Cracked plastic vacuum line

[Ramathorn15]

Hey all,

The past couple weeks I've been getting a check engine light indicating a small vacuum leak (don't remember the code). I'd clear it, then it would come back a few days later.

Anyway, tonight I decided to trace the lines and see if anything looked out of place. Sure enough, the larger of the 3 lines that come from the top of the tank and lead to under the hood is cracked. I've never dealt with a cracked plastic vacuum line. There has to be a way to fix without dropping the tank and replacing the entire plastic line, right?

I'm going to attempt to attach photos so you can see what I'm talking about. (Cracked line is the left most of the 3 bunched together in the photo)

Thanks for any advice!

 

[arcteryx]

Well, I guess you have a few options

1- duct tape
2- pay someone to drop the tank, this way you don't have to
3- you drop the tank & DIY

I don't see a way to fix that properly without dropping the tank. You may just need to tilt the tank down some and not completely drop it. A lift and/or a 2nd person is very handy in these situations. I would order the tube drive til it's on fumes, then do the deed. It isn't fun to drop a tank with 10-15 gallons of fuel in it, not that I would know anything about doing that. er

 

[Ramathorn15]

So you don't think cutting at the break then putting a piece of rubber hosing over the two ends would work? How much vacuum are these systems under?

 

[arcteryx]

I did think about that actually. I think it would be tedious to cut just that line in two spots. And what if it splits more while you are cutting it? I don't think it would be that much more work to fix it properly. Since it's fuel, you have to cut it by hand, no electric tools or it could go boom! It may work, but then you have something kluged together that will last for how long? I don't know the answer to that, it could be a long time. I do know that if I was on a trip and I broke down because of that, I would be kicking myself in the rear.

 

[hankinid]

So you don't think cutting at the break then putting a piece of rubber hosing over the two ends would work? How much vacuum are these systems under?

I'd be unsure about the strength of the remainder of the plastic line, but nothing wrong with splicing from the plastic line to the tank fitting, hose clamps at both ends of the splice, obviously.

 

[Ramathorn15]

From my very short research, it seems people are replacing the entire plastic lines with rubber when they crack. I also can't imagine how expensive an 8 foot long piece of firm, preformed, plastic tubing would cost at the dealer. Probably an insane amount.

I will probably try cut it, then gap it with a piece of rubber because the rest of the tube looks perfect. The crack is in a bend which leads me to believe it had physical pressure exerted on it leading to the crack. Possibly when I was pulling the running boards. The LX is a 2006 that has never seen a dirt road and lives in the southwest. It still looks brand new underneath.

 

[hankinid]

...I would order the tube drive til it's on fumes, then do the deed. It isn't fun to drop a tank with 10-15 gallons of fuel in it, not that I would know anything about doing that. er

I'm completely ignorant about a GMC Suburban with a 35 gallon tank whose pump died about 2 miles from home.

I bought a Carter in-line electric fuel pump and about 10' of plastic tubing to fit. Siphoned out the gas and lowered the tank with 3-4 gallons the pump couldn't pick up. To lower the tank, I cut a piece of 1/2" plywood to fit the bottom of the tank, and attached it to a piece of closet rod that fit the hole in my floor jack.

Steve