Anyone know their GM's 3800 V6(1992 Buick Regal fuel lines...)

[OilPatch197]

After inspecting this car, both my fuel lines (input and output) are cracked all over, I'm talking about the lines that connect to the Intake and go down under the breather on the Drivers side.

They SEEM to be cracked so bad that, if they were regular "preformed" plain fuel hose they should be busting out gas everywhere.

But they are not, and not sure if this is normal or (!)

It seems like they are really a nylon tube with a rubber hose on the outside, can someone explain to me as to the purpose and workings of this fuel hose?

Is the Rubber outer hose a protective layer/insulator of some sort, and the main nylon tube is on the inside?

How critical is this cracked rubber?

IMO just got this car, my first FI/non Ranger vehicle, new territory.

 

[OilPatch197]

All the manual says is "inspect occasionally for leaks, kinks and dents"(Haynes FWIW)

So are cracks normal?

 

[OilPatch197]

Is there an Auto Mechanic in the house???

Perhaps some pictures will help:

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

im sorry you have a 3.8L, better than a 3.1 or 3.4 though.. but still a cousin of them.

those fuel lines don't look good at all the plastic is probably very brittle.

i just fixed a fuel line on a 3.8L and it was made of plastic like you are asking

 

[bullitproofranger]

im sorry you have a 3.8L, better than a 3.1 or 3.4 though.. but still a cousin of them.

those fuel lines don't look good at all the plastic is probably very brittle.

i just fixed a fuel line on a 3.8L and it was made of plastic like you are asking

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything but the GM 3800 (Buick 3.8,3800, 231, ect.), isn't mechanicly related to the GM 2.8, 3.1, or 3.4, the Buick 3.8 first off is a 90 degree v6 based off of the buick v8, and the gm (chevy) 2.8, 3.1, and 3.4 v6's are 60 degree.

 

[OilPatch197]

im sorry you have a 3.8L, better than a 3.1 or 3.4 though.. but still a cousin of them.

those fuel lines don't look good at all the plastic is probably very brittle.

i just fixed a fuel line on a 3.8L and it was made of plastic like you are asking

See that is the thing, I figured since the hoses say "not repairable" that there is a Plastic tube hidden under that cracking rubber. The rubber outer part has nothing to do with holding the fuel in the line? it's just a protective layer on the outside of the hose.

So the risk of this thing suddenly springing a leak right over the exhaust manifold and burning up the car is low. I can see if I smack it with a wrench it might leak. But from what I've read is these hoses go all the way back to the Fuel Filter!

I've looked online and seems like nobody has the "assemblies" from disconnect to disconnect.

Also I've noticed with other GM 3800's they reroute the fuel line BEHIND the air intake, notice in my last picture the fuel lines come up in FRONT of the air intake and OVER the exhaust crossover.

So these lines may be brittle, but does this warrant replacement?

I've searched Google for any issues, I have not found any matches.

 

[adsm08]

I'd get them replaced as soon as you can. I believe that structurally these lines are similar to our brake hoses. A structural pressure line wrapped in rubber that is meant to reinforce and insulate the pressure line. A crack or separation in the rubber doesn't mean a leak or a structural issue, but it does increase the chances of it happening.

Have you checked the dealership for the lines? GM keeps making some screwy stuff long after a lot of people don't need it.

 

[OilPatch197]

adsm08 I agree, I would rather replace them, and yeah they probably are like the brake lines.

I don't know If I can get this at a auto parts store, may only be a dealer only part, but I hope it's not too expensive, but it would give me some peace of mind not having cracks in a high pressure fuel line!

 

[OilPatch197]

Just a little update.

NOBODY HAS THEM! That's right UN-OBTAINIUM!

Not GM, or anywhere for that matter, they are specific for just THAT model. Aftermarket has NONE, NO replacements.

they do have a "repair end" like this...

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...ng=search&itemIdentifier=238628_116463_13424_

not pre-bent, so if I install that it will be ghetto, and I would have several splices, as a good 24" of those two fuel lines are cracked(it's has signs of cracks from the engine quick connect to about 24" down the line, with many complicated bends.

This is a total bummer, it appears with further inspection that it's just a Nylon fuel line with a rubber coating, so considering the crap I would have to go thru to replace these lines, I will just use them the way they are. Bummer.

 

[Hotrodlincoln]

Ahhh good old plastic fuel hoses.
The rubber possibly is meant to be an inhibitor to prevents the actual plastic line from deterioration due to heat of the engine bay.

Now the real question is, does the actual pressure line under the rubber coating have any signs of deterioration or damage? Probably not, which means that structurally the line is fine. These type of hoses are actually very extremely durable. They may seem a little "thin", but they're rated for about 100 psi. Unless they are damaged physically (crushed, pinched, etc.) just leave them be. Think about it. If this was a part that commonly failed, don't you think there would be some after market parts support?
Worst comes to worst and one of them splits for some reason, you cut the quick disconnect end off the hard steel line, slide a flare nut on, flare it, and replace the plastic line with more hard steel line. You do need a section about 12" long of rubber high pressure fuel hose for flexibility between the lines on the engine and the lines on the frame.

 

[t0x1k]

My father in law just had this same issue with a Buick at the shop. Apparently the lines are one single piece from the engine to the tank.

 

[OilPatch197]

UPDATE, I got a FUEL LEAK.

At first I didn't realize it, I had some gas cans in the trunk and thought the fumes were coming from them, so I removed the tanks.

two days later the fumes got STRONGER and was coming from the front vents.

I parked it, shut it down and popped the hood. I had a MICRO split in the high pressure line at the front of the engine.

It was spraying fuel all over the top of the intake, I've been driving it for several days like this!

Amazingly the thing didn't blow. So my countenance was really bothering me now, I was able to get to NAPA, um they had NOTHING for nylon lines, no repair kits, no fittings.

I limped the car to autozone, they had the doorman repair kit, I also got a roll of "hose repair tape" I was able to tape it up five times and fixed the leak until I got home.

Then I cut out the damaged piece and it appears there is SOME discoloring, on the inside it's kinda "white" in some areas.

The doorman kit worked awesome.