Fuel lines... Copper pipe or hose?

[PilotWolf]

Fuel companies seem to advise against using copper or other yellow metal in contact with diesel, it can cause breakdown and the formation of tar-like stuff.
Metal pipe is of course more fire resistant.

It seems to me that if you have enough water and crud in your tank to block one filter, there is very likely enough to block both.
It's been suggested that the 'spare' filter could draw from higher up the tank.

Find a company that makes up hoses and tell them exactly what you need.

We had to replace several hoses to MCA fire resistant (?proof) fuel lines.

W.

 

[Uricanejack]

Fuel companies seem to advise against using copper or other yellow metal in contact with diesel, it can cause breakdown and the formation of tar-like stuff.
Metal pipe is of course more fire resistant.

It seems to me that if you have enough water and crud in your tank to block one filter, there is very likely enough to block both.
It's been suggested that the 'spare' filter could draw from higher up the tank.

Common practice even on very small commercial vessels to have duel filters, with a simple switch over on fuel and lubrication filters. A requirement I believe on anything over 500 hp or KW.
The idea isn’t so much to change filters after a blockage, more to enable regular change and cleaning of filters while plant is running. Preventing blockages in the first place. As part of routine watch.

Never felt the need to fit to my 28hp yanmar. If it quits, I use the sails.
It came with hose, so long as it’s approved for use as fuel hose and insurance is happy. I’m happy.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

Copper and FAME don't like each other, so if you are in the habit of using, for example, forecourt white, then flexible is the preferred choice.

That is a potential risk for me them, with an old boat, copper lines and using fuel from a variety of sources on my travels.
But what do you mean by 'don't like'?

 

[KellysEye]

We had copper pipes and all they did was get small leaks, air in diesel out engine cuts out. I replaced it wth normal diesel hose.

 

[Iliade]

I use malleable copper pipe and only have fittings at each end. Almost the best of both worlds.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Now you've mentioned s/s, any problem with ordinary steel tube?

I used schedule 10 steel pipe for LPG and hydraulic steering and hatch lifters.

This was done during construction so very easy at that time but would be very difficult afterwards.

You still need to protect the outside of the steel pipe from rusting.

 

[ffiill]

Mine is all copper except for a short section of hose to allow for the engine moving on its flexible mounts.

The same and my fixed copper is still going strong 40 years on

 

[Graham_Wright]

My current setup up has a 30 cm copper pipe coming out of the tank and into the original pre filter. With the space I have, it will be easier replacing this copper pipe with hose.
Cheers
Paul

Big engine?

(Or do you mean length?)

 

[Pye_End]

That is a potential risk for me them, with an old boat, copper lines and using fuel from a variety of sources on my travels.
But what do you mean by 'don't like'?

Plenty of research papers on the subject eg. https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/portal/files/20708132/Norouzi_Paper_Corrected.pdf

A quick look at 1 or 2 engine installation manuals seem to follow the advice of using flexible, presumably for this reason.

3 or 4 years ago I started using forecourt white in a bid to start the change to white as it looked as though this would be necessary. However at the end of the season the colour in the tank was significantly darker than the original red. After some digging it looks as though it was due to fuel deterioration due to FAME with copper pipes. Since then I have reverted to marine red and the original colour has been restored.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

Plenty of research papers on the subject eg. https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/portal/files/20708132/Norouzi_Paper_Corrected.pdf

A quick look at 1 or 2 engine installation manuals seem to follow the advice of using flexible, presumably for this reason.

3 or 4 years ago I started using forecourt white in a bid to start the change to white as it looked as though this would be necessary. However at the end of the season the colour in the tank was significantly darker than the original red. After some digging it looks as though it was due to fuel deterioration due to FAME with copper pipes. Since then I have reverted to marine red and the original colour has been restored.

Thanks very useful. So until I can replace the copper with modern hoses and fittings, I will try and use marine red, and make sure any garage white gets used up quickly.