Fuel line question

[Lou]

Anyone have a good reason why I shouldn't use 1/4" plumbing line
(fridge water line) for fuel lines?
It seems to have great connectors. Also holds a lot more pressure than
I'll be needing. Anyone use this yet?
Lou

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article . com>,
"Lou" > wrote:

> Anyone have a good reason why I shouldn't use 1/4" plumbing line
> (fridge water line) for fuel lines?
> It seems to have great connectors. Also holds a lot more pressure than
> I'll be needing. Anyone use this yet?
> Lou

What size engine? Quarter inch line gives you a very limited fuel flow
and can starve engines of more than 50 horses. Also, it is more
susceptible to vapor lock than larger diameter lines. The normal size
for GA fuel lines (up to 300 HP) is 3/8 inch.

[Lou]

Well that certainly does help. I'll be using a Corvair conversion.
Lou

[[email protected]]

Lou wrote:
> Anyone have a good reason why I shouldn't use 1/4" plumbing line
> (fridge water line) for fuel lines?
> It seems to have great connectors. Also holds a lot more pressure than
> I'll be needing. Anyone use this yet?
> Lou


If there would be any one part of an aircraft that I would build that
should adhere to strict aviation practices, it would be the fuel
system, especially the fuel line and it's fittings. My two cents.

Neal

[jerry wass]

Lou wrote:
> Anyone have a good reason why I shouldn't use 1/4" plumbing line
> (fridge water line) for fuel lines?
> It seems to have great connectors. Also holds a lot more pressure than
> I'll be needing. Anyone use this yet?
> Lou
>
NO!--even autos use 5/16" line---But I think You're talking
PLASTIC-(spitooie)----

use a #-6 Stainless steel Teflon lined hose from firewall fwd.--& slip
firesleeve over that!----my 4¢ worth.
Jerry

[Stache]

Lou wrote:
> Anyone have a good reason why I shouldn't use 1/4" plumbing line
> (fridge water line) for fuel lines?
> It seems to have great connectors. Also holds a lot more pressure than
> I'll be needing. Anyone use this yet?
> Lou

Answer: Go to http://www.ntsb.gov and search homebuilt accidents and
see how many are related to fuel issues. I have been on several
accidents with fuel problems. Having 1/4 ID can be a problem because
of flow and not pressure. Flow is what a engine requires and haveing
5/16 or 3/8 is a better option. The same goes for the vent lines. The
more bends and connections causes flow reductions and having hight
pressue will not solve this problem.

Stache

[Lou]

>
> Answer: Go to http://www.ntsb.gov and search homebuilt accidents and
> see how many are related to fuel issues. I have been on several
> accidents with fuel problems. Having 1/4 ID can be a problem because
> of flow and not pressure. Flow is what a engine requires and haveing
> 5/16 or 3/8 is a better option. The same goes for the vent lines. The
> more bends and connections causes flow reductions and having hight
> pressue will not solve this problem.
>
> Stache

Thanks,
I was considering 3/8" anyway but I thought it would be a good idea
to ask. Also, I was going to go with aluminum. It's lightweight,
flexable, and should be easy to get the connections.
Lou

[Ebby]

I just started thinking about the fuel system for my project. I knew it was
3/8" but in what alloy?


"Lou" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
>>
>> Answer: Go to http://www.ntsb.gov and search homebuilt accidents and
>> see how many are related to fuel issues. I have been on several
>> accidents with fuel problems. Having 1/4 ID can be a problem because
>> of flow and not pressure. Flow is what a engine requires and haveing
>> 5/16 or 3/8 is a better option. The same goes for the vent lines. The
>> more bends and connections causes flow reductions and having hight
>> pressue will not solve this problem.
>>
>> Stache
>
> Thanks,
> I was considering 3/8" anyway but I thought it would be a good idea
> to ask. Also, I was going to go with aluminum. It's lightweight,
> flexable, and should be easy to get the connections.
> Lou
>

[Ebby]

Thanks for the info here is a bit more detail. I am building a biplane with
a center section fuel tank. Some of the fuel lines will be out in the
breeze. Still use the 5052-0 in those locations?


"Richard Riley" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:26:02 GMT, "Ebby" >
> wrote:
>
>>I just started thinking about the fuel system for my project. I knew it
>>was
>>3/8" but in what alloy?
>
> In the fuselage, usually 5052-0
>
> In the engine compartment, either fire sleaved, teflon lined stainless
> braid or (for short runs that don't have to flex) solid stainless.

[Ed Sullivan]

On Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:44:09 GMT, "Ebby" >
wrote:

>Thanks for the info here is a bit more detail. I am building a biplane with
>a center section fuel tank. Some of the fuel lines will be out in the
>breeze. Still use the 5052-0 in those locations?
>
>
>"Richard Riley" > wrote in message
...
>> On Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:26:02 GMT, "Ebby" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>I just started thinking about the fuel system for my project. I knew it
>>>was
>>>3/8" but in what alloy?
>>
>> In the fuselage, usually 5052-0
>>
>> In the engine compartment, either fire sleaved, teflon lined stainless
>> braid or (for short runs that don't have to flex) solid stainless.
>
I am not sure but I think the fuel lines from my wing center section
tank are 3003, and they have a small section of vinyl tubing just out
of the tank. They've been on my Jungster for twenty years, however
I've replaced the vinyl several times as it hardens. I use them to
tell when the wing tank is getting empty as you can see the bubbles
form.

[Lou]

Ed,
What is the use of the vinyl section?
Lou


Ed Sullivan wrote:
> On Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:44:09 GMT, "Ebby" >
> wrote:
>
> >Thanks for the info here is a bit more detail. I am building a biplane with
> >a center section fuel tank. Some of the fuel lines will be out in the
> >breeze. Still use the 5052-0 in those locations?
> >
> >
> >"Richard Riley" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> On Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:26:02 GMT, "Ebby" >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>>I just started thinking about the fuel system for my project. I knew it
> >>>was
> >>>3/8" but in what alloy?
> >>
> >> In the fuselage, usually 5052-0
> >>
> >> In the engine compartment, either fire sleaved, teflon lined stainless
> >> braid or (for short runs that don't have to flex) solid stainless.
> >
> I am not sure but I think the fuel lines from my wing center section
> tank are 3003, and they have a small section of vinyl tubing just out
> of the tank. They've been on my Jungster for twenty years, however
> I've replaced the vinyl several times as it hardens. I use them to
> tell when the wing tank is getting empty as you can see the bubbles
> form.

[Ed Sullivan]

On 3 Oct 2006 05:32:32 -0700, "Lou" > wrote:

>Ed,
> What is the use of the vinyl section?
It allows for a little flexibility where the lines enter tank (one on
each side) also I dont have a fuel gauge on the wing tank and it
allows me to tell when it is about to run out by watching for the
bubbles.

[Barnyard BOb]

On Sun, 01 Oct 2006 13:47:02 GMT, jerry wass >
wrote:

>>
>NO!--even autos use 5/16" line---But I think You're talking
>PLASTIC-(spitooie)----
>
>use a #-6 Stainless steel Teflon lined hose from firewall fwd.--& slip
>firesleeve over that!----my 4¢ worth.
>Jerry

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Speaking of AUTOS, Jerry....

Over 3 years ago, didn't you promise an auto conversion
that was going to put out 10 gazillion horsepower utilizing
a mere pocketful of cc's coupled to a miracle camshaft?

Since Lycoming is still in business, what gives? :o)


- Barnyard BOb -