Nitrile v Viton™ fluoroelastomer fuel pipes

[themoudie]

This is "wake-up call" just in case others haven't checked there fuel hoses in a wee while, or are not sure of what they are made.

The two images show what I found beneath the tank of my Yamaha SRX600 Mono, when checking before filling the tank with fuel and in the light of the UK moving to 10% Ethanol fuel in September this year (2021). The fuel hose is a 'standard' nitrile one that has been fitted for 3 years and sits above the engine and carburettors in a confined space, so it gets a lot of hot/cold cycling. Braided cloth hoses are usually nitrile hoses with a nylon braid cover.

You can see the "irrigation" cracks and imagine their effect of leaking fuel directly above the cylinder head and beneath the fuel tank. A bomb in your crutch! 

Viton™ fluoroelastomer, whilst costing approximately 10 times as much as nitrile hose is apparently more resistant to oxidisation and the chemical effects of ethanol, so, another little job to do on the fleet. Check all the fuel lines and overflows!

Nitrile_vs_Viton™

This is but one of many explanations online.

Good health, Bill

[mthee]

A timely notice. Many thanks, especially as that braiding might hide the cracking. I'll change mine.

[Moto63]

Yes, pretty alarming stuff Bill. Thanks for the heads up 👍👍

[Itsme]

Thanks Bill. Never thought to check mine but I will from now on.

Spartacus

[iansoady]

Anyone remember the hysteria that was around a few years ago re fluoroelastomer  and vehicle fires? The story was that if you touched it after it had beenheated to high temperature it formd a substance that burrowed into your skin and was impervious to all known medical remedies.

Urban myth of course: https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/fluoroelastomers.htm

[themoudie]

Aye Ian,

A load of old b*****ks! HSE link nails it properly. Just get the nitrile gloves on! 

Good health, Bill

[Richard]

Wow, thank you so much for the information about Fluoroelastomers - work have been banging on about this for years re burned out cars.

[iansoady]

As someone once said, a lie has travelled round the world by the time the truth gets its boots on.