Ford Repair: fuel line, rubber line, steel line


Question
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Followup To
Question -
Can you replace a steel line with a rubber one?I have a 1994 Crown Victoria and a repair shop put a long piece of rubber line intead of the steel after they told me that this line was high pressure and they couldn't use rubber.
Answer -
Janko-

  Well...while it's usually better to use steel in a high pressure line, many fuel line repair kits do use rubber lines solely for ease of installation.  In almost all cases, the rubber will hold.  The thing that concerns me is that the shop told you they'd use steel line, but ended up using rubber.  Now, obviously rubber is cheaper than steel so I would check the bill to see if the billed you for steel line and installed rubber.  That would be a major no-no.  Hope this helps.

Steve
Thanks for your reply.When I picked up my car I was under the impression that they did use steel because they said they had too.But whe I checked underneath I was surprieed what I saw,the RUBBER line.I expected to pay between$100-$200 for the steel line.I got a bill for$94+tax,which I think is too much for a piece of rubber and an hour labor.I am really upset what they did because I wanted steel if it was truly a high pressure line.I'm the one who said;can't you splice a piece of rubber at the leak?and they said no.Do you honestly think that this rubber and clamps will hold?Idon't even know if they user the right kind of rubber for gas. Janko

Answer
Janko-

  Honestly, if they charged you $94 + tax, then they probably charged you for the rubber line.  Once you figure in $50-$60 for an hour of labor and the cost of the kit (they actually use a kit and charge you for that rather than just using a length of rubber tubing...at least I hope they did), $94 sounds about right.  As for whether or not it'll hold, I would assume it will.  While rubber wouldn't have been my first choice to patch a fuel line, it will work in a pinch and is much easier than splicing in more steel line.  Just keep an eye on it over the next few weeks or so if you're still worried.  Hope this helps.

Steve