Best type of plastic tubing for oil canister lines?

['41 Fat Bottom Girl]

The original plastic tubing for the lines to and from the oil filter canister are getting brittle and leaking at the compression fittings a little bit.

What is the best type of plastic tubing to use to replace those? Nylon? Polyethylene or polypropylene? Vinyl? PVC? or?

Thanx!

[Young Ed]

None. Use steel or copper nickel lines

['41 Fat Bottom Girl]

Yup, I hear what you're saying, steel or cupro-nickel would be bullet proof. But the flexibility of plastic provides some forgiveness and I wouldn't be fighting rigid lines at assembly. These lines are pretty short and, if metal, have no forgiveness and would have to be of perfect lengths. In installation, something has to give, and some tolerance would be best. I suppose an option would be to put a loop or a "U" bend in one of the lines of course, but I'd rather not. These run really close between the block and the throttle linkage and its link back to the starter, with very little room to be putting a loop or a "U" in one of the lines. 

If the original plastic lines worked fine with no issues (until I took them apart) since 1941, I would prefer to stay with the more forgiving poly lines. The original compression I.D. inserts and fittings can be reused, I see no problems there. 

With due respect, I did consider metal, but I'd prefer to replace them with plastic.

Thanx!

[Sam Buchanan]

Nope, the newer copper-nickel brake lines can be easily bent with bare hands. They are what you need to use, they will outlast your time with the car. These were purchased pre-flared with the proper fittings.

 

Edited January 31, 2021 by Sam Buchanan

[Young Ed]

I don't believe those plastic lines are original. Every one I've seen was steel. 

[DJ194950]

A proper type of rubber hose made for the pressure(low really) oils, heat of the oil that can be crimped type or the correct type of push on type ( mine rated push on for 200psi ) have worked for me for 6+ years. Purchased at a local Napa store and made to my specs were reasonable $$. One and done.

Another way if avoiding the hard line idea?

 

DJ

[Plymouthy Adams]

I agree Ed......never seen plastic on these at all, I have an original D19 also....my other D19 has cylinders left and right of the center line so does not apply.

[T120]

So, What you are saying,Tim you are kinda split between the left and the right...(not political, the purists and the others)?

[Plymouthy Adams]

lets just say I go off on equal tangents....

[kencombs]

1 hour ago, '41 Fat Bottom Girl said:

Yup, I hear what you're saying, steel or cupro-nickel would be bullet proof. But the flexibility of plastic provides some forgiveness and I wouldn't be fighting rigid lines at assembly. These lines are pretty short and, if metal, have no forgiveness and would have to be of perfect lengths. In installation, something has to give, and some tolerance would be best. I suppose an option would be to put a loop or a "U" bend in one of the lines of course, but I'd rather not. These run really close between the block and the throttle linkage and its link back to the starter, with very little room to be putting a loop or a "U" in one of the lines. 

If the original plastic lines worked fine with no issues (until I took them apart) since 1941, I would prefer to stay with the more forgiving poly lines. The original compression I.D. inserts and fittings can be reused, I see no problems there. 

With due respect, I did consider metal, but I'd prefer to replace them with plastic.

Thanx!

Regarding the originality, I'm positive those don't date to '41.  After market item installed sometime much later than that.  Having seen the result of  plastic lines to an oil pressure gauge I would avoid any non-metal line for that much pressure and temp.  Failure may be unlikely, but the result could be catastrophic for the engine.  Cupro-nickel is easy to bend and flare.  Cutting to length can be done after bending to make it easier.  In addition, flared fittings are much preferred to compression in my world.  Ever seen a nylon or other plastic air hose when one of the compression fittings fails?  Again, not likely, but certainly possible.

 

All that being said, if you are really adverse to metal,  5/16 oil cooler line material is stocked by most parts stores,  or browse McMaster, Grainger or MSC for other materials.

 

 

Edit again:  Yours is probably Nylon and is available at McMaster, probably others.  It is Rated at 212 deg and 400PSI.

Edited February 1, 2021 by kencombs

[Los_Control]

Curious question. ... while it was never stock in the older cars. It also was never stock in my 1948 house.

 

I am in the process of re-plumbing my house and using plastic pex because it is "said" to last 100 years ...I like it because easy to work with.

 

We know cars did not come with plastic lines. I wonder if any plastic lines today would work for oil lines?

[Sam Buchanan]

1 hour ago, Los_Control said:

Curious question. ... while it was never stock in the older cars. It also was never stock in my 1948 house.

 

I am in the process of re-plumbing my house and using plastic pex because it is "said" to last 100 years ...I like it because easy to work with.

 

We know cars did not come with plastic lines. I wonder if any plastic lines today would work for oil lines?

 

In the aviation community we often use stainless steel braided teflon hoses for fuel and oil. Rubber hoses have a recommended service life limit, usually 5-7 years. The teflon hoses have no service limit. If someone wanted to deal with AN fittings and adapters the teflon hoses should last longer than any of us.

[Andydodge]

Plastic oil lines are common on aftermarket mechanical oil gauges but would not be original to our mopars for as long as they used mechanical oil gauges.....I doubt if any "modern" car uses a mechanical gauge now all seem to be electric......I would not use plastic lines on our mopars unless nothing else was available......which it is, the metal lines are available so use them....but your choice I suppose or get some stainless lines made..................andyd

[Dodgeb4ya]

Plastic in-line fuel filter and plastic oil lines seem like a great upgrade to me.

Probably upgrade the steel and rubber oil gauge  line to plastic too.

Doesn't require much knowledge or effort either.

A common way of doing things these days.?

[Booger]

12 hours ago, Andydodge said:

Plastic oil lines are common on aftermarket mechanical oil gauges but would not be original to our mopars for as long as they used mechanical oil gauges.....I doubt if any "modern" car uses a mechanical gauge now all seem to be electric......I would not use plastic lines on our mopars unless nothing else was available......which it is, the metal lines are available so use them....but your choice I suppose or get some stainless lines made..................andyd

Had some ss braided hoses made for oil filter can. Way too tight to fit up to inlet outlet ports and starter due to fitting sizes. I suppose you could add another 90 to get more room...but now your adding more resriction..theyre for sale

[Los_Control]

In my situation, a off topic dodge caravan we inherited. Father in-law put rubber hoses in when rebuilt the transmission.

They have caused issues and leaks and is a temp fix not a real fix.

15 hours ago, Sam Buchanan said:

 

In the aviation community we often use stainless steel braided teflon hoses for fuel and oil. Rubber hoses have a recommended service life limit, usually 5-7 years. The teflon hoses have no service limit. If someone wanted to deal with AN fittings and adapters the teflon hoses should last longer than any of us.

Since the brass nipples are already installed. Front wheel drive engine vibrates while radiator is frame mounted and distance is about 12" ... possibly teflon hoses would be ideal.

Even the dodge B1B used a rubber line from factory in the oil pressure gauge line to deal with vibration from engine to cab.

While flexible lines are not original, neither are disk brakes or rear gear changes ... both are a upgrade.

[Sniper]

Back when I worked in a semiconductor R&D plant we used teflon lines for high temp (180C) acid plumbing  But you had to use the right fittings to contain the line when it got hot.  Not sure the expense is worth the swap over since running a metal line will do it for a lot less money and aggravation.

[Andydodge]

I had stainless lines made and used a 90degree adaptor on both in & out fittings......teflon tape and no leaks......worked for me............andyd

[Booger]

1 hour ago, Andydodge said:

I had stainless lines made and used a 90degree adaptor on both in & out fittings......teflon tape and no leaks......worked for me............andyd

I can see that I was refering to the engine ports on a 218

[bones44]

 Braided hoses I made with parts from summit