Correct fuel line material from tank, or "so that's where the gas smell is coming from" Options

[rjames]

I just took the gas tank to install a sway bar and of course was going to replace the fuel lines that exit the tank and hopefully solve the problem I've had with gas fumes entering the inside of the car. All of the fuel lines that exit the gas tank are plain rubber 50psi max lines and NOT the ones that have braided fabric on the outside. While they look fine, I'm replacing them anyway.

However, less than 2 years ago I replaced the line that runs between the fuel filter and the fuel pump. It's a made in germany fuel line that has the braided material on the outside. It also REAKS of gas as if it's seaping through the hose. The fuel line is less than 2 years old. What's the difference between the braided covered lines and non/braided lines? They both look to have the same thickness of rubber, is one just more heat resistant? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[rjames]

Sounds to me the connection at one end- either to the filter or the pump- is seeping. Fuel then is wicking up the braid. On my '76, one end got hard and wouldn't seal any more, but yours are fairly new so that's not likely.

hmmm could be, although the connections looked good, plus no signs of fuel leaking at the connection points at all. The braided stuff in general now seems suspect to me. Is there any reason that I shouldn't use high pressure lines for non-pressurized runs?

The only hose under the tank that is high pressure is the one that runs from the pump to the tunnel connection.

All lines in the front bulkhead (except for the braided one that I replaced last year that goes from the filter to the pump) are plain rubber that read "50psi max" on the outside. Does this mean that they are specifically FI hose? Seeing as one of them connects the fuel pump out to the hard line in the tunnel, I don't want to be using the wrong lines. I know our cars pump around 30-35PSI, but don't know if a PSI rating above that on a hose actually means that it is specifically a fuel injection hose.