Not wishing to be alarmist, but please read.
Please read carefully the email posted on MogTalk below. I have been harping on about the issue with ethanol in petrol nowadays and its impact over time on fuel lines and seals, especially rubber. It caused the failure of our 2003 BMW Mini Cooper S submerged high pressure diaphragm pump 3 years ago. So I would inspect carefully and replace if in doubt. I believe 95 Octane now has a minimum of 5% ethanol up to 10% and 97/98 octane from main petrol companies I believe is around 3% with additives to increase octane. Ethanol is corrosive to rubber and plastics over time and becomes acidic if it separates from petrol if beyond its shelf life(30 days in vented tank, 90 days sealed) and then absorbs H2O and becomes more corrosive. So cars left standing are are more susceptible to this.
Regards
Adrian
This may be of help
Fuel Lines and Ethanol "Hi David and Sue.
The following may be of interest to our readers, The Morgan Motor Company and even national dealerships re fuel effects on rubber lined braided fuel pipes etc.
I have steel braided hoses on the fuel injection system of my Plus 8. I have not renewed them since owning the car so not sure how long they have been on, although purchased from a Morgan main agent. Whilst taking her today to my local service garage for a simple oil and filter change just before I reached the garage I noticed an extremely strong smell of fuel, she began to misfire and before I knew it my feet where covered in fuel as was the whole engine and manifold on the off side. Very lucky if she had ignited it would have gone off like a bomb and I dread to think what would have happened to me. When the garage lifted the bonnet the braided fuel pipe was like a garden sprinkler with many leaks through the braiding shooting fuel under pressure all over the engine and even through the bulkhead onto my feet and the carpet.. I have been told that even the slightest smell of fuel in the garage, often taken as a general engine smell, could suggest a perished fuel line.
Questions I believe should be addressed.
1. Are metal braided rubber hoses satisfactory for Morgan injection systems?
2. If they are what is the recommended shelf life?.
3. Does the company use braided hoses and if so what is the life expectancy?
4 Does the company recommend an alternative safer replacement – Teflon etc?
I believe as a club we should take this issue extremely seriously (especially as I have now brought to the clubs attention) as there may only be one incident of a serious engine fire but it could be fatal, as mine could have been today. I believe he Morgan Motor Company should give their professional advice to members and dealerships alike.
Best wishes
Tony"