Split fuel hose

[pjsgsy]

Just thought I'd share a little precautionary tale!

The other day when I got back in from a short trip out, I could smell diesel. I thought it might have been just exhaust, but on checking around the engine, there was diesel over it. Started it up yesterday to find the source and it was spraying in fairly significant quantities from this hose, right over top of engine! ?

Anyway - The point of posting was, the engine is clean, and well maintained, and I check hoses etc. But, I realise now it's pretty impossible to inspect a braid-covered hose! On removal, I would note that the old hose seems stiffer than the new 'flexible' same original part I replaced it with (in the photo). So, I would suggest perhaps replacing these every X years in accordance with the manual, or, when perhaps when they appear to get stiff (and thus maybe less flexible). In my case, having a barbed banjo connector on board so I could make up and emergency fuel hose rather than source an original part would probably also be a good idea!

Safe boating folks. (I'm very thankful I don't have a petrol engine, or ???)

 

[jaminb]

I have cloth braided hoses on a type 2 camper. I absolutely shat my pants when they gave up the ghost and petrol was tss tss tss ing off the exhaust and heat exchangers. Hoses were 15 years old.

 

[Plum]

Just thought I'd share a little precautionary tale!

The other day when I got back in from a short trip out, I could smell diesel. I thought it might have been just exhaust, but on checking around the engine, there was diesel over it. Started it up yesterday to find the source and it was spraying in fairly significant quantities from this hose, right over top of engine! ?

Anyway - The point of posting was, the engine is clean, and well maintained, and I check hoses etc. But, I realise now it's pretty impossible to inspect a braid-covered hose! On removal, I would note that the old hose seems stiffer than the new 'flexible' same original part I replaced it with (in the photo). So, I would suggest perhaps replacing these every X years in accordance with the manual, or, when perhaps when they appear to get stiff (and thus maybe less flexible). In my case, having a barbed banjo connector on board so I could make up and emergency fuel hose rather than source an original part would probably also be a good idea!

Safe boating folks. (I'm very thankful I don't have a petrol engine, or ???)

View attachment 140526

Well done. Thanks for sharing. Totally agreee, braided metal shielding is not a good idea as it prevents inspection. Unbraided hose should be date marked/ printed so you know its age. Obviously, you still need to manage abrasion/chafe.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[CM74]

C

I have cloth braided hoses on a type 2 camper. I absolutely shat my pants when they gave up the ghost and petrol was tss tss tss ing off the exhaust and heat exchangers. Hoses were 15 years old.

There's some crap quality cloth braided hose around - I had some sold as being compliant, petrol proof etc but once it had petrol in it (E5 not E10 as well) it went very floppy. Spilled petrol on the braid made it come away from the rubber too.
Awful awful stuff

 

[tudorsailor]

On our last trip, we smelt diesel. Looked under the engine and bilge was awash with diesel. Turns out the hose for the diesel return had split and come off the spigot (if thats the right name). It was a veritable waterfall. The engineers who replaced all hoses a couple of years ago had used cable ties rather than jubillee clips to secure the hose. The reason given is that the metal jubillee clips could damage the hose
So 18L of diesel pumped out the bilge and then discarded. Not easy till I thought to use the Pela pump I have on board
Ugh

TS