Multiple Fuel Leaks after Lethal Budget Plus Return Fuel System Install

Fdawg97lx

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Hi Guys, me and a friend installed the budget plus return fuel system from lethal performance yesterday and today on my 03 Cobra. We have the system completely installed and base pressure set. while we were setting base pressure we noticed the smell of fuel. we have fuel leaks where the feed line and return lines connect the regulator and also on both sides of the fuel filter where it connects inline in the feed line. The strange thing is the fuel seems to be coming from the fittings on the side where they are installed on the ptfe hoses, the part that is pre-assembled in these kits. We double checked to ensure everything is tight. we did not use thread sealant because they are an fittings. are you guys using any tape/paste? anyone ever have these lines leak from the pre-assembled fittings?
 

MG0h3

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You are correct, Teflon tape or paste isn’t correct for these fittings.

Could be a shitty bandaid but your leak isn’t even from there anyways.

So the hose side of the fitting has a barbed male end that requires quite a bit of force to install into the PTFE hose.

Did mine myself and cranked fuel pressure to 80psi with the engine off for a min to check for leaks.

Maybe cheap fittings or hose? Seems strange you’ve got four ends leaking.

Guess you could try and throw a hose clamp around it to increase pressure between the barb and PTFE hose but it really is quite a bit of force

Unless they didn’t seat the hose all the way but it’ll probably blow itself off.

You could slice the outter part of the hose to expose the PTFE to fitting connection and see what’s going wrong I suppose without too much concern. Just don’t cut into the PTFe


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Fdawg97lx

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You are correct, Teflon tape or paste isn’t correct for these fittings.

Could be a shitty bandaid but your leak isn’t even from there anyways.

So the hose side of the fitting has a barbed male end that requires quite a bit of force to install into the PTFE hose.

Did mine myself and cranked fuel pressure to 80psi with the engine off for a min to check for leaks.

Maybe cheap fittings or hose? Seems strange you’ve got four ends leaking.

Guess you could try and throw a hose clamp around it to increase pressure between the barb and PTFE hose but it really is quite a bit of force

Unless they didn’t seat the hose all the way but it’ll probably blow itself off.

You could slice the outter part of the hose to expose the PTFE to fitting connection and see what’s going wrong I suppose without too much concern. Just don’t cut into the PTFe


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

thanks for the quick reply. i think it’s strange that there’s leaks from four ends too. especially if no one else is running into this with the pre-assembled lines in the lethal kits.
 

DSG2003Mach1

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I had a ton of issues with my return kit. My fittings were leaking from the pin where the threaded part is attached. They had me undo those connections, put a couple drops of oil (forget what they recommended at this point) and snug em down. They still leaked because they were defective. Fragola quality was shit imho

I would call lethal before messing with anything, they to replace all my hoses twice. I had some hoses the wrong length. One with a 90 instead of a 45, multiple fittings that leaked at that pin... it was a ****ing nightmare
 

03cobra#2

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When I installed my lethal kit I had a couple leaks as well. I realized I hade to tighten the fittings pretty darn good. Did that and not one leak.

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Fdawg97lx

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I had a ton of issues with my return kit. My fittings were leaking from the pin where the threaded part is attached. They had me undo those connections, put a couple drops of oil (forget what they recommended at this point) and snug em down. They still leaked because they were defective. Fragola quality was shit imho

I would call lethal before messing with anything, they to replace all my hoses twice. I had some hoses the wrong length. One with a 90 instead of a 45, multiple fittings that leaked at that pin... it was a ****ing nightmare

yea i plan to call lethal in the morning and see if i can get some new lines sent out.

has any one tried conical seals?
 

DSG2003Mach1

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yea i plan to call lethal in the morning and see if i can get some new lines sent out.

has any one tried conical seals?

Conical seals won’t help if it’s leaking where they’re going into the hose (barbed end). They help if you’ve boogered the male end of a fitting
 

03' White Snake

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Hmmm, strange. Installed 2 of these kits with no issues. Just ordered a kit for my brothers car too.

I run custom lines with Fragola fittings and also had no issues.
 

efnfast

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wow! budget & fuel system should not go together!but if it was pre assembled yea that bad!

this. Lines should be pressure tested.

From the above comments it sounds like they use shitty fragola fittings and fragola line. I've seen fragola pushlock stuff blow off ...garbage.

Only use Aeroquip hoses and fittings.
 

cj428mach

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I'm amazed that the lethal kits come with the lines preassembled, so do they give you a specific routing that you must run as well?

I'm thankful that a vendor/member here talked me into going Fore originally, he said the price difference was minimal but the quality difference was substantial
 
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Fdawg97lx

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i spoke to someone at lethal this morning that basically told me to undo the fittings and try retightening them. if that doesn’t work he said i will likely need to send the lines back and they will have to go to fragola to be inspected. god knows how long that will take. I’m pretty disappointed honestly, my car is disabled at a friends body shop so i do not have the liberty to have the car down for that long.

i’ve ordered some conical seals from earls. i know it’s a long shot but they are cheap enough that it’s worth a shot. if that doesnt work i will replace the lines.

does anyone have any recommendations for lines and fittings? i’d like to order soon to get them before next weekend

for those that have provided helpful input, it’s very much appreciated
 

DSG2003Mach1

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can you post a photo of where the leak is for us?

its a royal pain in the ass, my car was down in my garage for weeks over this crap.

if you do buy other lines where you make them yourself you can mount the regulator out of the engine bay which is also good for fuel temps. You should also confirm with your tuner on dead head or not. Mine was pretty against the whole dead head thing (seems to be a very debatable topic though). I would highly recommend some AN wrenches and aluminum vice jaws to help with the assembly process
 

01yellercobra

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My system is mostly Fore. But I do have a couple fittings from Summit in there as well. Haven't had an issue with them.

One of the reasons I didn't like the Lethal system was because the lines were pre-made.
 

Fdawg97lx

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My system is mostly Fore. But I do have a couple fittings from Summit in there as well. Haven't had an issue with them.

One of the reasons I didn't like the Lethal system was because the lines were pre-made.

that is one of the things i actually liked about the lethal system, the pre-assembled lines. regretting that decision now. honestly the rest of their kit is pretty nice in my option(the division x hat, the aeromotive regulator, the plug and play wiring harness, etc.). from my experience the fragola lines/fittings are crap though.

can i buy lines direct through fore or do i need to go through a vendor? any one have any suggestions for a vendor?
 

01yellercobra

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Fore doesn't offer pre-made lines that I know of. You can order fittings and hose from them though. But I'd look at Summit Racing as well if you end up going that route. Making the lines isn't that hard really. After you learn you'll wonder why you didn't go that route before.
 

Fdawg97lx

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Fore doesn't offer pre-made lines that I know of. You can order fittings and hose from them though. But I'd look at Summit Racing as well if you end up going that route. Making the lines isn't that hard really. After you learn you'll wonder why you didn't go that route before.

yea at this point i’m willing to put the lines together myself just to get the car finished up. what brand lines do you recommend from summit?
 

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