FUEL LINES & FILTERS – PREVENTING FIRE
One issue with our classic vehicles which appears to be one of the most controversial and arguably one of the most important is fuel lines.
We’ve all seen those shocking pictures of someone’s pride and joy burnt out or badly fire damaged by the side of the road or even worse, by the side of your home and then read the ensuing comments of conflicting advice, information, arguments and opinions.
What we are about to show you and explain is based on over 30 years of experience working on, restoring and servicing all aspects of classic motoring.
Firstly, why do we need to check our fuel lines?
Due to environmental issues, cost implications and a host of other reasons, modern day fuel contains high levels of Ethanol (A renewable alcohol-based fuel) which burns more cleanly than traditional petrol and has an increased octane rating. These are the positive sides to ethanol use in fuel.
The negatives are that it contains less energy than traditional fuel, so you get less miles to the gallon and it absorbs water, even from condensation. The most severe issue when it comes to our classic vehicle engines however is that ethanol is corrosive and can slowly eat through cork and rubber seals and hoses. Modern day engines are built to withstand this and so it is much less of an issue.
When we leave our vehicles stood for long periods of time as is often the case with classics and campers, which may not be used during the colder months, modern fuel can sit eating away at fuel lines and corroding the joins and seals around fuel filters and carbs etc.
When this happens and the conditions are just right, fuel may leak from these hoses and slowly drip in and around your vehicle. As the fuel is evaporating it converts to gas, and this is where we can run into potentially devastating problems. All it takes is a spark and this gas and fuel can ignite.
There are obvious advantages to using premium unleaded fuels as these contain much less Ethanol (and in some cases zero). A quick google on ‘UK ethanol free fuels’ can help you to find the best fuel for your vehicle. However, it is often unavoidable and clearly more expensive.
So how can we reduce the risk and prevent potential fires?
Checking fuel lines is a crucial part of maintenance and something which is included in all our vehicle Health Checks which you can find out more about here: https://www.182classicmotors.co.uk/our-services/
Replacing old hoses and ensuring a proper tight seal is key to preventing fuel leaks. We only use barbed fuel filters and premium jubilee clips to attach hoses. These barbs make It virtually impossible to remove the hoses from the filter and so significantly reduce any risk of them slipping free and causing any leaks.
Now the question of fuel filter placement. Where is the best place to fit a fuel filter? We will use a late VW bay window in this example, but the reasons and explanations apply to any vehicle really.
Placing the filter in the engine bay:
Traditionally fuel filters have been fitted in our engine bays and both fuel lines and filters are easily accessible for maintenance and checking. In all our years of experience, we have never had a single filter/hose fail and cause a fire as a result of fitting them here. This is because regular checking and replacement of old hoses, seals and filters is both convenient and obvious every time you open your engine bay.
Placing the filter underneath your vehicle and away from the engine bay:
Positioning filters outside of the engine bay and underneath your vehicle has the advantage of being well ventilated. This means that should a leak develop; fuel will drip out under the vehicle and dissipate into the surrounding air reducing the risk of building up as gas inside your engine bay. Of course, with regular checks and proper maintenance this should not be an issue. This is no guarantee that a fire can’t occur as If the vehicle is stationary, gasses could still build up and any sparks could still combust leaking fuel. The disadvantage of this placement is that you are far less likely to notice any issues with fuel lines and filters when they are hidden. Unless you have a ramp or remember to crawl underneath your vehicle, you are likely to forget about them and this is when you may run into issues.
So, in our opinion, we prefer to install fuel filters properly in the engine bay where they can be easily maintained and checked for any issues. However, if you prefer for a filter to be relocated underneath your vehicle, we are happy to do this for you. There is no right and wrong placement, only pros and cons to both. The key thing and best way to reduce any risk is to check regularly and replace fuel lines and filters.
For any information or help replacing, fuel lines or filters, please don’t hesitate to call, email or visit us at our workshop in Sutton-on-Trent we are just off the A1 and always, happy to talk to fellow enthusiasts about the vehicles we hold so dear.