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PSA: My cheap fix for a slow fuel line drip on an older rig
Was dealing with this '97 Cummins that had a tiny fuel leak at a fitting, just enough to make a mess. Normally I'd swap the whole line, but parts were backordered. Got desperate and tried layering two regular fiber washers instead of one. Cleaned the threads real good, stacked the washers, and torqued it down slow. No leak after a week of daily runs, which shocked me. Total cost was basically nothing from my odds and ends drawer. Feels good to beat a problem without spending a fortune. Figured I'd share since we all hate those annoying seeps.
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smith.lee6mo ago
Question if it even needed fixing in the first place. Seen plenty of those slow seeps on old diesels that never get worse, just make the area look wet. Might have just been a weep, not a real drip. Sometimes chasing the perfect seal on a 25 year old truck is a waste of time if it's not actually dripping on the ground.
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ruby_bell476mo ago
Smith.lee is right about not chasing the perfect seal on an old truck. These engines have been through so much that a little weep is part of their character. I've seen guys replace a gasket only to have another leak pop up right next to it. You end up spending hours and money for no real gain if it's not dripping. On something that old, you have to pick your battles based on what actually affects how it runs. It's better to just keep an eye on it and only fix the stuff that really matters.
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victoradams6mo ago
Check your fluid levels every other week instead. My 7.3 leaks maybe half a quart between changes. I just add a little and keep driving. Spending a weekend pulling parts to stop a stain on the driveway is how you find the next, worse leak. As long as the puddle isn't growing, just top it off and call it a feature. Fixing every weep turns a truck into a hobby.
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