Technical Best Fuel Line Material?

What's a good hard line material for gasoline? Particularly today's fuel. Been told stainless is supposed to be the best?

 

I use steel fuel line from the auto parts store. I have also used NiCop line for fuel as well. For rubber fuel hose, I use Gates Barricade Hose.

 

SS, then aluminum, then Nicop, then steel...IMO. Never rubber, never nylon. Flex hose in the shortest pieces possible, I prefer braided nylon flex from Edelbrock or similar products.

 

I've always been told to keep rubber short and where it needs to flex. I hate guys who run all rubber lines. Total hack move

 

Pick you Rubber Weisel,
Good Quality name brand ethanol resistant and oils 3/8s id $7 plus a foot
I was experimenting with a piece regular off the shelf rubber hose in
10 % ethanol fuel completely submerged open top within two weeks was like gummy Jell-O

 

Stainless is the best but can be hard to work. Zinc plated Steel is what OEMs use and is easier to form

 

Yes, Stainless can be a PITA to flare.

If you need some plain rubber hose, there is such a thing as hose made for Fuel Injection.
Sounds like it would be higher quality.
And make sure to get the good USA made clamps, because the cheap imports don't always hold their torque.
Found that out the hard way.

 

I don’t see a need to flare fit fuel lines. May 6-8 PSI max? Compression fitting is easier and will work just the same.

 

Steel for me

 

Stainless, AN fittings. Only way I do it. Not hard to flare at all with the right tool. I've done a ton using a simple hand-held Ridgid flaring tool, don't over think it.

 

This
I think he meant Pick you[r] rubber W[isely]

 

I switched to Fuel Injection hose, around 6 years ago , the shelf auto zone /Advance , Where needed to Connect hardline with rubber,
It seems to only hold up 6 -12 mounts until it starts to become hard breaking down ,
Trying the Barracuda ,No feed back except expensive even in bulk .. even the Yellow fuel line breaking down , see many lawn equipment pretty much new trashed fuel related , because typical homeowners do not know what's wrong with,

 

Nicop or Stainless for me, both have equal corrosion resistance and meet DOT standards, the only real difference is the looks. Nicop is easier to work with than Stainless and I really like the rich light copper tint look of the Nicop. OE Manfacturers use steel because it's the cheapest, but I have found that in much of the steel line currently available the quality is very inconsistant and a lot of it is not anealed and hard to work with. Flex joints must be of the highest quality ethanol resistant hose available.

 

I used 3/8” NiCop on my car. All connected with Earl’s compression fittings. Used bulkheads to go from the tank through the floor. The only rubber flex on the whole system is going from the tank to the supply and return bulkheads.

 

Yup…..rubber is to keep you from making babies

 

I did the same But in all steel and jic fittings. No hose clamps, crimp jic on all flex connections

 

I like aluminum, easy to work, doesn't rust, cheap in bulk, many sizes to choose from...

...

 

You must have some type of flexable hose connection between the engine and the frame or firewall otherwise you will have line fatigue from vibration resulting in a major failure.

 

See my above post at the fuel pump, typical of all the flex lines.

 

And tank to rails. Although I don’t recall it it a ‘42 Ford PU I had.

 

Nice

 

As you can see it all depends on looks (what you want it to look like) and where you live (corrosion resistance). As long at it's rated for fuel and your system is low pressure there's lots of choices.

I use steel from the local parts store (some are coated, some aren't), I bought some copper coated steel line from a company super cheap.....but it all doesn't matter as they all get painted black. As for rubber hose I've been using Gates Barrier hose for years and it's worked great. I have no problem with hose clamps (good quality) and making a bump on the fuel line for a clamp stop.

 

I’ve been using 3/8 brake line

 

Other than ease of removal I don't see the need for a flex hose at the fuel tank. A flex line between the engine and body/frame is necessary to isolate vibration.

 

I agree. Hard line connections can be easier for tank removal depending on were they are located. And "out of sight, out of mind" adage means you may forget to check on those rubber lines as the years pass. Rubber needs replacing, steel doesn't.

 

-6AN PTFE

 

I wonder what sort of flex hose they use on newish cars.
Edit: Now that I think about it, my 95 Caprice had plastic fuel lines, with "shrink fit" ends.
No idea what is on my 05 Crown Victoria, but they are original.

 

On my 2 wheeled stuff I’ve had good luck with polyurethane fuel hose. It comes in different colors too, at least in smaller sizes.
I’ve also used Tygon a lot but it really wants to stay put once put on which isn’t helpful when you’re pulling carbs to rejet.

PS, I can’t speak on how those work under even low pressure. My bikes are all old and gravity fed, so very little pressure in the hoses.

 

Aluminum here, Stainless everywhere else, this stuff for flex line. No clamps.

 

I'd think that most guys who run stainless run it because it is prettier rather than it's longevity. Stainless, Aluminum, Nicop or off the roll or off the shelf steel depends a lot o your skills for working with it and what your wallet allows. Nicop probably being the most user friendly.

Rubber hose = As 19Eddy30 said in post 5 spend the extra few bucks and buy the name brand hose intended for Ethanal gas and be done with it. there shouldn't be more than a couple of feet of it on any car at most anyhow.