Fuel Rail Leak

[AgingGeek]

Hi, When running the car on the drive the other day, I have noticed a very slight drip of petrol coming from the fuel rail and dripping down onto the exhaust manifold. Thankfully the car isn't being driven!

I am guessing the best thing to do would be to remove the rubber hosing on fuel rails and replace it (and the jubilee clips) and clean up the connection ends.

I guess this is simple, but I was wondering if there is anything I should be aware of when doing this? I am guessing some fuel will leak out when I disconnect it, but without the pump running it should be a small amount.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions for the right fuel hose to buy?

Here is the circled area where its dripping from. The car is on an angle down towards the front, so its likely tracking down the pipe and forming here and dripping.

Many thanks for any advice!

 

[Faster Behr]

Any 5/16” bore (8mm) fuel injection rated hose will be ok. I use Gates because that’s what I’ve always used. The stock fuel rail should be running at 37psi (2.5bar). Whilst not mega pressure, it’s certainly not insignificant. I also use good quality single bolt clamps.

The hoses from the injectors to the rail itself are 50mm long and there is a technique for replacing those. Essentially you burn them through with a soldering iron tip to release the hose off the barbs on the injectors. Sans fuel of course. I believe that’s what the factory manual suggests for method. I’ve done that twice and it works great.

You should depressurise the system first before working on it. I just have a rag under it and pop a hose off. You’ll get a spurt but nothing to worry about. Cold engine and battery disconnected for good measure.

 

[Makesy]

Interesting @Faster Behr . Sounds a lot better than my method. I cut the old hoses off then push fit new hoses on. It leaked like hell and so I binned off the lot and went to an aftermarket o-ring injector system

 

[Faster Behr]

Haha well I can only tell you what I did! The little upturned collet washers between the injectors and the bottom of the hoses make using a knife difficult but not impossible. I didnt want to scar the barbs so just followed what I’d read and used the soldering iron method. Come to think of it, I’m sure the procedure is actually in the factory EFi manual

Note that the fuel rail does need to be screwed back on to the inlet manifold otherwise the fuel pressure can blow the hoses back off the injector barbs anyway. Ask me how I know - a la the recent spray pattern test I carried out with the rail off the car. Ugh.

On the second one I did I added extra single bolt clamps at the base of the injectors.

I do agree that an aftermarket rail with o ring injectors is far superior in this regard though.

 

[AgingGeek]

thank you both, I think I might be out of my depth here Maybe time to find a local mobile mechanic

 

[Makesy]

In honesty, I was naive and inexperienced, using expert guess work. In a moment of genius I nearly took my eye out with pressurised brake cleaner.

I'm now a little more experienced and realised that it was a false economy trying to get the old system up and running.

I'd advocate replacing the system if it's having issues, but appreciate that can become quite costly.