Jeff - well, there doesn't seem to be a strong consensus on this
issue. Since the copper line cost me only about $10 and an hour to
install I'm going to follow the advice of the Great Bard and let
discretion be the better part of valor. Off to the auto parts store to
try and buy real fuel line.
Any body need some copper line for your icemaker?
Many thanks to you, Vic, James, Joe, Malcolm, and Dave for taking the
time to respond on this one.
Cheers,
Tom
Subject: Re: Copper Fuel Lines - Bad?
Author: jguy@erinet.com at CCGATE
Date: 4/9/98 5:05 AM
Tom;
I had also read the Dimebank article at the VTR site and had based my reply on
that and my own experience. After doing some more research however, I have
found some sources that state that using copper for fuel line is acceptable.
It is common on boats and yachts. I realize that although I may have seen a
lot of vehicles, I do not see many that are owned by DIY'ers. Come to think of
it, most cars I see will be available for crushing a couple years after their
last car payment has been made. A couple mechanics I asked wanted to know why
I'd "go to all the trouble, they sell fuel line at the parts store", but
otherwise couldn't offer any reason not to use copper.
Maybe I'll do some more research.
Jeff Johnson
ctschmitz@CCGATE.HAC.COM wrote:
> Hey Y'all -
>
> I've just come back from 2 weeks of jury duty and it's taken 4 days to
> get through the digests. There was a thread a week or so ago about
> fuel lines (copper, rubber, steel). My apologies for resurrecting this
> thread, but I have a concern that I didn't see addressed in that
> thread.
>
> I'm in the final stages of completion on my '70 Spit and installed a
> copper fuel line that I fabricated from 1/4" copper tubing that came
> from the local Orchard Supply Hardware, so you know that it is soft
> copper intended for water plumbing use. About two weeks after I put it
> in I came across the following bit of information which was nestled in
> the "Brake Plumbing" article at the Dimebank Garage website.
>
> ". . .little or no warning. (Copper also catalyzes the auto-oxidation
> of fuel, the mechanism of sludge formation. Copper should never be in
> contact with fuel.) The British have developed . . . ."
>
> I haven't gotten to the point of filling the tank and firing the
> engine up, but with today's reformulated fuels this comment kind of
> scares me. The last thing I want in my car is something that is going
> to clog up my SU's.
>
> And now to the concise questions -
>
> Vicky Brit sells copper fuel line kits. Do they use a special alloy
> intended for use in fuel systems?
>
> Are there any chemists out there who can explain the above
> parenthetical quote?
>
> In this context does "fuel" refer to racing fuel and not pump gas?
>
> Do I really need to worry about this and yank the copper tubing and
> install steel?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Tom
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