Finn,

Thanks for posting this information. Apparently my Aeroquip hose may also be affected by ethanol. Searching the automotive newsgroups turned up several post discussing recent fuel hose failures. Several people also reported smelling fuel with newly installed hoses but were unable to locate any leaks. I have that problem with my RV10. No leaks but a fuel smell builds up inside the cabin after the plane sits for a few days.  Teflon lined “conductive core” fuel hose will apparently eliminate the fuel vapor issue and provide a much longer service life. Not sure if fittings are available for field assembly without special tools.

Bobby Hughes

I got an answer back from ANPlumbing. If any of you are using Earl's Perform-O-Flex Hose, beware:

its lifespan with ethanol is about 3-5 years

the only hose that is permenent is 600006 but it will not work with those end

use 600136 ends



On 1/28/2012 4:43 PM, website@web3.anplumbing.com wrote:

Name: Finn Lassen

Email: finn.lassen@verizon.net

Phone: 

400060

Hose purchased by Russel Duffy in 2003 (Invoice 335040) is now leaking. It's used for EFI fuel hose (about 40 psi max). Regular gas (up to 10% Ethanol).

Have you had any other reports of this happening? 

What is the expected lifetime for these hoses?

Can you recommend another type of hose that will work with the same Earl's fittings (presumably 800106) and can handle Regular gas?

On 1/28/2012 7:26 PM, Finn Lassen wrote:

After finally getting my annual condition inspection done and signed off, I was ready to go fly for the first time in three months.

Oh so I thought.

After attempting to getting the engine started and trying to keep it running, I smelled gas. Getting out of the cockpit I saw a puddle of gas under the cowling with more dripping out.

Removing the cowling and turning on the fuel pump I saw streams of fuel spouting out the middle of the beautiful stainless steel flex covered fuel line hose.

Going through invoices that came with the RV-3B made by Russel, I found an invoice from 2003 from ANPlumbing for various sizes of hose and Earl's fittings. I assume the AN6 hoses came out of the 15 feet he ordered of part number 400060:
http://www.anplumbing.com/search/index?search_text=400040&yt0.x=15&yt0.y=20

Looking up Perform-O-Flex Hose, I found this reassuring note:
"Installation Notes
Fuel manufacturers may have added any number of new unpublished additives to their blends. It is therefore difficult to know how the tube compound used in the inner liner of our Perform–O–Flex or any other brand of elastomeric hose will react with a specific fuel. Because of the unknowns described above, we are unable to guarantee that the hose listed is the best possible product to use with any specific fuel. If in doubt use teflon lined hose. Not to be used with brake fluid."
http://www.holley.com/406006ERL.asp

Looks like my hoses may be yet another casualty of the ethanol fiasco.

If any of you have done research into this, and can recommend hoses that are designed to be used with Earl's Auto-Fit hose ends, please do let me know.

Finn






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