oil pressure guage

[MAKG]

I used nylon on the former Bronco II, and my Chevy has a copper line in it original from the factory (and yes, the engine has been out).

The world will not end in a catastrophic earthquake with either one.

So relax a bit, put in what's easy to find (hint: nylon) and try not to overengineer this for faults that will never occur.

Even the copper ones will yield BS if they are routed on the exhaust manifold.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Very bad idea, copper will crack if it is flexed repeatedly!!

So will plastic, or even rubber... with no real movement possible if it is routed decent aside from the engine torquing there shouldn't be much flexing going on.

I used the nylon tubing that came with the gauge in my Ranger, a year later it is still fine... I will add that if you don't quite get the fitting quite right on the back of the gauge it will make a heck of a mess, thank god for rubber flooring. I routed it thru a grommet in the firewall, and taped in in a hunk of yellow small engine fuel line (about two inches worth on each side of the grommet) just to be safe.

 

[woodyedmiston]

Come on Bob - how much is it going to flex in this application? Copper work hardens and cracks and that's why you see a lot of power plant and single cylinder applications that have several loops in the line to absorb the wear. But copper is exactly the right thing to use in this application. The reason fittings leak with plastic is that it flows and you can't really tighten anything on it without it eventually leaking. Plastic is prone to heat cracking, ozone damage, and generally just looks cheap. Yes plastic is pretty durable, but copper is superior.

If you want bulletproof, go to Earls and get a stainless steel braided hose.

On the other hand, if MAKG is suggesting not to get too uptight about something I guess I've gone too far. -)

 

[Beef52751]

what size braided hose do you need??? (autometer gauge)
Thanks
Beef