Leaking Gas under the hood

[cpreiti]

I go to start the car today and i smelled gas. When i popped the hood i saw that it was leaking gas, it leaks above that silver clamp. You could see where its wet above the clamp and hose. Is it something someone should look at or should i remove that hose and replace it? Is the car drivable?
Thanks for the help

[pope]

That is the fuel line for the cold start injector valve. Just replace the hose and get a better worm gear clamp while your at it. NO, it is never good or safe to drive a car that is leaking gas, especially fuel injected motors with about 36psi of pressure.

There is not enough hose to cut the end off and refit, so a new one is required.

[cpreiti]

thanks pope. Is that a worm gear clamp on there now?

[ga.spyder]

Change it!! I almost burned my garage down last winter ,when that same hose split.I started the car ,and smelled gas.Opened the hood and it was spraying everywhere.Like Pope said ,there is a lot of pressure there. My car was parked by a wood stove.Not a good combination!!
Craig

[pope]

No it isnt. A worm gear is the standard american hose clamp that as you tighten the screw, it rides in these little groves and tightens the clamp.
Good Luck. Great time to catch it.

[So Cal Mark]

replace the hose, but not the clamp! Worm gear clamps should not be used for fuel hose; they cut into the hose and shorten the life of the hose. The clamp that is on your hose now is the right clamp. It's designed for fi hose and costs about 5 times what a crummy worm gear clamp costs

[cpreiti]

replace the hose, but not the clamp! Worm gear clamps should not be used for fuel hose; they cut into the hose and shorten the life of the hose. The clamp that is on your hose now is the right clamp. It's designed for fi hose and costs about 5 times what a crummy worm gear clamp costs

Thanks. Do I have to shut off any valves before I remove the hose? Can I take the hose off and leave it off for a couple hours or must I put the new one on right away?

[So Cal Mark]

there aren't any valves to shut off, but relieve the fuel pressure slowy rather than just cutting or pulling the hose off. Make sure you get high pressure hose

[cpreiti]

what do you mean by relieve the fuel pressure slowly. How do I do that?

[rlux4]

Fuel pressure on the FI system is much higher than on a carbureted car, 35-45 lbs. The pressure may bleed down on its own (that's why your fuel pump will come on for a few seconds when you turn the key on) but don't count on it. When you go to take the hose off of the cold start valve, do it slowly and carefully. Wear eye protection. If the pressure is still high it will spray pretty good and the hose is pointed up. It won't spray for a long time, usually one strong burst.
I've often wished our cars had a schrader valve on the fuel rail like some other FI cars do, it is handy for checking and bleeding off pressure.
Ron

[kristoj]

In most repair manuals, it covers the proper procedure for relieveing the pressure before you open up you fuel system. They recommend you use a vacuum pump on the lower hose coming off the fuel pressure regulator. This will relieve any remaining pressure in the system, before you open it up.

Also, you have to be extremely careful that you don't get ANY dirt or debris into your FI system. Make sure the new hose is completely clean and free of any little pieces of rubber or other debris. It doesn't take much to clog a fuel injector.

[cpreiti]

what size would that hose be?
Thanks