Fuel versus oil lines

[flatheadfan]

In a late night discussion last night the topic of using a rubber fuel line as an oil feed line is a no-no. Evidently, stainless steel should only be used. Anyone have any knowledge about this?

Tom

[51 MERC-CT]

Nothing wrong with using rubber fuel line that is pressure and material rated to be used with oil delivery.

[34fivewindow]

For oil I only use rubber hose that made for automatic transmission cooler lines.

[jimTN]

If you have a Royal Brass store around, go to them, they can recommend the correct stuff. Some hose is more heat resistant than others.

[SofaKing]

If your question is about mechanical compatibility then yes rubber oil hose will work provided, as mentioned, it is properly rated, sized and installed. Harley Davidson used rubber hose on their dry-sump big twins for decades. I have observed that when routed with too tight a radius bend the hose can collapse being sucked-shut by a fuel pump. 'Really bad news for an oil line. If your question is about a concours restoration I cannot offer an opinion.

[jkeesey]

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Some rubber hose is not compatible with oil. It will swell it, make it soft, and make it fail. I try to run as much hard line as possible and only use rubber as a connecter when needed.

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by flatheadfan

In a late night discussion last night the topic of using a rubber fuel line as an oil feed line is a no-no. Evidently, stainless steel should only be used. Anyone have any knowledge about this?
Tom

Stainless braid simply covers/protects flexible hose, whether rubber, synthetic,Teflon etc. There are several hose manufacturers, such as Earl's, Aeroquip etc. that make hose designed for fluids that include fuel and oil, and that's what you should use on remote filters and dry sump systems, not hose intended just for fuel.