Fuel Leak

[jacktar]

My 1994 estate has just developed a very bad fuel leak. There is a hole or crack in the fuel line midway between fron and rear doors. The petrol is pouring out so fast that I cant drive it at all.

How can I repair it so that I can at least drive it to a garage ?

[dean]

Hi Jacktar

I'm sure the fuel line is steel at that point, you can buy 'pipe putty' or similar pipe repair epoxy from your local plumbers merchants, used to make temporary repairs to water pipes and fuel oil pipes. alternatively you can cut a small section of the steel pipe out where the damage is and then reconnect it with a piece of rubber fuel pipe and some jubilee clips.

Dean

[Ciaran]

I guess as a very temporary fix, you could obtain a section of new fuel hose, or perhaps some from a scrap vehicle, cut out the damaged section, and splice in the new one using hose clamps.

Previously, with a busted section of coolant hose, to provide something hard to clamp around, I used a short section of that white circular plastic electrical cable conduit, which was of slightly smaller diameter than the hose, providing a good join between the two cut halves. I guess you could try that as well, though I don't know how the plastic would stand up to the petrol long term, so I would only drive it very briefly, i.e to your indy, or to go and buy more fuel hose.

Ciarán

This post has been edited by Ciaran on December 30, 2007 08:07 pm

[Ciaran]

Dean's solution sounds much better. I didn't realise the pipe was metal at that point.

Ciarán

[dean]

Well i know its metal on all the mk1s Ive seen, but this is an estate model so i could be wrong, if the pipe is rubber, a short length of 8mm micro bore copper tube with jubilee clips will do for bridging the damaged section.
A Ciaran ha said though, this is only a temporary fix to get you out of trouble. If the pipe has rusted or perished it could fail again in another place.

Good luck Dean

Happy new year aswell

[jacktar]

Thanks guys for the help.
The pipe is metal and badly rusted. I have some Plumbers Mate putty but I think that is only for sanitary joints. I will try and get some of the proper stuff. As long as it holds for 10 minutes I should reach my local garage. I dont have the facilities for repairing it myself in this weather.

[DerekW]

Hi Jacktar,

When you go under to do the temp repair, please, please don't rely on the car's hydraulics to hold it up off you. It may take a little longer but make sure you have it adequately supported.

Noting your lack of facilities and I'll probably get some flak from our fellow mwmbers for suggesting it, but if all else fails then at least select fully up and put some bricks under the jacking points. Ramps are cheap and better, axle stands best of all.

Derek

[jacktar]

Thanks Derek, but as the leak in the fuel line is very near the outside edge of the car there is no danger of me getting my head squashed.

Jim