Stupid leaky fuel line!!

[71C10SWB]

I have been fighting with a hard fuel line and I wanted to see if you guys had expereinced this before.

I have a new fuel pump and new 3/8 Fuel line that I bent up to get to the carb.

I used the flared end that was already on the line. I tightened it down, but it's leaking. I've tightened it as much as I can. I've replaced the fuel pump with another one that was brand new and it still leaks. then I bent up anothe line....STILL LEAKS!!

Is a fuel line flare the right one for a stock fuel pump? Any suggestions? It's not a high pressure set up. The only reason that I changed it was becuase I was having some vapor lock issues so I makde a new line to get the line away from some hot areas.

I need to get this figured out. It's driving me nuts.

[charx2]

I am no expert by any means, but out of my fuel pump and into my carb is rubber I believe....it's not steel or copper that's for sure. Just my 2 cents... Good luck!

[SOON2BLAZE]

Sounds like you have a cracked flare.

[lil hoodlum]

Have you tried thread sealant tape? There is also thread sealant in a tube, for those who do not want to mess with tape.

I hope this helps.

Keith

[hayhauler71]

Originally Posted by lil hoodlum

Have you tried thread sealant tape? There is also thread sealant in a tube, for those who do not want to mess with tape.

I hope this helps.

Keith

The double flare does the sealing, tape and liquid thread sealant will only give you carb problems

[raycow]

Look inside the port you are screwing the fuel line into. Do you see a flare seat in there? If not, that's a pipe thread port, and you need to install a flare fitting before you attach the line.

Ray

[Alex Hayley]

If you do have the correct flares (double to double), you might need to seat the flares. Tighten(tight) and then loosen. Repeat. The flares might need to form to each other. I had a similar issue with a brake line I made. I had to tighten (very tight) many times. I did have stainless lines though which are much harder then steel and aluminum.

[Longhorn Man]

if you have thread tape on the fitting, this can cause leaks too by not letting the line seat up against the pump.

[71C10SWB]

I hadn't tried loosening and tightening the nut to seat the flare. I never thought about that, but I'll try it tonight.

This isn't my first time around the block, boys. I've been doing this stuff for a long time. I've just never had an issue like this. I'm more inclined to suspect the cheap chinese built fuel pump having an incorrect flare or the line not having the proper flare. Or the nut is bottoming out before it's getting it's full clamping force.

To answer a few questions:
Yes, the fuel pump has a flare in it. No, I didn't use thread sealant, that's not where the sealing takes place. No, I'm not going to use rubber line if I can help it, I'm trying to get away from vapor lock issues.

I guess my core questions was: Have any of you guys ever had any troubles with a flared coupling that wouldn't seal? It's driving me crazy.
Thanks.

[Longhorn Man]

I had thought you had a few cars under your belt... but it is amazing at some of the things people think is the right way.
I agree with you on the china stuff. I would try torquing/back off thing a few times, and maybe pull it off and check the two surfaces for dirt ot irregularities.

[shrike]

Did you ever get this fixed? I am currently experiencing the exact same problem

[Lee H]

Should use a little grease on the threads and flare as you tighten it down, makes it easier and less likely to gaul as you torque down.

[storm9c1]

I've accepted it as normal when working with flare fittings (brake or fuel). I'd say that my experience has been about 10-20% of all flares leak on my first time. I usually attribute that to fear of over-tightening. Flares do need some torque, and a set of flare wrenches really do help to prevent rounding over.

As others have said, loosen and re-torque usually fixes the problem. On stubborn ones, I've had to resort to removal of the whole part and do a close study of the mating surfaces with a magnifier. In every one of those cases, I either found a flare that was out of round, or a seat that was buggered up somehow.

[71C10SWB]

I actually ended up going to a different autoparts store and buying their line.
I don't know if the lines that I bought from the fisrt place had a slight imperfections (dropped, mashed, etc...) or if the line was too hard. Who knows.

Another thing I did was used an adjustable wrench to hold onto the fitting of the actual pump. I think I was getting a lot of deflection on the pump fitting as I tightened the line down.

Regardless, it's OK now.

[shrike]

Cool, thanks for the reply.
I'll try loosening/ tightening it a few times and if that doesn't work, I'll get a new line.