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

[eight-0-eight]

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!!

[reelizmpro]

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.

[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.

[digger]

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/general-discussion/10149955-psa-about-fcp-fuel-hoses

[varg]

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.

[Vincenze]

Japanese quality.
Nissan OEM High Pressure Fuel Hose 5/16 8mm
https://conceptzperformance.com/niss...php?quantity=1

[zaq123]

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).

[zaq123]

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

[moatilliatta]

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...se-13537563456

I've had good luck with this in Genuine. Usually can get continuous piece from the dealer.

[eight-0-eight]

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

zaq123 Thanks for the call out, you were right. I checked the fuel pressure and it was high on both the supply and return. probably a blockage on the return...investigating now...really hoping I don't have to drain and drop the tank. I hate working around fuel, I'm always super paranoid 😅

[zaq123]

zaq123 Thanks for the call out, you were right. I checked the fuel pressure and it was high on both the supply and return. probably a blockage on the return...investigating now...really hoping I don't have to drain and drop the tank. I hate working around fuel, I'm always super paranoid 😅

was the car sitting for a long time? Some report that the return inside the tank itself gets clogged if car sits for a long longtime with old fuel. Go under the left side of the car, disconnect the return line to the tank (the line without the fuel filter) and see if you can blow some air from FPR to the disconnected line by the tank. Most likely you'll be able to. What year is your car? You can drain fuel from both sides of the tank by removing your back seat, removing access covers and syphoning the gas from there. There is a drain plug on the tank but good luck unscrewing it. Gas transfer hand pump is not expensive at all. New gas thank is not super expensive as well, unless prices went up recently like, everything else.

[E30SPDFRK]

This is a Cohline fuel hose I replaced today on a customers car. Manufactured in 2021 according to the stamp on the hose, I have no idea when it was installed. It looked like it was giving a water salute with the car running.

[digger]

what other markings are on the hose?

i do note FCP and BW are only selling 16121180409 in genuine OE hose these days