Graham376
Well-Known Member
You are not supposed to use copper with diesel.
Every boat I've owned has had copper fuel pipes from new, including current one which has been fine for 33 years so, it doesn't seem to be a problem.
You are not supposed to use copper with diesel.
You don't have a fuel shut off in the feed from the tank?
Visit a car mechanic- brake pipe is a copper alloy (cunifer?) and can be flared and easily joined with proper threaded fittings. The final join to the heater fuel pump can be made with a short rubber hose over the outside of the pipe and the heater stub.
Buy yourself a decent fuel filter too- those cav units are from the 1950s and are nothing but trouble waiting for a lee shore!
With the engine running would the supply to the heater be subject to some sort of pressure problem with the heater running?
Every boat I've owned has had copper fuel pipes from new, including current one which has been fine for 33 years so, it doesn't seem to be a problem.
Drill and tap filter outlet blanking plate for this fitting:
1/8
…then join plastic fuel pipe to barb using a silicon tubing sleeve with 2 or 3mm ID such as this:
Silicone Fuel Tubing 2.3mm I/D 1.6mm Wall - RC Nitro Fuel Line Tube
What's wrong with the filter? It's got a replaceable cartridge and a glass bowl.
- W
If ever you have to change a CAV filter in lumpy sea, with your head down inside a hot engine bay smelling of diesel you'll find out. I only had to do that once and now have a spin-on filter.
That’s a curious response. They do sell things in countries other than the UK don’t they?Thanks Fred. Not in the UK just now, though
- W
Yeah, but it's not likely to happen if you keep an eye on the glass bowl and drain any crud, surely?
- W
According to some suppliers normal silicone tubing is not recommended for fuel/oil as it is somewhat porous to it but in practice the silicone sleeve I used exactly as you recommended has worked for 7 years although is has discoloured as the red diesel has been absorbed by the silicone.Drill and tap filter outlet blanking plate for this fitting:
1/8…then join plastic fuel pipe to barb using a silicon tubing sleeve with 2 or 3mm ID such as this:
Silicone Fuel Tubing 2.3mm I/D 1.6mm Wall - RC Nitro Fuel Line Tube
I think you may be able to use plastic tube if it has sufficient wall thickness/ rigidity such as that supplied with an Eber' in a compression fitting.It would work if using copper
- W