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#1
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How necessary are steel-reinforced return lines?
I am replacing the injector return lines on the 1971 220D that I have bought. The car needs some cosmetics and some maintenance, but was driven onto my car dolly. The engine is VERY strong. It needs other things.
One replacement tasks involves the injector return lines. Fastlane sells them without steel reinforcement. I have seen them for more $$ without reinforcement How necessary is the steel reinforcement? What REALLY surprises me is that the lines are push-on 1.9 mm ID with a 3.2 mm OD, about 1/8". When I saw them, I thought someone had taken the spring clamps off. Now I discover they don't have spring clamps! However, I still want to put some on, so if anyone knows a source of 1/8" spring clamps, pls let me know. This is 5 min extra with a set of needle-nose pliers, the cost is minimal, I see no down side. Your thoughts please on: 1. Steel-reinforced vs plain injector return lines 2. The need for spring clamps to keep these lines on (one came off while doing other things and caused a small problem) As always I submit this for review with boundless admiration for my most worthy colleagues (sorry, just watched a movie in Chinese, they talk like that, lol). Strelnik
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Strelnik Invest in America: Buy a Congressman! 1950 170SD 1951 Citroen 11BN 1953 Citroen 11BNF limo 1953 220a project 1959 180D 1960 190D 1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr 1983 240D daily driver 1983 380SL 1990 350SDL daily driver alt 3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5 3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6 |
#2
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Steel reinforcement? Never heard of it. There's zero pressure in the return lines which is why press on is A-OK. Why would they need to be reinforced?
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Bob '82 300D Petrol B-G Metallic |
#3
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The reinforcement is cloth, not steel. Clamps are not needed at all. The hose should cost $12-15/meter.
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#4
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Quote:
1. They are sold that way by some people and 2. I am trying to find out how much overkill this is, or is it necessary. 3. Voila.
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Strelnik Invest in America: Buy a Congressman! 1950 170SD 1951 Citroen 11BN 1953 Citroen 11BNF limo 1953 220a project 1959 180D 1960 190D 1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr 1983 240D daily driver 1983 380SL 1990 350SDL daily driver alt 3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5 3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6 |
#5
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Maybe the steel is for appearances?
I just paid $11 and change for the return lines on my 300SD, from the dealer.
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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST 1983 300SD - 305000 1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000 1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000 https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif |
#6
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Home depot 1/8" tubing supposedly works too.
Spring clamps can be ordered from McMaster-Carr.
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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges $110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges No merc at the moment |
#7
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Viton is used for biodiesel, otherwise any 1/8 inch ID rubber or plastic tubing will work. Clamps are unnecessary as long as the tubing fits tightly onto the ferrules. Inspect occasionally for (a) softening due to chemical reactions, if any, and (b) hardening with age and heat.
Jeremy
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#8
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I use the yellow (neoplene ,I think ?) lines used on chain saws/Small engines. Fexible, strong and works great. Don't want it rubbing against any thing, of course. And you get to watch the fuel bubble through them. Get the size right and no spring clamps needed.
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Diesel-guy |
#9
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Bubbles are not a good thing...
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#10
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I was very surprised to read the content of this thread, as our 1968 220D has all steel return lines. These are all attached to devices somewhat like the spool part that banjo bolts pass thru. When did the return line design go to the cheapie version like used on the 123 cars? The old system only has one section of flexible hose connecting the steel lines from injector to injector with the main steel line back to the tank.
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1961 190Db retired 1968 220D/8 325,000 1983 300D 164,150 |
#11
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When you have clear lines, you come to realize that there are always small bubbles in the return lines. I used hardware store clear tubing on my old 300SD and on my 240D, and both always have bubbles in the return tubing and no problems with fuel supply or air in the system (no problems with the tubing either after more than 1 year).
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1979 240D w/4 Speed Manual, Light Blue Estimated 225-275K Miles - "Lil' Chugs"
Sold but fondly remembered: 1981 300TD Turbo Tan 235K miles, 1983 300SD Astral Silver 224K miles |
#12
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I used some of that on our W123.....its neat to see the green fuel in them.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#13
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Those clear lines get hard and brittle pretty fast. I would only use that in case of emergency.
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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg 1995 E420 Schwarz 1995 E300 Weiss #1987 300D Sturmmachine #1991 300D Nearly Perfect #1994 E320 Cabriolet #1995 E320 Touring #1985 300D Sedan OBK #42 |
#14
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Bubbles inside the return lines aren't a problem. On these cars a leak there will cause fuel to get pushed out (as opposed to VE pump cars with a preheat fuel filter, which causes an air leak on the suction side). On one 300D I saw the lines were so bad you could see them pulsing with the transfer pump!
-J
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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states! Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels. 2014 Cadillac ELR 2013 Fiat 500E. |
#15
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Lycoming,
Ditto on my '69 220D. The return lines are steel, not fabric coated rubber hose. I don't know when they switched to rubber hose for return line, but the steel return lines make more sense to me.
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What else, '73 MB 280 SEL (Lt Blue) Daily driver: '84 190D 2.2 5 spd. |
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