Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Vicar on 16 September 2014, 20:56:25

Title: rejuvenate.
Post by: Vicar on 16 September 2014, 20:56:25
Hi folks. Having enjoyed using my ole motor for passed few weeks I am thinking I should start to treat the car to new items which will consist of, plugs, oil filters etc. I remember rightly, these have a external fuel filter outside of the tank? Are they easy to find and then fit, considering renewing the fuel line with copper one that I have excess of also, just so there's no cr@p left over. Are these fuel lines all rubber through to the front?
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Nick W on 16 September 2014, 22:19:20
Except for the rubber hoses near the engine, the fuel lines are nylon pipe just like most cars for the last forty(at least) years. Why would you want to use copper for this? And how do you intend to join them to the specific fittings?
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Broomies Mate on 16 September 2014, 22:41:52
Are you even permitted to use metal lines for fuel anymore?  :-\
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: chrisgixer on 16 September 2014, 22:46:51
Why on earth would copper fuel lines be needed?
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Vicar on 16 September 2014, 22:48:21
Not quite sure on the two questions above. Have fitted copper line before and it's same size as was the nylon, I swapped it for so attached it in the usual way. Fuel pipe clamp onto 7mm rubber hose to intake area. Are copper pipes not allowed on cars?
Had thought copper line renewing the old nylon would be way forward, obviously not. :-[
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: chrisgixer on 16 September 2014, 23:01:49
Forward from what though. Copper was once used on lpg installs, now replaced by nylon. There are no known faults with the fuel lines. Its less likely to fracture. Is flexible and so less likely to leak or rupture if caught by debris from underneath.

What advantages do you see with copper...?

Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: The Red Baron on 16 September 2014, 23:23:40
Forward from what though. Copper was once used on lpg installs, now replaced by nylon. There are no known faults with the fuel lines. Its less likely to fracture. Is flexible and so less likely to leak or rupture if caught by debris from underneath.

What advantages do you see with copper...?

none at a guess, i would leave well alone tbh.  ;)
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Broomies Mate on 16 September 2014, 23:26:41
I think the OP wanted to remove as much crud as possible from the fuel system.  Seeing as OP has loads of copper pipe floating about, it seemed like a good idea to replace the fuel lines whilst under the car.

Back to OP - The filter, if doing it's job, would have stopped the crud from entering the fuel lines, ergo, no problemo.  :y
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Vicar on 16 September 2014, 23:29:04
I didn't see any advantage apart from just clean line and happen to have copper one lying about. I may leave it alone but I'll check on state of pipe when I renew the fuel filter,, I assume that's still fore if the tank and easy to source? :-)
If the filter is passed it's best, then they'll be cruddy lines?
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Broomies Mate on 16 September 2014, 23:59:20
Unless the filter mesh has been compromised, nothing should get through.  :y
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Vicar on 17 September 2014, 00:08:09
Right, fuel line gets left alone then.  :) is the filter freely available? I'll swap that then see what I need under the bonnet. Maybe new leads are due too.
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: TheBoy on 17 September 2014, 18:10:45
Unless you have a specific problem, I'd leave the fuel lines well alone, they give little problem to be honest...

...except the little clips near the fuel filter that can go brittle, and without the right tools, can break when doing filter.

Filters are available most places, I use GM ones from dealer on Tradeclub, due to cost. Worth buying a pair of the clips "just in case", despite their high cost (nearly £1 each IIRC). Saloon piss easy to do, Estate a bit more of a pig. On either, expect a face full of fuel, such a small filter seems to hold a million gallons ;D
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 17 September 2014, 18:14:28
Unless you have a specific problem, I'd leave the fuel lines well alone, they give little problem to be honest...

...except the little clips near the fuel filter that can go brittle, and without the right tools, can break when doing filter.

Filters are available most places, I use GM ones from dealer on Tradeclub, due to cost. Worth buying a pair of the clips "just in case", despite their high cost (nearly £1 each IIRC). Saloon piss easy to do, Estate a bit more of a pig. On either, expect a face full of fuel, such a small filter seems to hold a million gallons ;D
In my experience dealers tend to throw the clips in for nowt :y
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: TheBoy on 17 September 2014, 18:18:59
Unless you have a specific problem, I'd leave the fuel lines well alone, they give little problem to be honest...

...except the little clips near the fuel filter that can go brittle, and without the right tools, can break when doing filter.

Filters are available most places, I use GM ones from dealer on Tradeclub, due to cost. Worth buying a pair of the clips "just in case", despite their high cost (nearly £1 each IIRC). Saloon piss easy to do, Estate a bit more of a pig. On either, expect a face full of fuel, such a small filter seems to hold a million gallons ;D
In my experience dealers tend to throw the clips in for nowt :y
Depends if you pay Retail, Trade or Tradeclub prices ;)
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 September 2014, 19:32:24
I'd also have some spare mini jubilee clips and 10mm fuel line to hand also to do a quick repair if your plastic fuel line at filter end breaks....... speaking from experience  ::)
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Andy H on 17 September 2014, 21:02:28
Why on earth would copper fuel lines be needed?
The single biggest advantage of metal fuel pipes over plastic is fire resistance. Gas supply pipes to buildings are plastic outside but it is illegal to install plastic inside a building.

In motor vehicles the risk of metal fracture is probably as great as any fire risk so no clear advantage either way  :-\
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: chrisgixer on 17 September 2014, 21:05:48
Why on earth would copper fuel lines be needed?
The single biggest advantage of metal fuel pipes over plastic is fire resistance. Gas supply pipes to buildings are plastic outside but it is illegal to install plastic inside a building.

In motor vehicles the risk of metal fracture is probably as great as any fire risk so no clear advantage either way  :-\
So no reason what so ever then. :y
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 September 2014, 22:20:37
Plain copper pipe work hardens, so not ideal in a vehicle where it's subject to vibration. Kunifer pipe is OK, but given that the fuel tank is plastic, a bit of plastic fuel line does no harm and will outlast the car as long as it doesn't get damaged.

Also, with increasing percentages of ethanol in fuel, you need to be careful which metals and rubber components are used in fuel systems. Best to stick with the standard components unless you have a specific reason to go "off piste" IMHO.
Title: Re: rejuvenate.
Post by: Vicar on 18 September 2014, 00:32:09
Thanks for all the above advice. I'll probably get the car on ramps over the weekend and have a look and see. I do remember ducking away from fuel after doing one a while ago. :)