The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Fuel Line - clean or replace?

I'm cleaning my gas tank on my 33 Chevy. Did not notice any rust in the tank, but there was some gum/varnish. Now looking at the fuel line from the tank to fuel pump - it's basically copper tubing. Should I replace ($60 for steel line from The Filling Station) or is there a way to clean my existing fuel line? I don't think there's any rust in the line, since it's copper.

I had good luck with pressure washing the inside of the tank at the local car wash to get anything out, then using an air hose on the fuel line and blowing the line out(make sure disconnected from fuel pump of course.) Then I ran an in line, see through fuel filter just before the pump .

If it's copper and not cracked or mashed or cut I'd clean and reuse it.

Grigg

Thanks for the input, Brian K & Grigg. I will try blowing the line out with an air hose. The copper line is in good shape, other than some dirt & grime on the outside of it. For the tank I'm using the POR-15 system (cleaner, Metal-Ready, & Sealer).

If you can, I'd pull the copper line all the way out inspect it for any spots where it's rubbed thin against clamps or the frame from vibration. That's the most common issue I've come across for soft metal lines.
As for the varnish inside the line a lot of that may disolve with the detergent in todays fuels, and like briank mentioned an inline filter will catch any chunks of goop that may break loose. I used the glass bowl type with a 1" long union tube between it and my fuel pump.

The steel fuel line from tank to pump on my '49 was plugged, so I took it off to clean. No amount of solvent was making a dent. I took my torch & heated the plugged area at end of line. The gum/varnish caught fire & started flowing out like those black worm fireworks. It was really cool to watch & cleaned out the line. Don't worry, I did it in driveway & waterhose ready.

Any carb cleaner will work as a good solvent if you want to clean it.

Hank