Fuel line leak

2Cross

2Cross

Caught the Bug
Was running CliffHanger in Moab last week when my fuel line began leaking. Started with 3/4 tank and had 1/4 tank when we were on the CliffHanger obstacle. Tried to tape it up to slow it down with electrical tape. It helped and I was able to drive it back to Moab. We flew down the trail get home. The fuel is coming from the compression fitting close to the transmission.

So thoughts are I could drop the tank and put in a an entire new fuel line or cut out the leaking portion and replace with fuel line and clamp it. Thoughts? I am leaning to just repairing it instead of replacing the entire line. Take some fuel injection hose and hose clamps
Picture of where fuel leak is.
IMG_1136.jpg

IMG_1081.jpg
Wrong line?

IMG_1084.jpg
The start of the leak
 
I have not seen good results with custom clamped FI lines. Pressure is too high and clamp doesn't hold. I would replace it.
 
assuming you checked the compression fitting and it's seated properly?

the line is at least 50psi.

guess if you could get enough fuel injection hose over the tubes to get a good leak proof fit it may hold up but, I'd be concerned about the heat.

seems it would be as much work to cut and hose as it would be to replace the line and be done with it.
 
I was on a fire road one year ago with a lot of snow. The trail was very easy. I just got through a small pot hole and i was so unlucky that there was a small wood which moved in a way that cut my fuel line. My engine stalled and i left the jeep one the trail, went to town and brought two clamps and a line same diameter as mine. Repaired the line, left the trail and it worked just fine. Being to lazy and probably not doing the right thing after one year, several miles and several off road trips i still run the custom clamped fuel line with zero issues!

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jknikos said:
I was on a fire road one year ago with a lot of snow. The trail was very easy. I just got through a small pot hole and i was so unlucky that there was a small wood which moved in a way that cut my fuel line. My engine stalled and i left the jeep one the trail, went to town and brought two clamps and a line same diameter as mine. Repaired the line, left the trail and it worked just fine. Being to lazy and probably not doing the right thing after one year, several miles and several off road trips i still run the custom clamped fuel line with zero issues!

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Click to expand...

Ha, That was my thought.
 
jeeeep said:
assuming you checked the compression fitting and it's seated properly?

the line is at least 50psi.

guess if you could get enough fuel injection hose over the tubes to get a good leak proof fit it may hold up but, I'd be concerned about the heat.

seems it would be as much work to cut and hose as it would be to replace the line and be done with it.
Click to expand...

The compression fitting isn't seated and that's why I think taping it helped me limp off of the trail. I don't think it's repairable.

WJCO said:
I have not seen good results with custom clamped FI lines. Pressure is too high and clamp doesn't hold. I would replace it.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I Think I will jerry rig it for now and then buy the replacement line and fix it once I have a free afternoon.

black pearl said:
I personally would replace the whole line.


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Click to expand...

Thanks Black Pearl.
 
Ordered a replacement fuel line from the dealer that will be here the middle of next week. In the meantime I removed the hose and found the source of the leak. You can see a slit in the hose

IMG_1138.jpg

Here it is next to my jerry rigged hose
IMG_1139.jpg


Installed. I don't like that it is near the elbow on the line. Will probably fail but works for now.
IMG_1142.jpg
 
one thing I've noticed on my jeep when I have a leak at a crimp, once I remove the crimp the hose is IMO too large for the tubing and the crimp has the hose bunched up instead of clamping tight all around.
 
2Cross said:
Ordered a replacement fuel line from the dealer that will be here the middle of next week. In the meantime I removed the hose and found the source of the leak. You can see a slit in the hose

View attachment 284581

Here it is next to my jerry rigged hose
View attachment 284582


Installed. I don't like that it is near the elbow on the line. Will probably fail but works for now.
View attachment 284583
Click to expand...

If you have a flare tool, I would lightly flare the ends were you cut the tubing. It will help from the line blowing off , from the pressure.


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Assuming that the line fails and blows from pressure what will be the consequences? The motor of course will stall and some fuel will spill but if gas goes on the hot exhaust will be able to cause fire? I dont want to be the negative thinker but what if?

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jknikos said:
Assuming that the line fails and blows from pressure what will be the consequences? The motor of course will stall and some fuel will spill but if gas goes on the hot exhaust will be able to cause fire? I dont want to be the negative thinker but what if?

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Click to expand...

I have seen fires start from gas hitting exhaust, but most likely the engine will just stall. Injectors have to be pressurized. So once the pressure is lost, engine will stall. But with the key still on, the fuel pump will stay on and keep spraying fuel.
 
WJCO said:
I have seen fires start from gas hitting exhaust, but most likely the engine will just stall. Injectors have to be pressurized. So once the pressure is lost, engine will stall. But with the key still on, the fuel pump will stay on and keep spraying fuel.
Click to expand...

this ^^^

but it the system will shut the pump off at about 20 seconds once the wrong pressure is sensed ..I can tell you from experience it will pump a hell of a lot of fuel in those 20 seconds

personally, I wouldn't want fuel spraying onto the catalytic converter
 
I turned the key to flush the line after cutting the fuel line to make the repair. The fuel pump stopped within a second and there still was a lot of fuel on my drain pain below the jeep.
I am replacing the entire line since I figure the entire line is fatigued. Just had to special order it and it won't be here for a while. I will give an update once I get the line and have time to install it. December is busy. I don't want to go out on another trail run until it is repaired correctly.
 
One week for a fuel line?
Wtf

Go to your local auto parts store with the old line. Any decent shop should be able to cut and crimp that line with the proper fittings within minutes.
 
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