Fuel Line

Kodiak450 · May 30, 2009

My fuel line is starting to see it's better days and is a ticking bomb at this point. Shop wanted $320 for the replacement fuel line assembly, which I thought was high. So I was able to find it for less through a GM parts website. GM apparently has some special patent on the fuel line assembly and was told making one cannot be done, unless ofcoarse if you know what you're doing.

So i ordered a new one, saved $50..

Then i decided to paint it with an oil base paint, to help prolong the life of the assembly. The road salt in the winter can be hazardous to lines, so hopefully the oil base paint will add extra protection. It also will not crack off after like unlike regular spray paint.

brims · May 30, 2009

The red lines look slick. Too bad they'll be mostly hidden under the truck.

txab · May 30, 2009

What was wearing out on your current fuel line assm.? The metal lines or the rubber? Good job BTW.

pennzoil29 · May 30, 2009

The red lines look slick. Too bad they'll be mostly hidden under the truck.

Kodiak450 · May 30, 2009

I didn't choose red for looks, just had plenty of it on hand to do the job. Fuel lines will start to get rust on them over time and eventially fail. Seeing how I use my truck for snow plowing and am always first on roads and higways when salt is freshly applied, or being applied, that is when the salt is at it's strongest..I've been keeping an eye on lines for sometime now, must of the damage doen to exisiting line was from the ds tire discharging onto the lines where they are exposed. I try my best to try to maintain them with fluid film, but you need to keep applying it over and over because the tire will discharge water on the lines as well.

Another bad spot for ful line rust damage is on top of fuel tank, where lines meet tank. I haven't inspected mine yet, as it is not easy, because you need to drop tank to do it.

So I kinda figured seeing how good oil base paint is, why not apply it to the lines before they are installed, this way I get added protection all around. I have 65,000 on truck now, so that is far I made it before the fuel line needed to be replaced. Ofcoarse I could push it and wait until they start leaking, maybe I can go another year or two, who knows. Moisture exposure will also tkae its toll on lines. If you get a chance, inspect the lines near ds wheel, if they look like they are starting to get moderate rust, I would get some Extend rust remover and apply it, then get some spray paint and go over that area to help protect it. Then periodically check them over time. Another trouble area is the nuts on fuel filter. GM uses a SS fuel filter, I recenty replaced mine last year and they put on a non SS fliter and it already has rust on it. The ss filter that came with this line already on, looks to have a weather resistent nut on it.

brims · May 30, 2009

I didn't choose red for looks, just had plenty of it on hand to do the job. Fuel lines will start to get rust on them over time and eventially fail. Seeing how I use my truck for snow plowing and am always first on roads and higways when salt is freshly applied, or being applied, that is when the salt is at it's strongest..I've been keeping an eye on lines for sometime now, must of the damage doen to exisiting line was from the ds tire discharging onto the lines where they are exposed. I try my best to try to maintain them with fluid film, but you need to keep applying it over and over because the tire will discharge water on the lines as well.

Another bad spot for ful line rust damage is on top of fuel tank, where lines meet tank. I haven't inspected mine yet, as it is not easy, because you need to drop tank to do it.

So I kinda figured seeing how good oil base paint is, why not apply it to the lines before they are installed, this way I get added protection all around. I have 65,000 on truck now, so that is far I made it before the fuel line needed to be replaced. Ofcoarse I could push it and wait until they start leaking, maybe I can go another year or two, who knows. Moisture exposure will also tkae its toll on lines. If you get a chance, inspect the lines near ds wheel, if they look like they are starting to get moderate rust, I would get some Extend rust remover and apply it, then get some spray paint and go over that area to help protect it. Then periodically check them over time. Another trouble area is the nuts on fuel filter. GM uses a SS fuel filter, I recenty replaced mine last year and they put on a non SS fliter and it already has rust on it. The ss filter that came with this line already on, looks to have a weather resistent nut on it.

That may be true, but you got it none the less.

sonjaab · May 30, 2009

Ahhhh YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The life of a plow rig !

Do you notice a lot of rust and scale under the hood also?

The exaust manifolds on my other trucks sure were loaded

with scabs and rust scale by the third winter. Never had a

manifold bolt head break or rust away 0r had a fuel line or body

rust issue tho.

Thats why I dump them after 3 winters!

Kodiak450 · May 31, 2009

Ahhhh YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The life of a plow rig !

Do you notice a lot of rust and scale under the hood also?

The exaust manifolds on my other trucks sure were loaded

with scabs and rust scale by the third winter. Never had a

manifold bolt head break or rust away 0r had a fuel line or body

rust issue tho.

Thats why I dump them after 3 winters!

I clean my truck within 24 hrs after plowing, whether it be hauling buckets of hot water outside in the cold, or using the hose, and recently I bought a new pressure washer, so that will come in handy,provided it doesn't freeze up in the cold on me.

I've seen manifolds get destroyed from the road salt, so getting the salt off as quick as possible is the way to keep them lasting. before plowing season, i spray the under chasis with fluid film. Worst part about the salt is it sticking to the exhaust. The exhaust cakes the salt on. I've got plenty of mods invested in my truck, unloading one every three years is way too foolish for me. I have an extended warranty that covers alot of repairs, so I kinda welcome the major break downs in this case. So far nothing major has failed me in the costly repair department, probably because I am very meticulous with maintenance and take care of my truck. I've had the ball joints done last year, warranty covered them, also had manifolds done , warranty also covered them too.