I noticed some whitish smoke yesterday when I started up my car in the morning.

Later, after work I noticed fluid on the ground under my car, and it was actually dripping slowly from around the transmission pan. It wasn't red, and it wasn't black, I thought I might have lost my water pump, but it was too far back on the chasis. I opened the hood and saw on my valve cover, one of the braided fuel hoses had come off the engine, I guess it is the injector connection on my #4 cylinder. It was the hose that goes from #4 to #5 cylinder. I put it back on and so far it has held for about 150 miles of driving.

Is that a sign that the hose is cracked at the bottom, or flared... I can take it off by hand with little effort. I am planning to buy new fuel hoses I guess, but wasn't sure if my vibrating engine might have just knocked it off. It is real crowded with throttle linkages in that area. Way too tight an area!

Thoughts?

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

time to buy a new one.. get about 4 feet of the stuff so you never run out.

They are probably due for a change anyways

Anyone know how could a loose fuel line cause whitish smoke on startup?

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

whiteish smoke is water/coolant... don't freak just yet..

you need to see if it does it again. I get grey smoke on startup that in the sun looks white but I have confirmed its grey because of its strong burned diesel smell.. and not a sweet smell like coolant

These are called the return lines, and they seem to last for about three to five years before one or more of them develops a leak or becomes brittle and pops off. There is a constant pressure on the lines, and the fuel that is not needed is returned to the tank, hence the term return lines.

You might need a razor blade (the old Personna single-edge scraper type is what I used) to aid in removing the old lines, because sometimes they are hard and refuse to come off. If you slit down one side before pulling them off, you will probably finish the job faster. One meter (39 in) was more than enough for my 5 cyl 617 85 300TD. The final piece (towards toe back of the engine) has a metal pin in it that you will need to remove and reuse.

You don't need clamps. Just push them on forceably. Nitrile gloves will keep your hands clean. If you are going to use biodiesel, perhaps using Viton tubing rather that the braided lines would be best. These are available, among other places, at http://www.greaseworks.org/store . Dealers, according to some people on this forum, tend to markup the prices o0f these lines a lot, so maybe an indy supplier would do. I think I paid around $7.00 for a meter stamped "Made in Germany".

Just do a vertical slit or two where the line slides over the connector, then pull straight up. Use the old line as a measure for the new one. Push the new line on, then proceed to the next. Not a majorly difficult job, and you will save a goodly amount by doing it yourself. Good luck!

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Semibodacious Transmogrifications a Specialty

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf)
1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda)

"Time flies like and arrow, yet fruit flies like a banana"
---Marx (Groucho)

If one came off all by it`s self, it is telling you something. these are
getting dried out and cracking with age and loose their elasticity. you
could have others come off and they do make a mess and or I guess in
the right conditions, a fire.
I keep 3-4 ft in a zip lock bag in the trunk with a razor blade knife just
for these little emergencies.
had this happen in Salt lake, City one time, and not every auto supply
carries this stuff. used vacuum line that was close but too fat and had
to cut the edges down to fit the barb. got us home though.
charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I had an idea of what I needed to do, but with a MB I thought I would ask other owners first.

The PO I think had some "backup" braided hose, now that I think about it as a band aid, until I order the set..

Thanks as always...

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

Timely thread. I replaced all of mine yesterday with about four feet of viton hose with a braided covering. My old lines hadn't come off, but at least one was leaking, and they were all very brittle and a couple broke upon removal. It's an easy DIY, even for me!

Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

If you are running diesel, not VO, make sure the replacement hose is rated for diesel. If you put on hose rated for gas the diesel will desolve it. I bought mine from a truck parts store near by and it cost less that a dollar a foot. Many auto parts stores doen't have diesel rated hose.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

I got some black braided line from ******** and it leaks. I swapped out the center section that was wet, and it still leaks. Next thing to try is the OEM gray stuff from the dealer.

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1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather

I use the stuff from ********, no problem. Sure it's not a leak elsewhere? Good luck.

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83 SD

84 CD

I got some Viton lines from here

http://www.fryerpower.com/store/page11.html

Not braided but I don't see that being a problem

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-Dan
1983 240D AT, 163K running on VO, "The Patience Tester"

If you can not order the lines now, you can just clip off about 1/2 inch from the old line and put it back on. Just a quick fix for what has to be done.

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1985 300D burning WVO using 26 FPHE, half gallon heated fuel filter,glow plug heater,home made injection line heaters. Home made cold air induction. ALDA full out.
2003 F350 7.3(the last of the great motors)
1987 Paint Horse-non running too, just walks!

I pulled it off and it was split about a centimeter or less. I did have hose from the PO, and enough for all hoses which I will replace this weekend.

Question... The bag had round washers. Are they supposed to slide over the hose and onto the injector nipple?

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

No washers involved.

If they're not flat, they're probably injector heat shields (which go under the injectors- so don't worry about them right now).

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1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather