Fuel line fittings; what did I do?

[auldscott]

I’ll add my two cents and strongly suggest that owners of outboards buy OEM fuel line connectors, even though they cost a bit more. Been there, done that with cracked o-rings.

Like many, I recently bought an aftermarket fuel line and after reading the article about the liner coming loose, pitched it ($) and bought fuel line from my local boat dealer. It’s gray, and it has a liner (EPA permeation standards at work here) but the dealer indicated that it is what they use for all boats, regardless of size or HP, and that the liner was not a problem. They knew exactly what I was talking about when I told them about the loose liner in the aftermarket line. Warning: I paid $3 a foot. Cheap insurance, in the end.

[amuller]

I use auto-parts-store black fuel hose, as you suggest.

There are so many problems with rubber hose in mogas service, I’m wondering whether it might be worth considering various plastic tubes such as:
https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/files … s/FUEL.pdf .

[Alan]

Appreciated.
So, now I put it together; I think the liner collapsed on me while on the lake. Not just the o-rings.
I struggled to get it to fill the carb bowl, pumping away madly on the primer just to get back to the dock. Wouldn’t seem to draw fuel consistently. For some reason.
I think I’m done w/ liners. I’ll see what else I can find, and post the results later.
I’ve used a form of the plastic hose pictured in the link above, and it works great for lines under the hood. I don’t know that I’d want to use it for the external tank to motor line; too many sharp corners and other hazards, I’d guess.
I’ll report back, if anything interesting happens.
Many thanks;
Alan
PS, looks like O’reilly’s has Gates marine fuel hose; I’ll go see if it has a cruddy plastic liner. Even if it’s $100 and only sold in 25′ rolls. Seriously, I can hear mine crackle, when I move it. Loose!

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[david-bartlett]

quote Calan:

Appreciated.
So, now I put it together; I think the liner collapsed on me while on the lake. Not just the o-rings.
I struggled to get it to fill the carb bowl, pumping away madly on the primer just to get back to the dock. Wouldn’t seem to draw fuel consistently. For some reason.
I think I’m done w/ liners. I’ll see what else I can find, and post the results later.
I’ve used a form of the plastic hose pictured in the link above, and it works great for lines under the hood. I don’t know that I’d want to use it for the external tank to motor line; too many sharp corners and other hazards, I’d guess.
I’ll report back, if anything interesting happens.
Many thanks;
Alan
PS, looks like O’reilly’s has Gates marine fuel hose; I’ll go see if it has a cruddy plastic liner. Even if it’s $100 and only sold in 25′ rolls. Seriously, I can hear mine crackle, when I move it. Loose!

Alan,

I had the same thing happen to me while on the lake in rough water. The last thing you need is a fuel delivery issue.

I went with Gates fuel line from Napa. It is the non-fuel injected stuff and looks like what you pictured. Much cheaper than the "Marine" version.

I also like to use the OEM connector if at all possible. The Chinese versions will not last!

[Mumbles]

Here’s a link to an older thread about modern fuel lines.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9636&p=50013&hilit=liner#p50013

[jerry-ahrens]

The black Gates stuff will work just fine, but it hates the UV from the sun.. it will eventually get black all over your hands when handling it. It does not meet Coast guard regulations for above deck fuel line though, use at your own risk. But with a little common sense, it will do the job.

[amuller]

Agree that many of the "plastic" lines are probably too stiff and subject to kinking to be good with portable tanks. But possibly some aren’t.

I was thinking about reinstalling a bow tank in my "new" Crestliner, and wondering what to use to run through the bilge to the stern.

[Author]

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