10 replies to this topic

[blakie]

I have a fuel leak on my mini, its comming from underneath the car in one of the pipes. Looks as though its just rusted right through. Any help/advice would be great. Also where can i get this pipe from asap?

[Big_Adam]

head off to a motor facts. well mine do break pipes. althought if i were you i would head to my local modle shop as i know they do metal pipe of a similar size.

[miniboo]

local motor factors will be able to do you some FUEL pipe (not brakes BigAdam).

Obviously dont drive the car ubtil you have fixed the leak.you might have to replace the whole run if it is the metal pipe.

[Big_Adam]

i know he didn't mean break pipe. its just i know mine dose so they might do fuel too.

could have made that a bit clearer but...meh i'm lazy.

[blakie]

Yes it is the metal part so will i have to replace the whole part? How easy is this? it looks quite hard as the pipe seems to disapear into the car.

[miniboo]

i think the pipe is hidden in a kind of lip on the underside of the car.

not sure but i think you just need to lever this open a bit and take the pipe out.

[Bounce]

could you not just cut the bad part out and use some rubber fuel line and two jubilee(sp?) clips instead of replacing the whole line?

[vasi]

could you not just cut the bad part out and use some rubber fuel line and two jubilee(sp?) clips instead of replacing the whole line?

I did.

Clamped the exit hose from the tank with mole grips with some cardboard in the jaws. Hacksawed and filed the pipe just as it reaches the back of the floor and used a length of fuel grade hose with jubilee clips to complete the repair. So far so good.

[Bounce]

works out a bit cheaper and far easier.

[blakie]

Ok i think i get what you mean, anyone local fancy a cuppa tea and showing me how its done?

[Dan]

That would be fine as a temporary repair but there are two points to make:

1 Don't use Jubilee / worm drive type clips on fuel hose, use fuel pipe clips instead. Jubilees cut into the surface of the hose and fuel hose isn't as tough as coolant hose. Also fuel pipe clips clamp more evenly around the pipe, fuel leaks out of the tiniest gaps and is dangerous so even clamping is important.

2 The main line is metal for a reason, and not just because it's cheaper than rubber hose. Basically it's less likely to leak. In the long term it will be more reliable to replace the entire original steel pipe with a new copper replacement. Fitting isn't hard, threading it behind the subframes at the front and rear is the tricky bit but it doesn't actually run into the car anywhere. It must run behind the subframes though and not around them, to keep it safe.