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Author Topic: Fuel Line help?  (Read 5995 times)

teh Phil

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Fuel Line help?
« on: April 10, 2007, 04:15:41 PM »
So it appears I have a fuel leak. I was on my way to spectate at VIR and I smelled fuel and my car would "bong" (think door chime) every once in a while. I have no idea what this means, but I'm assuming it means that my car is not happy.
When I got home I noticed a few drops of fuel underneath the fuel filter, and I've narrowed it down to the the rubber line that goes INTO the fuel filter. Obviously I'm going to have to replace it, but I'm not quite sure where exactly it goes. It loops up above the filter, then appears to go somewhere above the gas tank (see "diagram" below). Am I going to have to drop the gas tank to replace this? Does anybody have a picture/diagram?
I'm assuming I can just go to the dealer and get a yard or two of rubber hose. I read in another thread that the Inside Diameter is 8mm and the Outside is 13 mm, anybody care to confirm?
Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate it.

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ak96ss

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2007, 07:11:42 PM »
Boy, does that bring back bad memories.

Yes, it leads to a hard line that is on top of the tank, that goes all the way across to the passenger side, to the fuel pump.

You 'may' be able to access it from the top. There is an access port underneath the rear seat bottom. Pull the seat, remove the 4 screws holding the plate down, and have a look-see.

I was not able to access mine, and ended up dropping the tank to replace that line. Which means dropping the exhaust, then dropping the driveshaft, then dropping the tank - ~2 minutes to replace $1.00 worth of hose, then reinstalling everything.

You could always cut the hard line and run rubber down to the filter - and yes, it is 8mm line.
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John in MD
uh, it's a '91 318is, like everyone else...

teh Phil

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2007, 07:30:52 PM »
Quote from: ak96ss;23448
Boy, does that bring back bad memories.

Yes, it leads to a hard line that is on top of the tank, that goes all the way across to the passenger side, to the fuel pump.

You 'may' be able to access it from the top. There is an access port underneath the rear seat bottom. Pull the seat, remove the 4 screws holding the plate down, and have a look-see.

I was not able to access mine, and ended up dropping the tank to replace that line. Which means dropping the exhaust, then dropping the driveshaft, then dropping the tank - ~2 minutes to replace $1.00 worth of hose, then reinstalling everything.

You could always cut the hard line and run rubber down to the filter - and yes, it is 8mm line.


I pulled up both access panels, and all of the lines on top of the tank seem fine, no leaks. The leak is just on the rubber hose, actually right about where the yellow arrow points. All of the rubber hose above that is dry and fuel free. Where to the rubber and hard line meet?
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ak96ss

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2007, 07:38:50 PM »


They meet right at the corner of the tank, where it is most inconvenient to get to.

That's why I had to drop the tank - it was physically impossible for me to reach the worm clamp that holds the rubber line to the hard line.

Like I said, your options really are to drop the tank to replace that rubber, or cut the hard line so that you can reach it through the access port.

Remember that if you opt to cut the line you should flare the end, to help keep it from leaking by ensuring the hose stays on.
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John in MD
uh, it's a '91 318is, like everyone else...

teh Phil

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2007, 08:29:07 PM »
:( This is gonna be a long weekend......
Thanks for the info, though!
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ak96ss

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2007, 09:31:24 PM »
Cut the line.  Really.

:D
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John in MD
uh, it's a '91 318is, like everyone else...

teh Phil

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2007, 08:32:49 AM »
Quote from: ak96ss;23466
Cut the line.  Really.

:D

I really hate taking shortcuts, but I'm a college student and I'm going home for the weekend just to fix this.....I'm considering it.
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teh Phil

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2007, 05:55:05 PM »
That.....was a pain in the ass.
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ak96ss

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2007, 06:56:37 PM »
ROFL.

Boy, do I know where you are coming from!
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John in MD
uh, it's a '91 318is, like everyone else...

D. Clay

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2007, 03:02:49 PM »
I remembered the Chevy Monza with the V8 from the 70's. To get to the right rear spark plug  you had to take the motor mount loose and jack up the engine.  Everybody used a hole saw on the inner fender apron and got it with several extensions on the spark plug socket.
I had the same situation with the fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter. I measured in from the rocker and back from seat shelf and put a hole in the sheet metal. It's an inch above the gas tank. Then i could get to the hose clamp. Made a cover from sheet metal, and sealed it with roofing tar and felt, and screwed it down.
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gearheadE30

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2007, 07:18:48 PM »
LOL!!!  really hope I never have to do this ;)
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1991 318is Turbo
1989 Caprice Classic Wagon named Humphrey
1979 Suzuki GS750E

Jtuner

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Fuel Line help?
« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2007, 05:01:36 PM »
Quote from: gearheadE30;27038
LOL!!!  really hope I never have to do this ;)


ditto :o
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Boris3

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Re: Fuel Line help?
« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2015, 03:30:05 PM »
Rather than starting a new thread, I'm facing this same question about how to replace the leaking rubber fuel hose than runs from the hard line over the gas tank to the fuel filter on a 1991 318is. Is there any new wisdom in the eight years since this old thread?

The options for accessing the hose clamp and hose removal listed here seem to be: 1) try to access the clamp through the driver's side access hole (unlikely to work); 2) drop the tank; 3) open the driver's side access plate and cut and flare the high pressure hard line and run a longer rubber hose to the filter; or 4) cut an additional access hole in the rear seat base sheet metal over the clamp.

Looking for the best (least worse) other option?     
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normboudreault

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Re: Fuel Line help?
« Reply #13 on: June 02, 2015, 05:47:12 PM »
Do it right. That means dropping the tank and all the hard work it entails... Ive done it twice already.... ::)
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