Filthy fuel tank saga

[Jono]

Feeling positive and proactive today. Crawled under car whilst engine running. Pinpointed fuel loss to the place just behind and above rear crossmember. Appears to be simply leaching from the flexible hoses themselves, as opposed to the point where they join the metal lines. The flexi lines have the original fabric braiding. All looked good from the boot inspection place that allows access to sender. No fuel loss there. All my under bonnet lines are good and modern. Oh to have a shiny four-post inspection ramp! Book it in to my local guy on Monday...

[peteracs]

Hi

Typical of old rubber pipes when using new petrol with ethanol. Make sure your guy uses ethanol tolerant pipes or you will have to replace them again sooner rather than later and you run the risk of fire of course. Also make sure they are a named brand, rather than just some generic ones. There are tales of older pipes being re labelled....

Peter

[WestonE]

Normally ethanol tolerant pipes these days are the spec for fuel injection petrol pipes. With good quality stainless clips this should be fit and forget.

Eric

[SanRemo78]

Current advice seems to be to stick to the premium fuels that are maximum E5, should be marked at the pumps. Even this level of Ethanol can be bad for pipes and seals but the new "normal" price fuels will soon all be E10 which is a real killer of rubber pipes. Try to make sure you're buying new fuel lines from reputable sources or getting your local garage to source/fit. They won't want you coming back with a complaint and repeat for free job!

If you've got braided hoses anywhere in your fuel lines I'd also recommend ditching them as soon as possible because you can't see the state of the underlying pipe and, when it does break down, the resultant leak won't be a steady stream but more of a sprayed cloud caused by it being dispersed through the steel braid. And that vaporises quicker and is a lot more explosive. I've had a very lucky escape with the Stratos replica a few years ago....

Guy

[GerardJPC]

Big filter!

[Sandro]

Gerard,

Are you putting that on your beta ? and if so whereabouts ? ( assuming that you already have the Main filter )


Thanks,


A. 

[GerardJPC]

Yes, in between the radiator and the carb, in place of the current filter.  I have had some problems with fuel contamination recently, but hope these problems will be eliminated soon.

[Nigel]

Andrew,
I'm open to correction, but I don't think plastic filters are suitable
for injected cars, as the fuel pressure is a bit too high for them.

I found a metal filter around the same size from my local motor factor,
which would be better for your car.

Regards
Nigel

[WestonE]

Hi Nigel

You are absolutely correct carb lines run at 3- 6 PSI whilst FI runs at 3- 7 BAR a huge difference. Filters breaking under the pressure is a messy explosion in action so not recommended.

FI is no place for weak hose and low quality hose clamps. This is why the OE lines are crimped on for IEs. You can buy double ear O Clamps and top quality stainless hose clamps from Car Builder solutions.

 https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/hoses-and-clips-hose-clips

Fuel Pumps FI Filters, regulators etc

   https://www.glencoeltd.co.uk/malpassi-sytec-fuel-filters-swirl-pots-water-separators/sytec-motorsport-fuel-filters-out-of-tank/

Eric

[Sandro]

Hey thanks Nigel, Eric,

Good you caught me before I charged off and got one. Mine 'is' Injected.

A decent amount of gunk I believe has been collected by the first new 'standard' filter I fitted at the rear last year,
..it ran much better. I'm going to replace this again as a matter of course, I was keen to fit an extra transparent one for the obvious reason that I can 'see' what it's collecting, but also because of ease of access, changing it out etc. If it messes with the regulation of fuel flow I mightn't bother.

I'm looking forward to getting out on the road here soon ( as soon as they stop salting them )

Thanks again for your help,

Andrew.

     

   

[Jono]

My crud filled filter...

[WestonE]

Wow. That is a lot of crud for fuel lines from a tank that was meant to have been cleaned. That is all the evidence necessary that the job was not done properly.

I now suspect that crud in the tank might be the number one source of Beta breakdowns. I know for IEs & VX the lack of a filter before the injection pump is just asking for a ride with the big yellow taxi (AA low loader) and a new FI pump.

BTW the FI pump can be deleted from the VX along with a lot of complex valves and return plumbing by using a facet silvertop competition and a filter king regulator.

Eric

[Sandro]

Wow! WHAT is that inside there! ..did you take a closer look ? ( curious )

Yes believe you're right Eric, Happiness is a clean tank ..oh and lines.


A.

[Jono]

I have looked closer under bright light and magnification... Now after two weeks off the engine all petrol has evaporated. The material is a really fine granular sand-like stuff, just like mud from an estuary. Crazy. The fresh filter I fitted is made by NAPA. Twice the size, drum like in shape, similar to the one earlier in this thread. Autolec have surprised me with several, specific aftermarket Beta spares on their shelf in Newhaven. Handily only three miles from my home. Beta booked in for it's new fuel lines on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, I won't be returning to the people who 'cleaned' my tank. All part of the journey... Jono

[mangocrazy]

Not knowing the back-story - that fine granular stuff couldn't be sand used for blasting your tank, could it?

[Jono]

Well they told me that they ordered an acid solution and washed the tank out that way. A one-use product that is specifically designed to clean tanks without without damaging steel. Apparently it can reveal pinholes if corrosion has been eating away inside. No sand blasting took place that I know of...