Quick fix? Or am I an idiot?

[glevis]

Need a quick fix for a fuel leak on a gas line. I tried it earlier today but didn't wait long enough to see if it would take...

I knocked all the rust off a fuel line, put a band of putty epoxy around where I thought the leak to be coming from, then sprayed it liberally with an epoxy paint (such as used on ovens and washing machines).

Well, it hadn't dried nearly long enough before I needed to get somewhere so I got a nice splattering of the paint and fuel when I started the car. Knocking the rust off also brought the drip from about every 7 seconds to every 2 seconds.

So basically, what I'm asking is if any of you folks think this might be a decent temporary hold (2-4 weeks) or am I going to waste my time tomorrow by trying it again, but letting the paint coat cure for 6-8 hours. (we're expecting 50-55 degrees F)

[solaris=amazing]

Hey, whats wrong with a quick fix.....?

These quick fixes are exactly that, quick fix-until you can get a permanent repair. One thing i suggest, is the epoxy known as JB WELD-its a 2 part epoxy, you mix it, put it on liberally, and in 20 hours it turns STEEL HARD. Will adhear to anything, on a hose you wanna put enough on to cover (wrap around) the hose so it will hang onto itself and seal.

I used that stuff on a torn oil pan (car accident, hit a 30mph sign/torn oil pan-long story) and it got me through the winter. It was a beater car :-)

Lol, don't use anyones tips if a lighter is involved :-)

Available at home depot/auto zone/pepboys etc..

[dcaegis]

JB might work, i havent had much luck with it because it takes so long to cure. I think the problem with the putty is that it may not be fuel safe and the gas could be eating through it. unfortunately i cant think of any better ideas off the top of my head.

except... duct tape :-P

jk.

but seriously, the local auto store may have a product to (temprorarily) fix this problem.

[glevis]

Thanks. I'll see if the Autozone near me (within walking distance) has that or a comparable product.
Then try and find a ride until the requisite 20+ hours have passed.

[glevis]

A/B Epoxy Putty. $27.99. Might not be in stock.

Does this sound like a comparable to JB Weld? It is a two-part mix.

(I bet it beats the hell out of the $3.99 tube I bought in the plumbing section of Lowe's)

[dcaegis]

its not the same, jb weld is designed specifically to bond to metals, and i think it has a high metallic content so it (supposedly) cures like metal. that epoxy could work though if it's fuel safe, and if so, it should say so on the packaging. Id choose JB over a polymer epoxy.

[Moppie]

When your dealing with a fuel line there is no such thing as a quick fix.

Either fix it properly i.e. a new piece of pipe or hose, or don't drive the car.

Its simply not worth risking a fire.


If you really have absolutly no other form of transport, then you can get some 5minute epoxy.
You will have to clean the fuel line properly though, or the epoxy will just keep falling off.

[dcaegis]

^ oh yeah

duh. just cut out the part of the fuel line thats leaking and replace it with some fuel hose, secured with hose clamps on both ends. why didnt i think of this before

[glevis]

The leak is just before (or after) a 90 degree (large nut and bolt) and the lines are of a significant size difference. Cutting and a hose replacement was what I was hoping for.

(I believe it's a feed or return - and as I can't find a decent diagram of the fuel system I can't be sure what part of the line I'm dealing with) 91 Civic

Rest assure, I won't be driving it as is. Until I can AT LEAST get this thing slowed to an occasional drip here and there. Until then or next payday?...co-workers or I'm bussing it.

[MagicRat]

You could try getting a couple of barbed-end brass fittings (of the appropriate diameters) with a brass union to join them, then slipping the appropriate sized rubber hoses over them, with hose clamps.