I have a 2009 X Type - as far as I know the rubber fuel lines have never been refurbished (Except for those near the fuel tank filler which were leaking about 3 years ago and were subsequently changed).
How often should the rubber fuel components be changed? I am thinking of doing this at my next service because as far as I know this has never been done.

 

Clack, unless you have a reason to replace the lines (dry rot, bulging, partially cut through, etc), I would leave the lines be. I have a lot of cars that I am running very old rubber lines. As long as you don't subject them to extreme heat or rub them against something, they will last a long, long time. The check I would do is 2 fold. The first being a visual check to see if the line has any damage from rubbing or being cut. The next check I would do I will call a rub check. Take your thumb and rub the line. If you get black rubber dust/***** off of the line, then probably time to replace (it has been subjected to a fair amount of heat). Otherwise, I think you are potentially creating more problems than you may be fixing.

 

The reason I am worried is that the lines near my fuel tank filler started leaking a while back and were replaced, and the car is now 17 years old. Copilot AI recommends the lines be changed every 5 to 10 years as well. I was thinking since the fuel tank filer lines are not in the engine bay (hot area) they would have lasted longer than those in the engine bay. So my logic is the lines in the engine bay might be close to leaking too. Not sure where the actual lines are - will get my mechanic to check them at next service. I trust him to do a good job if the lines do need to be replaced - he is a good mechanic.

 

Well, as I see it, if you are worried and you want a "Yes/No" answer, then you have to do a hydrostatic test of the lines. If you look on the rubber, it will say "Max pressure XXX PSIG" (where XXX is some value). You would need to disconnect the rubber line at both ends and then you plug one end and find an attachment for the other that will allow you to introduce air. You can then pressurize the line to the max pressure (atleast something above the normal operating pressure of the fuel line which for the X-Type is 60 psig, so, pressurize to say 90 PSIG). If you don't see leaks, then the hose is going to be good for a number of years into the future. You have a hose fail or develop a leak, it was getting ready to fail. I do this on piping at work all the time to ensure it will handle what the reactor tosses at it for the next number of years. For this, we tend to go to 110% of the max pressure, sometimes higher based on the pipe make up.

 

I don't have the tools, available garage nor the patience to work on my car - I will get my mechanic to inspect the lines at my next service. Thanks for the info thermo.

 

quit using ai while you're at it 👍

 

Dump garbage AI and use this forum. You want real experience not some fake regurgitated junk.
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