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Rick MacLaren · Guest

I would NOT run a 931 with old gas lines.

You've got two of them on the passenger side. Remove the clips and have a look underneath the line. Chances are, the line is cracked in more than one spot, especially if it is the original gas line.

Replace them. It's just not worth having a fire.

And don't start using low octane gas. The gas isn't the problem, rather, the problem will eventually be the use of an original rubber part that should've been replaced 10 years ago.

sneed21 · Guest

Thanks for the heads up! Guess I better make the time to get "under the car" and run new lines.

Rick MacLaren · Guest

You're welcome. I'm talking 931 only now...

Don't even need to be under it. The two relevant lines are right up top, into the fuel distribution unit, held on by I think 17 mm nuts.

931 110 303 01, I think. And 00.

I think the rest of the car gas lines are stainless...or at least steel.

There are a few up top, near the windshield washer area. They're bulletproof.

sneed21 · Guest

Sounds pretty easy..Thats good news. I know the lines run from the windshield to the secondary fuel pump and then to the carbs is new, but the initial run from the fuel tank worries me. I bet it's half dry-rotted and has cracks all along it.

Lizard · Guest

there are a few rubber lines under the back I would suggest changing as well

Rick MacLaren · Guest

Oh yes...around the fuel pump right rear...!!! They always look like crap too...wouldn't hurt to replace that one.

John H · Guest

larso · Guest

If the fuel lines look cracked it may be just the insulation, inside is a tube. You could make your own insulation to save on the costs (if the insulation is cracked fuel can't leak out, it just is prone to damaging the inside line more because no padding, and no heat preservation). The pump hose though is regular hose so if it has cracks replace right away.

Does toluene only corrode with oxygen, maybe the trick is to always keep fuel in the lines like keeping the tank full to prevent rust?

Rick MacLaren · Guest

I think it's the 'aromatic' combined with the oxygen that causes the problem. And John, I think you're note makes sense cause you're adding forces to old lines. I was messing with mine prior to replacing them - mostly moving that fuel distribution unit around. I figured it couldn't hurt to replace the lot of them. Lars, I think you're right about O2 being a catalyst for the cracking.

Dunno about fixing them. Thing is, if the insulation is cracked, it no longer insulates against heat, to spec. And cracks more. And on the 931 it's right above the exhaust. I tried fixing mine and just made a mess of it - used a good quality rubber tape. It held for a while, but, hey, I wasn't insured for fire. Both lines were only $60 a piece, or something like that. When I replaced them the gas smell went away.

Got an extinguisher in your car?

There's this story in the UCR PCA register about a guy in a 911 stopped in traffic in Toronto outside the Dupont St. Movenpick store. Fancy schmancy grocery place. He's sitting there, and smells smoke. Wife gets anxious. He looks behind him and his 911 RS America (I think) is aflame. So he gets out of the car, in traffic, goes into Movenpick. Grabs an extinguisher, takes it outside, and can't figure out how to remove the safety pin.

Ha!

So he's standing there, fighting with the extinguisher. I kind of imagine him red-faced, rolling on the ground with it, like in a Monty Python movie. And his baby is aflame. By the time he gets the pin out of the extinguisher the car is toast and the Metro fire department guys are chatting up his wife.

So why did the guy's 911 RS America blow up? He didn't spend the $50 bucks or whatever on a cooling fan belt, and his beautiful car ended up being a cooked like a weenie.

[ This Message was edited by: Rick MacLaren on 2002-08-27 22:23 ]