clear carb/fuel pump tube

[Cptkid570]

There is a clear tube that runs from my carburetor to the fuel pump on my 5.7 260hp mercruiser.

Is there anything special about this tubing? Does it have to be clear? I need to replace mine (it?s rotted and brittle). Can I just get clear tubing from Home Depot for this? Or could I use some type of fuel or vacuum line from an auto parts store ? or does an auto store sell this line? Where do I find it?

Am I correct that this tube is not supposed to have gas in it and is just there in case of some sort of failure?

 

[Don S]

Re: clear carb/fuel pump tube

There should never be anything in it, but if the fuel pump should leak internally, it will pump fuel up thru that tube into the carb so it won't spill into the bilge. It's clear so you could actually see there is a problem. It's not special tubing. Even the clear tubing from a hardware store will work fine for a replacement.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: clear carb/fuel pump tube

Thank you Don!

As always, you are a huge help!

 

[paultech6]

Re: clear carb/fuel pump tube

This tube is special material its called tygon. Go to your merc dealer and get the correct part. Tygon tubing is fire resistant .
If the diaphragm in your pump breaks this will send the fuel to carb.
Pumps in a car just have weep hole and it drips on ground.
In a boat you cannot allow this so they use the tube to send gas to carb.
If you should have engine fire plastic hose will melt

 

[Don S]

Re: clear carb/fuel pump tube

That tube is NOT tygon tubing, and it's not required to be fire resistant. If it lays on an overheated manifold or block it will melt and get holes in it.
All it is is a sight tube so you can SEE if the fuel pump goes bad.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: clear carb/fuel pump tube

I went to Ace Hardware and picked some up.. it was only .63 cents a foot and was actually in the small engine section -- it's used as gas line on lawnmowers and weedeaters and stuff.. so, it is rated to carry gas through it.