Blew new fuel hose...cheap hose or something else?

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  • eight-0-eight
    Noobie
    • Aug 2020
    • 32

    #1

    Blew new fuel hose...cheap hose or something else?

    Hi all,

    So I just rebuilt my M20 and have had it running for a couple of weeks. Been taking it out for short test rides around the neighborhood, mainly been focused on getting the air out of my coolant lines. I've brought it up to temp idling about 10-20 times, and have taken it out numerous times, probably like in total 5-10 miles.

    Anyway on my drive yesterday, about a mile away from my house I started to smell a strong fuel smell so I pulled over immediately and popped the hood and saw that my supply fuel line into the rail split. 😳 Luckily I caught it as soon as it happened, that could have ended very badly. I had it towed back to my house.

    The fuel hose I used was stupidly bought on amazon so I'm chalking the fuel hose split to just buying a crappy hose and bad luck (maybe I nicked it when I was adjusting the intake manifold)....but I wanted to double check with all you experts here.

    Is there something else that I should be looking at that could have caused that or likely it was just the crappy hose and I should be good to go after replacing with a quality hose? I don't want to buy new hoses to have this happen again because of something obvious that I missed. The fuel pressure reg is new.

    I'm going to buy the Gates brand 5/16" ID fuel hose at Autozone/Oreillys unless you all have a suggestion on specific fuel hose brand I should get?

    Thank you all!!

    Click image for larger version  Name:	PXL_20260618_153918826.jpg Views:	10 Size:	174.2 KB ID:	10162873
    Last edited by eight-0-eight; 06-18-2026, 12:52 PM.
  • reelizmpro
    R3V OG
    • Dec 2003
    • 9531

    #2
    That doesn't look like it's rated for fuel injection. I had some CRP fuel injection hose fail after 5 years and replaced it with Gates Barricade. That seems to be the go-to aftermarket hose.
    "I'd probably take the E30 M3 in this case just because I love that little car, and how tanky that inline 6 is." - thecj

    85 323i M TECH 1 S52 - ALPINEWEISS
    88 M3 - LACHSSILBER
    89 M3 - ALPINEWEISS II
    91 M TECH CABRIO 2.7L TURBO - MACAOBLAU

    Comment

    • E30SPDFRK
      Moderator
      • Jul 2007
      • 5699

      #3
      Cheap hose issue. Use the Gates E85-rated hose, or OEM BMW only, all others will fail within the first few years.

      Also, the way that hose is swelling around the clamp makes me think it's too large, but there is a chance it is just swollen from not being pressure rated.
      Byron
      Leichtbau

      Comment

      • digger
        R3V OG
        • Nov 2005
        • 6105

        #4
        89 E30 325is Lachs Silber - currently M20B31, M20B33 in the works, stroked to the hilt...

        new build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=317505

        Comment

        • varg
          Florida Turbo Man
          • May 2014
          • 3391

          #5
          Use only good hoses from reputable suppliers and ditch those oversized/overtightened clamps immediately. The Generic clamps like that are flimsy and if they're oversized at all they might leak, the OE BMW worm gear clamps, sized properly, are a much better option.

          I keep seeing sketchy fuel lines like this on people's cars and after seeing a couple of fires because of it I will point out to someone that they should use better clamps and new hoses if I see it at a meet or something.

          IG @turbovarg
          '91 318is, M20 turbo
          '94 525iT slicktop, M50B30 + S362SX-E, 600WHP DD or bust
          '93 RX-7 FD3S, pretty and slow

          Comment

          • Vincenze
            E30 Enthusiast
            • Apr 2019
            • 1003

            #6
            Japanese quality.
            Nissan OEM High Pressure Fuel Hose 5/16 8mm

            Comment

            • zaq123
              E30 Mastermind
              • Jul 2016
              • 1508

              #7
              As a precaution, Id put a pressure gauge and double check your pressure (to test FPR and for any blockages in the return to the gas tank).

              Comment

              • zaq123
                E30 Mastermind
                • Jul 2016
                • 1508

                #8
                Originally posted by E30SPDFRK
                Cheap hose issue. Use the Gates E85-rated hose, or OEM BMW only, all others will fail within the first few years.

                Also, the way that hose is swelling around the clamp makes me think it's too large, but there is a chance it is just swollen from not being pressure rated.
                and what he said about the size.. Right size? That line is after FPR , the return to the tank line so there is as much pressure as in the gas tank, almost none. Unless your return is blocked somewhere which would explain everything. Test the fuel pressure and you'll see

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