hey gang
I have air in my system (95 12v) & the fuel lines are rusty & need replaced. I've searched the threads but didn't find an answer-should you replace them with steel lines, or go for rubber hose fuel line? I saw mention of making sure its diesel rated line, so I'm figuring thats for the rubber fuel line?
Also when replacing the return line I noticed a common problem is where the return line comes out of the back of the P pump. How hard is that to get to, & should that be steel or rubber line?
please help-thanks

 

Rubber all the way to the tank is the easiest and probably the most forgiving. It is a little difficult to get to the return line, but if you are a 3 armed monkey you should have no problem. If I remember right I used a 1/4" drive rachet and was able to get to the hose clamp back there without too much trouble.

 

Rubber all the was is the ticket, I was a hard head and made up steel lines, but I would not do it again.......

I didn't have as much trouble as many guys describe, but I do remember a few curse words flying on the return line at the block..... I am thinking I took the fuel filter off ( don't remember exactly )?

 

This is part of the problem from losing prime on this truck- if the fuel lines have a rust hole in them, that would probably cause the LP to not prime the pump, right? I could push the primer bulb 50-60 times & feel no pressure buildup in it- but when I spun the fuel filter off & hit the primer bulb, fuel would squirt out the top of it. Just trying to narrow down the possibilities, & find out if the LP unti is bad as well.
Thanks!

 

I would also recommend getting marine grade fuel hose if you are going to go rubber the whole way. Also, while you're at it check out the pipes coming out of the fuel sender, if they're rusty like mine were you might as well order a draw straw so you don't have to fight with leaking lines later (ask me how I know).

John

 

Do you have a FP gauge in your pod? If so, that should help you narrow it down. If not, and the fuel lines haven't been replaced, they are probably due anyway. If that doesn't take care of it, pretty much the only other possibilities are a hole in the pickup in the tank allowing air in or a bad check valve in the lift pump letting it drain back.

 

well the lines were inspected & are rusty with tiny holes in it. Guess we'll fix that first then if it still won't work, look at the LP next.

 

BTW its a stock truck with out gauges yet

 

Whoops, thought we were talking about the 94 in your sig. If you found holes in the lines that will certainly help. Good luck

 

If they've got holes in them then I would just go ahead and either order a draw straw or a replacement fuel sending unit. Don't make the mistake I made and have to drop your tank or lift your bed twice.

John

 

wheres a good place to get one (draw straw) without breaking my bank?

 

I got mine from here:

Vulcan Diesel

Their site says its back ordered right now though. I would give them a call and see when they are expecting it to return. You can also order the appropriate diesel compatible hose from them. They were very helpful answering my questions when I ordered the stuff to do my truck last year.

John

 

Fellow on another website said they came in last week.
He got his Drawstraw in three days.

 

I just priced lines & hose- its gonna be about 80 bucks just to replace with fuel inj hose!! steel line is less than 30.... I'm having a friend do it; is it worth all that extra cost? I only plan on keeping the truck for a year or 2....
thanks

 

For me its cost vs. aggravation. When you have to drop the tank a second time because your the pickup line that comes out of the tank has started leaking because you disturbed it then that $50 of savings for the draw straw is a bargain. When I'm under there cursing and swearing as I try to bend a steel line into the depths of the lift pump's location, the price difference is again not such a big deal.

John