42 replies to this topic

[tiger99]

crf150,

 

If you have copper and cupro-nickel side by side, you can tell them apart easily. Not so easy if you only have one. When clean and polished, copper is reddish-pink, and dulls down to a brownish red after a while, but kunifer, although pink, has a hint of grey, and tends to be duller. Bend them, copper is soft, and soom work-hardens, then breaks, if you bend it too often. It requires only light force in the flaring tool. Kunifer is much stiffer, and harder to flare.

 

But if the pipe was sold for automotive use, it "should" clearly state on the packaging what it is and what specifications it meets. If not, whoever supplied it is a cowboy, not following proper QA procedures. Not surprising....

[zerobelow]

I saw some discussion here re: the cunifer suitability for fuel/ethanol. I've been under the impression that cunifer is perfectly fine for all modern fuels, and sent an email last week to Fedhill (a cunifer reseller in the US) last week. Their reply, while terse, was clear: "Cunifer is well suited for use with ethanol and ethanol blends." Granted, this is coming from the salesman, but I have not seen anything that would contradict this. 

[crf150]

 

are these the same ?

[crf150]

[Gerbil367]

Just come across this thread - does anyone know who supplies the proper type of fuel line for a mini - looked on minispares but could only see the shorter hoses or lines for MPI/SPI? 

 

Mine seems to hang way too low at the front end and sometimes scrapes which worries me (no damage yet, but just problem waiting to happen) - should I just fit a bracket onto the underside of the car to push it up (which means making holes in the floor) - it sits in all the channels along the floor already.  Sorry if Im taking this off subject slightly.  Any advice welcome.

[ado15]

So just to clarify before I go on the hunt for stuff, Is the ID of the main underbody fuel pipe 6mm (1/4") ?

 

No. Pipework is measured as OD and the standard one is 1/4" OD.

 

 

I suspect the gumming up of fuel components is more pronounced in modern injected cars. Carbs are pretty easy going when it comes to contaminants. The info Tiger is giving is still perfectly valid of course. Just maybe not quite so critical on a carb car.

 

We've never known an issue with using copper fuel lines on older cars. But that's not to say the chemistry isn't happening. It's just that it doesn't appear to be a problem.

 

Brake lines should never be copper though as has been pointed out on numerous occasions!

Edited by ado15, 05 March 2014 - 01:15 PM.

[dklawson]

Gerbil, holes in the floor are not the end of the world and certainly can be sealed with some RTV or similar.  Rather than fabricate anything to hold the fuel line up, why not use "P-clips" as used to secure electrical cables?  They should be available at the DIY center or an electronics/electrical shop.  You can use those with some short machine screws, washers, and nuts to hold the line up against the car's floor if the line will not stay where it is supposed to be. 

 

[Jordie]

P clips with a rivet (dip in grease or sealer) then fit.

[Gerbil367]

Thanks guys, I knew you'd come through for me - guess where Im off to after work?  P Clips look just the job

[zerobelow]

 

So just to clarify before I go on the hunt for stuff, Is the ID of the main underbody fuel pipe 6mm (1/4") ?

 

No. Pipework is measured as OD and the standard one is 1/4" OD.

 

 

And just a slightly further note: Pipes are measured OD, and hoses are measured ID. So, a 1/4" hose should fit nicely over a 1/4" pipe without a lot of friction. If you are going to put a hose over a pipe, though, I find it good to do a flare (any flare) on the pipe, so that there's something for the hose clamps to grab onto. 

[dklawson]

And just a slightly further note: Pipes are measured OD, and hoses are measured ID. So, a 1/4" hose should fit nicely over a 1/4" pipe without a lot of friction. If you are going to put a hose over a pipe, though, I find it good to do a flare (any flare) on the pipe, so that there's something for the hose clamps to grab onto. 

 

 

I'm sorry, that is not quite correct. Tubing is specified by its OD, pipe is specified by its nominal ID.. which is never as small as you think.  For example, 1/4" pipe has an OD of 0.540" and a nominal ID (for schedule 40) of 0.364".  (Neither dimension is anywhwere close to 1/4")  On the other hand, if you ask for 1/4" tubing you will get something that has a 1/4" OD but you have to inquire about the ID because the wall thickness varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and from material to material.

[zerobelow]

 

And just a slightly further note: Pipes are measured OD, and hoses are measured ID. So, a 1/4" hose should fit nicely over a 1/4" pipe without a lot of friction. If you are going to put a hose over a pipe, though, I find it good to do a flare (any flare) on the pipe, so that there's something for the hose clamps to grab onto. 

 

 

I'm sorry, that is not quite correct. Tubing is specified by its OD, pipe is specified by its nominal ID.. which is never as small as you think.  For example, 1/4" pipe has an OD of 0.540" and a nominal ID (for schedule 40) of 0.364".  (Neither dimension is anywhwere close to 1/4")  On the other hand, if you ask for 1/4" tubing you will get something that has a 1/4" OD but you have to inquire about the ID because the wall thickness varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and from material to material.

 

 

Oops, thanks for the correction, I was unaware of the difference between tubing and pipe! You learn something new every day. In this case, I mistakenly called a tube a pipe.

 

A bit more info from a quick search:

http://blog.worldwid...e-a-difference/

[ado15]

 

 

And just a slightly further note: Pipes are measured OD, and hoses are measured ID. So, a 1/4" hose should fit nicely over a 1/4" pipe without a lot of friction. If you are going to put a hose over a pipe, though, I find it good to do a flare (any flare) on the pipe, so that there's something for the hose clamps to grab onto. 

 

 

I'm sorry, that is not quite correct. Tubing is specified by its OD, pipe is specified by its nominal ID.. which is never as small as you think.  For example, 1/4" pipe has an OD of 0.540" and a nominal ID (for schedule 40) of 0.364".  (Neither dimension is anywhwere close to 1/4")  On the other hand, if you ask for 1/4" tubing you will get something that has a 1/4" OD but you have to inquire about the ID because the wall thickness varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and from material to material.

 

 

Oops, thanks for the correction, I was unaware of the difference between tubing and pipe! You learn something new every day. In this case, I mistakenly called a tube a pipe.

 

A bit more info from a quick search:

http://blog.worldwid...e-a-difference/

 

 

Haha! The subtleties of terminology!