copper diesel fuel lines. good idea? bad idea?
 

Hey Guys,

Any reason you can't use copper for diesel fuel lines? I couldn't think of one. I'm talking about the commonly available stuff you would find at ace hardware.

I suppose it could work harden a little with enough years of vibration. But even then, if it were to crack, sitting in a puddle of diesel isn't nearly as dangerous as sitting in puddle of gasoline.

What thinks ye?

http://jason.pepas.com/photos/oddsan...opper-tube.jpg

won't take the pressure over time.

is this for the high pressure lines from the pump?

definite NO-NO!

you can buy OEM fuel line for cheap and its proven to work

why screw with something the mercedes engineers put in place

Most copper lines have fairly thin walls and the durability in a vehicle environment with vibration and shock would be questionable.

The cost of a proper copper line with sufficient wall thickness would be prohibitive.

apparently there is a problem with sanctioning bodies as well. http://forums.hybridz.org/showpost.php?p=358107&postcount=11

edit -- oh, nevermind, he's probably talking about racing sanctioning bodies.

oh definitely not. this is just to run low pressure supple and return lines to my fuel tank (in my 67 chevy pickup -- this is for the "gm benz" project).

interesting.. I wonder what the prohibitions are for?

Copper will cause a nasty reaction with WVO.

Even if it is well-purified? Why is this?

I think its the free fatty acids that turn copper and wvo into a green snot.Clogs filters when it breaks off.Now you can use copper to run hot antifreeze and wrap it around your filters.

find some stainless or something that wont react with diesel or biodiesel

coper lines as a fuel line will have less issue if they are attaced via rubber at both ends (rubber fuel line few inches long used to mate things at both ends. Maybe a few in the middle too?? Have flexable attachement points thru out. Or I should say... that's the way I seem to understand it from reading. The copper lines will work harden from vibration, then crack and leak etc. if hard attached. Thus the need for flex attach

Now there is the WVO issue. If your running sweeet clean wvo (which is only thing you should run) which is for sure tested for zero water and you do not have long periods of fuel sitting exposed to air (more of a tank issue than fuel lines right).... then .....

the jury is still out... Lots of miles on copper lines out there in the WVO world with no issues. Most WVO fuelers in the beginning used copper. Some had issues. Most no from what I read. It has been hypothosized that much of those who had issues did not dewater well if at all (water soluble acids causing issues wiht copper, no issue if dewatered?). Then there is the polymerization issue that has come to light over the last couple years. This does require air though so much of your fuel line should be airless.

IMHO--- go for it "if you must" put in extra inline fuel filters. Push fuel from a 12v fuel pump in the back by the tank and get rid of all sucking air issues since your not sucking a damn thing.

Other wise... for the few extra pennies why go copper? Regular metal fuel line is not hard to come by. So go with regular fuel line along with a push pump

I've had around a dozen diesel coaches that ran copper fuel lines, pretty common on diesel boats too. It is fine for diesel fuel. Brass however, has a corrosive reaction to contact with ULSD according to the DOE papers on ULSD compatibility.

I know nothing about the reaction with Bio or WVO.

I'd imagine as a fuel line running under the car it would be fine. It'd resist corosion better than steel.....but wouldn't be as durable if something hit it....

Now, stainless hose or something....that'd last forever!

Might be what I use when I replace my lines (probably going to this summer)....