Steel Braided Fuel Lines

4th April 2010, 22:59

Peeps,

A while ago, I replaced some sections of my fuel lines with stainless steel braided PTFE pipe. The pipes ran through into the engine bay and hooked upto my FSE pressure reg'.

Now I've removed the FSE and am running a std config fuel regulator, I have tried to piece together the fuel lines in the engine bay. This is getting a tad complicated, with the swaiged connections, etc, etc, as I am coupling upto the threaded unions, I had to match the FSE.

I had a make-up piece made last week to convert the pipes to the connections I need, but I'm concerned that one of the 90deg couplings that has been swaiged on the return line is too small and may create back pressure, which I dont want. I think Im gonna end up replacing the lines in one go, and leave some kind of (std or other) quick release coupling, to disconnect when the engine is removed.

Anyway... to my point...

So far, Ive been working with the standard Citroen push on fuel clips, which to be honest are a bit of a pain in the ass when using swaiged fittings (and re-using them).

What have you other peeps done when converting to ptfe pipes? Ditched the standard fuel rail push-on connectors, used them, done away with them and gone for one-straight length back to the tank? I'm planning to use swaiged connections, as I know its a good tight seal, but using aeroquip or similar fittings would be more convenient.

Can you buy the citroen-style push on connectors from somewhere??

Any thoughts?

Out of interest, does anyone have a gut feel for the normal return flowrate of fuel back to the tank?

4th April 2010, 23:20

IMO a straight run of pipe from rail to tank would be easiest, get those sodding citroen connectors out the way. then put an aeroquip quick release fitting in the line at some point, accessible for engine changes and the like.

5th April 2010, 09:21

return rate?
that will depend how much power you are running ,the return linca always be samller if using std fuel pump ,and std fuel pump will be fine for your power .and no I know of no push on type fittings same as cit .
If going for swaged ,then i would go for a new fuel rail so you can use jic6 fitings

5th April 2010, 14:03

Thanks for your input guys. I've decided to scrap the make-up pieces I made and replace the lines from the fuel rail to my threaded connections beside the master cylinder area.

I've removed the std fuel lines and mocked up with my spare fuel rail. I'm planning to get the std push-on fittings crimped onto some braided fuel hose and have threaded ends swaiged on the other end. Will be a neater job and still give me what I need. I'm planning to retain the std fuel rail.

John, my query about the return flowrate was so I could see if the fitting I had fab'd was going to be too small. I dont have any feel for the flowrate the std fuel pump delivers. Obv', the return flow will depend upon pressure and injector duty.

Anyway, As Im junking the 'problem fitting', I dont suppose this matters. But if anyone does have a flowrate in their mind, please shout up. Based on injector size/duty, a return rate could be estimated.

More info here >> http://www.saxperience.com/forum/sho...85#post4275785

5th April 2010, 15:43

a 6-8mm return pipe will be big enough with std pump

5th April 2010, 16:06

Yeah, that was my problem. The standard pipe is 5mm ID. One of the fittings I had incorporated, was down at approx. 2.5mm through a 90deg bend.

Without knowing the return flow, I couldn't decide if this was gonna be a shop-stopper or not. I guessed it wouldn't be great

With your comment about not using the std rail, I've been pondering, then read in willsy's thread about the AT fuel rail. This is a good alternative, but not sure its worth the extra hassle, with the only benefit I can see being a threaded inlet/outlet (for my install), but then requiring a different FPR. Looks like dead money...

Any other view on this John?

6th April 2010, 11:31

New pipes now fab'd... Will get them on the car and pressure tested tonight hopefully.