Fuel Smell

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Just because the braided lines look ok, they may be hard as rocks and crack easily. BTW, my AK is a 1988.

And so what do you think your brake flex lines are like? I am always amazed at how people ignore 20-30 year old brake lines........

[rodneym]

Good point. With the gas lines I had a warning with a leak. Plus the lines were hard as can be. When I removed them from the hard lines, they broke off in chunks.
The brakes lines are pliable and appear ok. No leaking, cracking, etc. I'll definitely give the once over. Twice.

[CobraKurt]

Mystery Gas/Fuel Odor Problem- SOLVED !! Hey everyone- I had to share regardless...
I am the proud owner of CSX-4970 427 S/C (also own 05 Ford GT). Since buying my wonderful machine last summer I began noticing a mystery odor of gas in the garage, even after a few hours of storage. I did all the research I could, checked all connections possible etc and no sign of a fuel leak anywhere. I brought the car to the local "high-end exotics dealer/mechanic" for some advice/repairs and was given a misguided diagnosis and grossly ripped off. Smell and obvious fire/explosion hazard still very much there- not even an improvement.
I then luckily heard through my car-guy network that there is a MAJOR problem with the ethanol infused pump gas being forced down our throats... Especially in metropolitan areas of the country.. It seems the ethanol alcohol being put into our gas literally eats through the rubber fuel lines of our cars, causing no actual "leaks", but allowing fuel vapors to permeate the rubber and accumulate in any confined area- like a garage... And obviously the stainless steel braiding around the rubber does not help the problem. Unfortunately, nor does the TEFLON insulated fuel lines.. They keep the problem at bay a few weeks longer but they too succumb to the ethanol eating through them...
I called the good folks at Aeroquip and they honestly and confirmed all of the above.. I asked the Aeroquip rep,
".. then what do I do to solve this potentially dangerous problem?".. He said, ".. Replace the SS braided fuel lines with Aluminum hard lines, preferably 1/2". ... I did so and PROBLEM SOLVED... what a relief... Hope this is useful.. Best to all.. Cobra Kurt...