Conor
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2019
- Messages
- 2,549
- Reaction score
- 1,645
- Location
- London, UK
- Your Mercedes
- 2010 S212 350 CGI // 2004 R230 500
Evening all..
As part of my R230 underside cleanup I have observed some significantly corroded areas on the steel fuel lines. One such area started leaking a bit when I poked it.. Luckily I had one of those screw tight rubber hose clamps to clamp off the feed.
In the first pic, it's the line coming from the pump? filter? and going up by the propshaft.
What do I do? My thoughts are as follows:
1. I am assuming rubber patch lines are OK as I see rubber in places with the likes of a jubilee clip - or more specifically, something like an Oetiker clip. My concern is about forming it.. As you can see in the pics it has a specific shape. Would there be concerns around using a simple piece of hose instead of this as it would follow a straight line.
2. Or would I be better off cutting out the rotten parts and patching with rubber to maintain some of the original shape using steel. ( I don't like the idea of introducing more joined sections...
3. What I see as the best option is to source some steel line (what size, bigger than brake) and cut, bend and use some flares or rubber patch line to join to pipe heading up front.
I think this is the worst area, although there are likely one or two other spots as swollen and pitted as this. For the other rusted but salvageable parts I could just sand them down, treat and paint with black epoxy mastic to seal them up. But if I am buying steel line i'll cut and shut the lot up to about halfway under the car, like you would do the brakes.
I feel like I have answered this myself... curious what others think.
...And boy am I happy I have gone so deep into this refurb. This project should really add some anxiety free years to what is a beautiful car. It should really give me the confidence to rack up big miles cross country in the years to come.. And yes, I know something silly will probably leave me stranded after saying this lol.
As part of my R230 underside cleanup I have observed some significantly corroded areas on the steel fuel lines. One such area started leaking a bit when I poked it.. Luckily I had one of those screw tight rubber hose clamps to clamp off the feed.
In the first pic, it's the line coming from the pump? filter? and going up by the propshaft.
What do I do? My thoughts are as follows:
1. I am assuming rubber patch lines are OK as I see rubber in places with the likes of a jubilee clip - or more specifically, something like an Oetiker clip. My concern is about forming it.. As you can see in the pics it has a specific shape. Would there be concerns around using a simple piece of hose instead of this as it would follow a straight line.
2. Or would I be better off cutting out the rotten parts and patching with rubber to maintain some of the original shape using steel. ( I don't like the idea of introducing more joined sections...
3. What I see as the best option is to source some steel line (what size, bigger than brake) and cut, bend and use some flares or rubber patch line to join to pipe heading up front.
I think this is the worst area, although there are likely one or two other spots as swollen and pitted as this. For the other rusted but salvageable parts I could just sand them down, treat and paint with black epoxy mastic to seal them up. But if I am buying steel line i'll cut and shut the lot up to about halfway under the car, like you would do the brakes.
I feel like I have answered this myself... curious what others think.
...And boy am I happy I have gone so deep into this refurb. This project should really add some anxiety free years to what is a beautiful car. It should really give me the confidence to rack up big miles cross country in the years to come.. And yes, I know something silly will probably leave me stranded after saying this lol.
