talk about the Flouroelastomer (FKM). This is what makes these lines what they are.
http://www.gates.com/oreilly/tech_ti...elLineHose.pdf
The Moral of the Story:
Ask for SAE 30R9 Fuel Injection Hose when replacing rubber fuel hoses. You don't want to experience an engine fire, or like me get off lucky and simply have to replace them all again. Do it right the first time!!!
Approximately 2 years ago I purchased a 1986 C30 Big Dooley. It had a few issues including a bad fuel pump, and a bad fuel sender. At that time I replaced both components as well as all the associated rubber fuel lines. I used the bulk fuel lines you can get at any auto parts store (Advance Auto in this instance) and they are rated SAE 30R6.
Flash-Forward to Last Week:
So last weekend I started getting a very strong smell of fuel in the cab - so much so that it was sickening. So I popped the hood and the first thing I noticed was the fuel line going to the pump. It was cracked all the way along its length with string showing through. It was leaking A TON at the pump, and was actually pooling on the engine cross-member. It would not have taken much to go BOOM.
Yesterday:
After I parked the truck for the week I went ahead and pulled all the rubber fuel lines out, dropped the passenger fuel tank (leaving the driver's for later as I don't use it) and removed all the 2-year old rubber lines. All were marked SAE 30R6. All showed signs in varying degrees of the same problem.
SAE 30R6 vs 30R9:
I did some research on the topic, and it would appear that fuel hose sold at auto parts stores (the stuff you get when you say "I need some fuel hose please") is rated SAE 30R6. This means it is rated for old-school fuel - NOT modern ethanol-laced fuels. What I experienced is the result of that.
It turns out that another hose is made with an SAE 30R9 rating. These hoses are generally referred to as "Fuel Injection Hose" because they are rated for a much higher pressure - but more importantly they are rated for use with ALL fuel types including alcohols, fuel-oils, diesels, etc etc. They don't tell you this at the parts store. 30R9 is much more expensive than the old school stuff, but it is built to handle government-required bull-sh... sorry ethonol-mixed fuels we find at 99% of gas stations today.
This link talks about this topic in detail. They refer to SAE 30R7 in this article, but the same goes for the 30R6 found in auto parts stores. They key is where they talk about the Flouroelastomer (FKM). This is what makes these lines what they are.
http://www.gates.com/oreilly/tech_ti...elLineHose.pdf
The Moral of the Story:
Ask for SAE 30R9 Fuel Injection Hose when replacing rubber fuel hoses. You don't want to experience an engine fire, or like me get off lucky and simply have to replace them all again. Do it right the first time!!!
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