Fuel lines... how close to exhaust?

[5.0]

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I'm starting on my fuel lines. I'm using some factory type hard nylon tubing that I'll cover with 3/8" rubber fuel line for protection.

Following the route I'd like to take, this line will be about 3" from the header collector for just a couple inches. Is that too close? Will it melt?

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[Frank The Tank]

Hot fuel is not a good thing at all ever (especially on fuel injected applications) i know in a diesel it can get hot bubble and waste an injector.
However this is unlikely to occur as enough heat to bubble fuel would be tough to accomplish through a nylon tube.

An aluminum shield that will dissipate heat would be a great idea (not touching the fuel line mind you)
I believe your only real possible melting issues would be in traffic or idling around with no air moving (but you'll have a radiator fan).

6inches would be soo much better.... just to give more room for the heat to dissipate, but I don't believe it will out and out melt without touching... just cause excessive "hastened" breakdown then you could potentially have raw fuel meeting your exhaust.

Frank

 

[doorgunner]

I'm wonderin if you could add in a 12"-18" section of metal tubing there plus the heat shield that Frank suggested.....seems it would hold up a lot longer than nylon in that hot-spot, eliminating a flame-thrower if the nylon gets brittle or weak from heat...

 

[slammer67]

x2 on the metal tubing and the heat shield.

your engine will like it alot better with cooler fuel.

I don't think the nylon tubing would melt/leak/catch fire that close, but I wouldn't want to take a chance.

 

[5.0]

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Thanks for the info so far.

I was wondering about the fabric heat shield stuff? The plug wires for my 5.0 Explorer had some fabric on them where they touched the manifold heat shield... would that stuff be any benefit?

The route I'm wanting to run the lines is from the factory fuel filter, up the firewall toward the steering column, then cross behind the intake manifold and connect to the fuel rail on the passenger side. The tubing will be close to the collector on the driver side header in the area where it bends to go up the firewall.

Another option I'm considering is to run new line from the tank all the way up to the engine. This is a little more work and would require a bit more tubing, but it may be the safest route since it would stay away from the exhaust.

Decisions... decisions...


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[COPPERHEAD85]

If you decide to run it all the way back,use the aluminum tubing.You will thank me later.

 

[TerryW]

i had that problem w/ my fuel lines when we did my tuck. We used metal tubing and my truck kept vapor locking when the fuel heated it turned to a gas and locked my lines after about 5 minutes of running. I reran my entire line on the outside of my framrail and have not had anymore problems.

 

[My91Ranger]

I'm not sure what motor your using and what fuel rail, but on my truck I planted a 93 mustang 302, and the stock fuel rail connects at the front of the motor on the passengers side. I had the same issue with running fuel lines so I swapped to a fuel rail off of a 95 F-150 which connects on the far back of the motor on the drivers side, which cleared all of the exhaust.

 

[Scrambler82]

I used s/s lines to stock 2.9 filter location along side of the engine across the frame cross rail, through the cross member (drilled holes) and up to the stock 5.0L fuel rails without a problem.

I wouldn't run the fiber unless the exhaust was on the other side of the truck.
I had not problems with the s/s lines, kept the fuel pressure up, maybe that helped.

What ever you use for a heat shield (if you go that route), do as suggested earlier, make sure there is an air gap.

Luck

 

[5.0]

I'm not sure what motor your using and what fuel rail,

I'm using a 5.0 from a '92 Thunderbird, it's about the same the SN95 motor. It still has the stock fuel rail that connects on the passenger side front.

I may switch intakes someday, then possibly switch fuel rails if needed.

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[wade]

And, here's some Thermal Sleeve part #'s to look up at SummitRacing.com:
THE-14005,
DEI-010406

 

[fordmike1]

Just get some rubber fuel line and slit it down the side and slide it over the fuel line that goes by the exhaust. I would then wrap it with a thermal wrap of some type and you can get that thru Jegs or summit.You could still bolt the heat sheild to the exhaust as that would help alot also. Problem solved.

 

[5.0]

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I put the nylon tubing inside of some rubber fuel line, then I found a sleeve that was on an EGR tube at some point. Anyway, I slid some of this over the line where it came close to the exhaust.

 

[carcraft302]

Fuel lines

I found a set of fuel rails out of a 5.0 fuel injected pick up so the connectors to the fuel rails come off the back on the drivers side. I used earls tubing and fittings ran on the inside of the frame rail drivers side, have my filter set up inside the frame rail. There is an oval hole in the frame rail. I made a plate to accomodate the bulk head fittings. I used the bulk head fittings and brought the fuel line out side the frame rails and up over frame rail to the fuel rails!