Fuel hose conjecture/PSA

[4DSC]

My car doesn't get driven a lot and is generally stored in a pretty neutral environment. In 2018 when I was redoing fuel system stuff I ordered some fuel hose from FCP, CRP 16121180409. Fast forward maybe 15k miles and 8 years, last month I replaced the fuel supply hose to the rail after finding a pinhole leak and today after about a month slumber, the return line went too. So I drove off to O'Reilly and picked up a couple feet of new hose, and after replacing that line, I inspected it and found a ton of micro cracks all over it. My friend and I were hypothesizing -- could this be due to European spec hose not being rated to handle Ethanol well? The Gates hose from O'Reilly explicitly states that it is rated for ethanol. I know fuel hose is a wear item but 8 years/15k miles seems pretty weak. Or maybe CRP just makes cheap hoses. Or maybe it just has to do with sitting. Or a combination of all those. Either way, PSA is to maybe check your hoses preemptively if you don't run ethanol free gas. Curious to hear if anyone has experienced the same or has further insight.
 

[Mike W.]

I don't think it's an ethanol issue, that would affect it from the inside. That said I don't know what it is. I haven't done any in at least a decade now, but it seemed like everything I got was crap and would appear to be breaking down with cracks in a couple of years. Brands I perceived as good, Gates, Goodyear IIRC. FI rated hose. I'm not as emphatic BMW on parts like some, but on fuel line, it's absolutely my go to. Out of date like I said, I was last getting it at autohausaz for a whole bunch less than the local stores were selling junk.

New cars are made in an assortment of countries, from here in the US to Germany to Japan to ??? and I bet very few show fuel lines failing in 2 or 3 years. If that. But for whatever reason, replacement hose, even from good names, is not nearly OE quality.

[4DSC]

Interesting, is the BMW hose branded at all? Who is their supplier?

[Mike W.]

Interesting, is the BMW hose branded at all? Who is their supplier?

It's got BMW on it along with a few other things, the meaning of which I don't know. I don't know who actually makes it.

[turbodan]

I have seen 40 year old hoses that looked better than that. That's crappy rubber.

I just hosed up my 85 with Cohline 5 bar fuel line. So far so good, hasn't been 8 years but it's a good brand. I'm not worried about it.

[austin8753]

the CRP/Contitech/Cohline fuel hoses are all junk; this is a well documented topic on various forums. prior to closing my shop, i goodwill warrantied (replaced) every car i installed it on and replaced with genuine BMW green stripe 8mm hose from the dealer (16 12 1 180 409, at the BMW parts counter).

FWIW, every car i replaced hoses on, showed signs of dry rotting/cracking at best, and exploding at worst. i will never use any of their hose again. the 30 year old BMW hose i removed was in better shape than these under five year old CRP hoses.

however, to answer your question, unless the hose is stamped J30R9, it is not rated for ethanol. the BMW hose is of some of the highest quality rubber around, and while not technically ethanol rated, it will likely last a long time.

YMMV,
A

[turbodan]

I'll see how it holds up. I have seen Cohline as an OE supplier before, can't remember which brand was using them though. Might have been Porsche.

The stuff I used was Cohline 2192, NBR inner, chloroprene outer. Working pressure is 6 bar, temp rating is up to about 90 C. If it turns out to be insufficient I'll go the SAE 30R14 route.