Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) fuel leak behind filter

[norcalram]

Need help!

Towing boat home yesterday, got an hour from home, stopped to water dog and noticed more diesel spilling on ground than going into engine. made it home and located the leak in line directly behind the fuel filter. I assume this is the return line as it is under pressure? engine was running fine, a couple of hard starts the last few days until i give it a little gas then runs fine. Anyway, I removed the filter to try to access the line. it's a rubber hose no more than 10-12 inches with hose clamps onto steel. does anyone know how to get that piece off. even with filter out, I can see the clamps with a mirror, but there is no way to reach them or to move it. I also removed the bolt retaining the lower steel tube to the block to the rear of the filter, but it still wont move.



Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It's only been down a day, but I'm already starting to miss it!

 

[KevinH]

that line seems to be real bad on cracking, i replaced it on mine and a friends 98 within a week of each other. the line must only be good for 8 years or something. it really isn't that hard to change. if you have the filter off, climb up on the engine and sit on the valve covers (it makes it alot easier) fish your hand around back there and you can feel ityou can't really see it . there are 2 rubber lines it's usually the long skinny one that cracks, . i believe it's a 8mm nut on the clamps, the first one i did took a little while the next one took 15min

 

[Joe G.]

You MUST use diesel rated hose. The fuel hose sold in parts houses is NOT despite what the clerk says. Larry B. http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm sells a kit with the proper hoses and clamps. You can also get the proper hose at a marine store. The original hoses on my '95 had crimp on clamps that had to be cut off with diagonal cutting pliers.

 

[norcalram]

I got the small piece off that has the leak(about 1 in slit). The kit that LarryB sells is the hose that runs from the frame rail to the first metel line. then my offending piece runs from that metal line to another metal line that runs into(or out of) the injection pump. I will replace the lines from the frame rail, but in the mean time, would i be just as well off to replace the small broken section between the metal lines, or bypass the metal and run one all the way down to the frame rail?

 

[Joe G.]

Larry's kit is for both the supply and return short lines. The hoses are thick walled heavy duty diesel rated.

 

[KYOUNG]

my 98 has quick release plastic lines from frame rail to solid lines, Does yours?

 

[norcalram]

No. Mine has rubber from frame rail about 24" long then to metal. the metal line bends around the inner fender contour up to the block, then a piece of rubber for about 8" along the block to the front of the injection pump. it was this piece that cracked. it is rubber stamped with "goodyear". the lines up from the frame appear to have no kind of clamp whatsoever. Are they just pressure fit?