Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

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Candycj1
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Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by Candycj1 »

Hi all

I have the fuel smell in trunk issue with my UK 88 vehicle - checked the expansion hoses and they were definitely old & brittle/. Somewhat oddly they're BMW branded / braided hose but of size 6mm*10mm; everything i've seen here and on realoem say these are 6*11. The BMW branding makes me think they're original but not heard anyone else with this size.

Either way got hold of some braided 6*11 (wanted the OEM look) and went to fit today but having looked deeper at the seams have a feeling there are some holes in the metal so think i'll need more than just the liones done:Image

The seam is looking worse for wear too so i think a tank refurb may be needed - anyone have either a recommendation for a specialist in the UK preferably London) - or maybe even a good tank they want to sell?

Cheers
James
ron
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by ron »

Try Walloth and Nesch for a new one.

https://www.wallothnesch.com/en/metal-f ... uring.html
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
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Pod
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by Pod »

They always go there. Finding a good used replacement will be difficult. I suggest you bite the bullet and buy a new one as Ron suggests.
Candycj1
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by Candycj1 »

Thanks both - that’s a more reasonable price than I feared, added to the shopping list.
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Brucey
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by Brucey »

re hoses; the ones inside the car are the same size IIRC. These hoses are not on view so could be replaced with something different and lengths of the original interior hoses (which degrade more slowly) used to make the connections to the tank itself?

cheers
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Candycj1
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by Candycj1 »

yes the interior one is the same but tbh I'm ok with the braided replacement I've got - was more intrigued by the different /seemingly non-standard outer diameter on a BMW-branded hose that was there before....
Candycj1
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by Candycj1 »

Well, got the tank from W&N and very happy with it - the old one really was in a bad way. Treated myself to a new rubber cover for the filler nozzle too - old one was brittle and mucky, new one soft and supple and well worth the tenner it cost!

BUT...

...still had the fuel smell in the trunk. Hadn't replaced the one hose that exits the expansion tank so went to do that today. Looked like it would be a bit of a pain given how far in the back of the trunk it was, the disposable clip on the hose etc - and on inspection it seemed ok - so before replacing it thought i should juuuuust check everything else first. Which is when i found this:

Image

Now as far as i can tell those three little holes should NOT be there :D and certainly emanated a strong fuel smell!!! As the car came with a trunk-mounted CD changer (though now fitted to the back of the trunk), best guess is some bright spark previously thought it would be easier to drill it to the expansion tank - words fail me. Have temporarily bunged with silicon whilst a replacement is on order (another tenner worth the money) but am confident this will finally sort it....
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sansouci
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by sansouci »

There are a number of polyethylene repair methods (if the tank is indeed, poly) using a mildly heated soldering iron and some filler stick. So you may want to hang onto that old tank and experiment with it. If it's metal, well, nevermind.
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Ronnie Wilson
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by Ronnie Wilson »

Hi,

If you google a Company by you who refurbish Radiators, they usually also refurbish Fuel Tankss.
I had mine done by a Company in Leeds. Did a good job.
Ronnie
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by bpoliakoff »

Braided hose is VW fuel line. Warning.. not good for FI fuel line but OK for vapor line. Radiator shop, as said by another member can do tank repair as they solder rather than weld. Myself and another fellow did repair on mine by welding after it had sat for 2 years. It blew a fireball at least 6 feet high and scared the bejeezus out of us. It was safe to weld the seem after that. Best let the radiator man do it!!
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slofut
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by slofut »

bpoliakoff wrote: Mon Nov 05, 2018 12:41 am Braided hose is VW fuel line. Warning.. not good for FI fuel line but OK for vapor line. Radiator shop, as said by another member can do tank repair as they solder rather than weld. Myself and another fellow did repair on mine by welding after it had sat for 2 years. It blew a fireball at least 6 feet high and scared the bejeezus out of us. It was safe to weld the seem after that. Best let the radiator man do it!!

Damn that's awesome! :shock: Wish I could have seen that. But glad no one was hurt. Maybe should have filled with water first.
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Candycj1
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Re: Fuel expansion hose / new tank?

Post by Candycj1 »

sansouci wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:31 am There are a number of polyethylene repair methods (if the tank is indeed, poly) using a mildly heated soldering iron and some filler stick. So you may want to hang onto that old tank and experiment with it. If it's metal, well, nevermind.
Yep it's a plastic unit - and since the replacement I bought has got lost in the post ](*,) I may well look into fixing unless someone here has a spare..
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