Fire

Johnnybgood

Member
I just read a post which mentioned a fire problem. In the summer I'd be doing various jobs on car ouside on the driveway. Replacement electric fuel pump and work on the carbs. When I started the car there was a bump under the bonnet which luckily was open. A perished fuel hose had leaked and a stray spark from a dizzy cap not fitting well caused a fire. The big extinguisher was only a few feet away and it soon did its job. In about a 2 minutes it did around £90 of damage. If the bonnet had been closed that would gone too. I dread to think of the consequences if it had happened while driving. It now has all new fuel hoses and clips and a new fuel pump. So far so good! A lesson learnt.
 
For the cost of fuel hose, its worth replacing even if it looks okay just so you know its new. Consequences can be dire as you've said. I was following a car on a club run some years back getting the occasional smell of petrol. (without a roof you smell everything that's out there) He eventually pulled over and I behind him. He said his fuel gauge must be faulty because he'd used up half a tank in the last half hour. I told him about the smell behind him so we lifted his bonnet to have a look. Much to my surprise and horror, all his fuel lines were a clear braided type resembling water hose and were hard as heck. I tightened all the hose clips so the leaking stopped and sent him home. I made him promise to change all the hoses, even offered to do it for him as its a very easy and cheap job. Never saw him again, must have scared the pants of him. (the close call, not me) .
 
Hi, When replacing fuel hose make sure it's SAE J30 R9 or R10 spec, Preferably Gates or Cohline. Don't get it off ebay, get it from a reputable dealer. There's a lot of counterfeit hose about, if they can fake the hose they can fake the printing on it.

Colin
 
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