Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
Where was the fuel leak...under the cowling or open to the elements?
I will not disagree that ethanol when it sits in a line can dry out the line, but I would bet my entire life's savings ($5) that UV rays would do more damage to your fuel lines that are exposed to the elements than the ethanol in the fuel. Case in point: Check your tires on your trailer after a few years of being out in the elements...dry rot comes in and the rubber loses its elasticity and cracks. No ethanol in your tires, but the same thing happens.
Now...if it is under the hood where the line broke, that is another story.. I would ask how old the motor is. If it is older than say an early 90's vintage, the lines are not alcohol resistant, thus are not made to handle the alcohol....and will deteriorate the line from inside out. A crack all the way through would take quite a while to deteriorate the entire line's thickness to the exterior, so if this is the case, the lines just need to be replaced with alcohol resistant lines and you are good to go for probably the remaining life of the motor. And as stated in an earlier post, the line basically disintegrates into little balls...it won't crack. Gum a a fuel system if it goes unchecked and that is not good either.
I don't buy their ethanol argument...I'd bet more on exposure to elements hardening the lines and finally causing them to split. THAT is more common than many people think. As soon as your lines are not very pliable anymore, it is time to replace them.
Don't believe me? Take some remaining hose after you have used what you needed and put it outside for a few months...let it go through a winter and summer without ANY fuel in it... It'll be hard and brittle as well...
Because many people store their boats inside or covered, the UV deterioration takes longer to occur.
Steve
Edited by VMS 10/25/2012 10:19 AM
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