fuel pressure accumulator: required?

[Huw Powell]

> I just diagnosed a fuel leak on my 1986 5000 CSTQ to the fitting on the
> accumulator in the supply line just in front of the right rear wheel. I
> ended up cutting the supply line to the accumulator just before it and
> adding a piece of quarter inch rubber hose directly to the metal fitting
> that connects to the line running forward to feed the fuel filter in the
> engine compartment.
> First, what is the potential  consequence of removing the accumulator from
> the circuit?

I think it acts to smooth out the pressure put out by the fuel pump -
that is it acts to buffer spikes and keeps pressure up during little
drops.  But that is just a guess.  I would not remove it if I were you.

> Second, anyone found a reliable way to terminate the hard plastic pipe Audi
> uses? I tried barbed fittings, but 1/4 inch was too big and 3/16 was too
> small. The tube does not stretch at all to accommodate an internal fitting
> (I don't know how it's done in the factory, it looks like heat shrink). I
> tried boiling water and a heat gun, but the tube does not soften. In the
> end I forced the 1/4 inch rubber tube over the top of the plastic tube and
> added a hose clamp but I'm not that confident about this solution.

Have you priced a replacement hose?  They are usually around $30.  I
have seen "hack in" work on these, but only when it is the hose that is
bad - using the two good ends and some rubber hose.

> Third, what pressure is this system working at?

roughly... 100 psi, I believe.

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/