January 21, 2014
E85 and correct fuel hoses
Why do we share this with the public? because we educate our clients, we don't try to sell you anything we can get our hands on. A lot of shops will try to sell all kinds of kits with out having any real world experience with E85 let alone leaded gas...
Many hoses and o-rings are commonly made from NBR, nitrile, or Buna-N rubber. It is cheap and has descent chemical and temperature resistance. NBR is shown to have "good" chemical resistance to gasoline and E85. However, in our experience, NBR is not adequate for E85, especially in elevated temperatures in high performance automobiles.
In terms of seals, stick with Viton. If you're buying o-ring type fuel fittings, make sure they have Viton o-rings. That is, unless you're okay with risking your expensive motor over $20 in o-rings.
SAE J30R10 Fuel Hose
This submersible hose is generally constructed from reinforced rubber core with a flourocarbon inner and outer shield. The flourocarbon shields are supposed to "protect" the core from gasoline. Otherwise, the fuel will permeate (or soak in) the rubber core, causing it to expand and weaken the bond with the reinforcing fabric. Safe? Read on:
First of all, the SAE J30R10 hose specification does not include E85. Let me repeat that: SAE J30R10 is not for E85. The ethanol molecule is MUCH smaller than "gasoline" molecules, which allow E85 to permeate easier than gasoline.
Let's assume the flourocarbon shields could prevent the permeation of E85. Even so, there is no flourocarbon "shield" on the ends of the hose, because the hose has been cut. If the hose end(s) are submerged, the fuel will permeate through the end of the hose, past the hose clamp, into the pressurized region, causing the rubber to expand, separate from the reinforcement, and eventually lead to failure.
Simple, avoid the use SAE J30R10 hose in E85.
P.S. race gas does the same thing to SAE J30R10 hose ;)
Gates LOL hose is no laughing Matter! Choose your hose carefully, we have posted about this before and this hose can't even be used in regular gasoline. (hose in picture is less then a year old!) PTFE is the only Type of fuel line you want to use in your fuel system investment. Even PTFE is made in different ways. You need to ask for conductive PTFE, most of these hoses contain Carbon in them to help conduct static in the line. Goodridge 910 and 811 PTFE hose, Brown & Miller PTFE and XRP's Raceplus hose are the only hoses certified by NHRA for safe fuel and alcohol fluid transfer. XRP is the most affordable and best of the two.
This Gates LOL Hose was used on the pressure side of the fuel feed on a MK2 Supra, this was an accident waiting to happen! You get a swap done at another "reputable" Shop please check what you are getting for your Money.
10K in a swap, and this is what you get? reused factory hose fitting and cheap push lock -6 with hose that is not supposed to be used with fuel! 10 dollars worth of parts to make more money?
We don't sell this, we wouldn't even install it in our daily personal cars. The pictures do the talking!
Here is what we replaced it with...
XRP - 6 Raceplus hose with crimp race ends! about 40 dollars in fittings including the hose
Luckily this Customer came in to our shop for some other work, and we both spotted this!
Discussion
Sean… We do have hose that will work with Ethanol and submersion… Email Us for more Info.
Is this XRP – 6 Raceplus hose pictured above rated for submersion? If not is there a hose that is rated for ethanol submersion that you would recommend in its place?