BEWARE of Russell Proflex fuel line from Summit

[mrmustang]

The problem here is that the russell line is aromatic when used with modern "cooked" style gasoline. The extra additives are what is "weeping" through the line itself. No other explanation is needed, as the line is just not right for the application when used in long runs. Why, simple, in short runs, it's still going to be aromatic, but seeing that there is a small amount of line, your never going to notice it (it is within normal parameters
). With the longer run of line, your going to increase the aromatic problem ten fold, which is where you run in to problems with the smell and fumes.......XRP and Goodyear (along with one other that slips my mind this morning) use a teflon lined braided line specifically for long runs of fuel line.........Both the teflon, and regular braided line are rated for over 500PSI, so the issue of fuel pressure in our applications is not the cause either.............


Hope this helps to clear up some of the misunderstandings from above.................


Sincerely,

Bill S.

[arthurr]

See aviation warning about hose. http://www.casa.gov.au/avreg/aircraf...RT-6/6-046.HTM

[petek]

Thanks for the link arthurr! And Bill, you've confirmed it too ... there is a change in the formulation of gasoline that has caused the problem. I'm sure if Carroll Smith were still alive he'd be updating his book to say don't use the Aeroquip 601 line anymore and to go to the newer teflon lines.

... and I've got a new project for my Cobra!

[maxrpm]

Originally posted by petek


I'm sure if Carroll Smith were still alive he'd be updating his book to say don't use the Aeroquip 601 line anymore and to go to the newer teflon lines.

but...I'm still alive and.....four posts ago I reccommended upgrading to the new fuel friendly s/s braided lines because the old ones were porous, but no one seemed to believe me. This whole s/s braided line thing is old news to me, I dealt with it 3 years ago. Oh well...

[arthurr]

Ok. So after some research it looks like the porosity of Teflon coated braided steel line is very low. Accordingly, this may be the way to go even on longer line runs. Anyone had issues with this type of line?

[petek]

Maxrpm,

"...but no one seemed to believe me..."

Nothing personal and I hope you didn't take offence. Carroll Smith was fairly well famous (all sorts of racing, GT40s for example) and if Mr. Smith said that paper soda straws were the way to go, well, I'd tend to believe him.

His texts list Aeroquip 601 as the dog's bullocks for piping gas. But as you have experienced and arthurr documented with a mechanical notice from Aeroquip themselves, there is now a problem with gasoline and the rubber used in the hoses.

My car is plumbed with Aeroquip lines, not Russel or Earls (although I do have some Earls fittings). It was concievable to me that one manufacturer might have a problem (as you've experienced) but others might be ok.

I hate to think of the number of street and race cars that have stainless steel braided fuel lines that will begin to exhibit the problem ... and I thank you for bringing the problem to everyone's attention!

[Michael C Henry]

Anybody catch speed channels nbs 24/7.I remember it was one of Terry Bradshaw's NASCAR Bush series cars had a engine failure found a ss braided hose with the inside seperated causing a blockage in a large oil line.Big bucks$$

[maxrpm]

Pete, I cried for about an hour but now I'm all better
To answer arthurrs question, I have to admit I still used s/s braided line during my Cobras fuel system installation but it was the teflon inner and only 8" from the sump to the fuel pump and again two 6" from the regulator to the carb inlets, the rest is 1/2" alum. tubing. I originally used 1/2" rubber fuel line where the sections of brailed lines are but NHRA gave me a hard time about it, so I reluctantly replaced them with the upgraded lines. That was two years ago and no problems...yet. The only problem is we know rubber lines deteriorate but we can visually inspect their condition unlike the s/s lines. After all this talk I'm probably going to go ahead and replace the 2yr old sections and dissect the old sections although I know some people with 3+ yrs on their upgraded s/s lines. (cheap ins. you know) I'll give a report on my findings...if anyone is interested
Ed