Metal fuel line to rubber?

livinginhope

Morning to all mechanics out there :hello:

My car has been stinking of petrol for a couple of days,we have now located quite a large leak from the fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter,DH bought a new fuel filter a couple of weeks ago,but hasn't yet fitted it :rolleyes: he is now going to have to replace the fuel line at the same time.What I would like to know is,the fuel line at the moment is metal,can this be replaced with a rubber one,or does it have to stay metal? DH says it's easier to replace with rubber,but I'm concerned about safety,if it's ok then I will let him
BTW it's a '97 Vauxhall Frontera.
Thanks
LIH

oldagetraveller

Personally I wouldn't, it's steel for a reason and the MOT person might have something to say about a rubber pipe replacing it.

Gorgeous_George

Don't do it and, to be honest, I'd ask a qualified mechanic to sort it for you.

As the cause is known, it shouldn't cost too much.



GG

livinginhope

Thanks for the replies,now I'm really confused as DH spoke to the mechanic at work,who told him rubber was fine,then he phoned our normal guy to book the car in,he asked him and he said he would always replace with rubber as it's easier.
I just think it is metal for a reason and surely it would be safer metal?
LIH

marty12

you can also use plastic braided tube but both go hard and brittle after a while its ok for short runs but to be honest get a roll of kunifer from your local motor factors its softer than steel and easier to bend to shape then join the ends with rubber

livinginhope

Just to update you,car had to go into the garage in the end as DH just couldn't do the job at home,it turned out all 3 pipes were leaking (very badly) and our mechanic replaced all fuel lines on the car with steel pipes and charged us £85 for the job,good value I thought for the amount of work involved.
Thanks
LIH