I can’t seem to find an answer to this question anywhere, but I have a leak in a fuel line in my jeep (it’s a steel fuel line) and I’m not sure if it can be repaired, or if it needs to be replaced.
Thanks.
If the leak is in an easy to get to spot, is in a straight section of line, and away from the exhaust, then you can repair it. Go to the auto store and buy a foot of high pressure fuel hose and 4 clamps. Fuel hose is sold different sizes based on the inside diameter, and standard use or high pressure (fuel injection) hose. You’ll have to buy the same size as the outside diameter that’s on your Jeep and you’ll need the high pressure kind. Use a tubing cutter to cut the line where the leak is and try to flare the ends if you can. You may have to cut a few inches out to slip the hose on each end. Use 2 clamps on each end for extra insurance. If you have to buy a flaring tool, tubing cutter, and whatever other tools you may need, it might be cheaper just to buy a whole new line. You never know, the new line might be pretty cheap somewhere, just just check around and do your homework before you do it. Oh, by the way, you’re going to get gas everywhere so be prepared…
If the line is steel, than you can repair it as the previous poster said. There are some parts of the line that are braided steel and or plastic in many chrysler/jeep/dodge cars and trucks that cannot be repaired. Also if the leak is @ a quick connect fitting, the repair may be alot more difficult.
Thanks very much for the advice. I think I’ll first see if I can replace that section of line. I’ve heard that the dealer carries the prebent stuff, and if that fails, then I’ll try the rubber tubing bit.
NO you should not splice a section of it. It runs at a high pressure since the fuel pump is in the tank. The whole line should be replaced. Replacing the line is the best way to fix it.
If you have the tools and are bent on splicing a section in it will need to be double flared on both ends and the splice line as well will need to be double flare. A compression fitting would be very dangerous.
If the line that is leaking is the return fuel line then it could possibly be done with a hose splice but if rust is the reason it is leaking and most likely is then new lines are just the best choice.
I’m a mechanic… Splice the damn thing, just use high pressure fuel line…
So am I but I would never take a risk with someone elses life in terms of possibly help create a dangerous situation with a less than suitable repair.
This person could be carrying around his whole family in this vehicle and the last thing a person is going to want is to knowingly put his family at risk over a few dollars in the long run of doing it right the first time. If the line rusted thrrough then other areas could be comprimised as well.
I would splice the line with rubber to get home but then replace it when I make it there with an entire section of bolt in replacement line. You’ve got to figure that the entire line is on the verge of rupture if the thing already sprang a leak.
My truck’s fuel system runs at 60 psi so it will leak with enough force to make a nice mist spray.
ABSOLUTELY JUST SPLICE IT. Good grief most cars have rubber sections in them anyways way up on top of the tank where you can’t see them. While you are at it take a good look for other areas that are rusty and if they look to be getting rusty you would better do the whole thing. After all you do live in the rustbelt like most of us, If for some reason you have to drop the tank ( which you shouldn’t) consider highly putting in a new fuel pump while its off. Yours is one of the dumber ideas Jeep ever had with the fuel pump and filter being in the tank and typical American quality. They do like to fail a lot too, ask me how I know. Other than that the rubber hi pressure line will easily take anything the pump can put out just use double clamps, nothin to it.
Be happy, out 2000 grand Cherokee had a ring bust last week and knock a hole in the cylinder bore. Toast at 117,000 K boo hoo. $1500 shot to hell. Now don’t you feel a little better???????
High pressure rubber lines have typically compression fittings on them that are put on with many times greater pressure than two hose clamps will ever hold.
Putting two hose clamps and a rubber section in place with out a ridge on the line for the clamps to press against will only allow the rubber line to slide off the steel line in time.
There are rubber hoses and then there are rubber hoses. Yes, rubber hoses are used in all vehicles to account for vibration and needed flexibility in fuel systems. Not all of the fuel hoses are pressurized and the pressurized ones will not be held on with hose clamps. I have rubber hoses on my tractor rated for 3000 psi but the connections are crimped on and threaded for a positive connection. I have a rubber vacuum line on my pickup that will fail at very low pressure and it is held on with a hose clamp. The pressurized fuel lines on the jeep need to be held to the higher standard whether made of metal or of rubber.
The third time around replacing my fuel pump on my 97 Yukon, I went with rubber. First time I had a bad pump, second time the pre-formed OEM plastic lines bent (pita in my opinion). The third time the guy at the auto parts store gave me low pressure hose, after discovering that and getting the correct high pressure hose it worked slick. It was a long weekend to say the least, but that was two years ago and I haven’t had a problem since, at least fuel system wise.
