2006 msa blue book

[Anuauto]

Cant speak for what weird interpretations some race scrutineers may seek to apply but in other branches (rallying, speed events etc) "protection" of metal fuel pipes in the passenger compartment (or the "habitacle" for the French language-biased FIA) means some sort of protection against damage (typically, thick plastic pipe split and fitted over the metal pipe), not any form of complete containment such as being sheeted over. Surely extended runs of braided steel are widely recognised as not a good idea? Their purpose is to replace other types of flex hose, not metal pipe.
I'd worry more about the Section E GR that requires all OIL pipes in the passenger compartment to be metal or metal braided. At some events I've done virtually every car could have been excluded for having a standard type plastic line to the oil pressure guage on the dash.

[midgetman]

>>>>>>a standard type plastic line to the oil pressure guage on the dash.

I never thought of that; will correct on this year's build. I did run with a fuel pressure gauge in my Turbo once (for diagnostics only) and thought then that the plastic pipe didn't feel that safe. Took it off ASAP.

tnx for tip

[Al Weyman]

I used to run with an aeroquip line to a fuel pressure guage but was not havvy with it so mounted the guage outside. I still dont think a line in the car is safe you should use a sender unit. The oil guage line seems OTT I cant see anyone getting hurt to bad from one of those leaking but as for fuel lines I dont think they should be in the cab protected or not.

[RED21]

Thanks for the response, I have re-read the 2005 book and the section (also greyed out?) is almost identical except the last few words " manufactures approved joint" so it looks like just a wording change.
This section puzzled me because I've had in the car since 2003 the Goodridge alloy hard lines with out any comments from the scrutineers or from any official during inspection? But a phone call to the right people in the new year would help to clear things up a bit.

[Anuauto]

I've had a plastic oil guage pipe come off at the block end (where admittedly it's hotter and more likely to fail if it's going to) and leak at the guage end. Were it to come off at the guage end, drop down and spray hot oil at 70psi on to your...er...lap, I guess it might get your attention.

[zefarelly]

to be perfectly honest this all sounds ludicrous to me, at least for my car.

manufadturers methods on an old cortina means plastic pipe pushed on a steel stub pipe.

I rab solid copper through the car becasue it was easy to work with and gave me a hard piped fuel supply, the brake line runs along side it down the opposite side of the tunnel to me. I've seen loads of cars the same.

[dtype38]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

to be perfectly honest this all sounds ludicrous to me, at least for my car....... I've seen loads of cars the same.

I'm not sure your reasoning will cut much ice in the scrutineering bay. Worth the risk?

FWIW you could try and get hold of the name/number of one to the scrutineers that are usually at meetings where there are plenty cars like yours (CSCC, CRTC ?) and just ask.

[Al Weyman]

Yes but Zef just supposing for example and I dont know where your lines are, you had a severe side impact caving the car floor pan into the lines and fracturing them, you then could have a scenario where pressurised fuel could spray over you and the interior and one spark and you are toast. Interestingly enough most race prep books I have read from the states do not advocate an electric pump but an engine driven one for safety reasons as is indeed fitted on the Penske IROC car I have. In the event of a big one invarably the engine would stall so no pressurised fuel pumping through the lines. If electric supplies are used they are generally connected to an oil pressure switch so they cut off as well in the event of a crash. Never seen FIA or MSA ask for this, maybe they should?

[Austinspace75]

I know this thread is old, but it doesn't appear to reach resolution regarding the fuel line/pipe/cockpit issue in the last few posts.

My car has unbroken hefty copper pipes p-clipped to the inside of the length of the interior along one side of the tunnel. Did anyone who has the same or alike arrangement but didn't act on the 'protection' statement in the blue book suffer any problems with scrutineering or even a fire last season?

i.e. Do I NEED to do anything about it right now? I'm racing in a couple of weeks and already have a very long list of mandatory jobs to do.

Any advice or experience of this issue would be appreciated.

Ta.

[RED21]

I did not do any thing more on this subject just carried on with no comments from any one, but the MSA published a short piece on fuel pipe protection in their "Wheels" leaflet (page2) trying to clarify it a bit more, see link.
http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/m...02_2007_A4.pdf

[Austinspace75]

Originally Posted by RED21

I did not do any thing more on this subject just carried on with no comments from any one, but the MSA published a short piece on fuel pipe protection in their "Wheels" leaflet (page2) trying to clarify it a bit more, see link.
http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/m...02_2007_A4.pdf

Great, thats exactly what I needed to see. i.e. that where you have metal pipes, there is no mandatory requirement to protect them.

Thanks for that, its one less thing to be titting around with before the first race of the season.