Stainless braided fuel hose is the performance alternative to conventional rubber fuel hose, used on modified and competition installations where higher burst-pressure rating, improved abrasion resistance, and the distinctive visual appearance are valued, and as a long-life replacement for the short sections of rubber flexible hose in any classic-MG fuel system. The MGOC hose is assembled from TUV-approved Cohline or Petroflex braided hose to DIN 73379-2A, the European standard for fuel-delivery hose on the pressure side of an electric fuel system, rated to withstand E10 ethanol-blended petrol and a working temperature range of around -30°C to +50°C that covers every realistic under-bonnet condition.
Original-pattern natural rubber hose is both incompatible with modern ethanol-blended pump fuel and prone to external deterioration from under-bonnet heat, either of which can cause hose failure within a few seasons of ordinary road use, so the ethanol-resistant braided specification is particularly valuable for cars in regular service.
Construction & Benefits
The construction uses an inner liner, typically PTFE, also known as Teflon, covered by a woven stainless-steel braid that protects the liner and provides the load-bearing structure. The PTFE liner is chemically inert to petrol, ethanol, and any of the fuel-related chemicals that a classic-MG system might see, dimensionally stable across the working temperature range, does not soften under heat, does not harden over time, and does not swell or degrade under E10 exposure, increasingly important as UK petrol standards continue to evolve. The stainless braid takes the structural load of the system pressure, allowing the hose to withstand burst pressures well beyond anything a classic-MG fuel system will actually produce, and provides excellent abrasion resistance that protects the liner from the chafing damage that would eventually cause failure in a softer rubber hose, a particular benefit where hoses route through the engine bay in proximity to the exhaust manifold and other hot or abrasive surfaces.
Where Braided Hose is Used
A classic-MG fuel system is typically a combination of rigid copper or steel pipe running along the chassis and short flexible hose sections at three principal points where engine movement, vibration, or service removal require a flexible joint, at the pump inlet from the tank-side rigid line, at the pump outlet into the forward engine-bay line, and at the forward end of the line where fuel crosses over to the carburettor float chambers, with H4 or HS4 carburettor configurations differing in routing from the larger HD6 or HIF4 installations but using the same hose specification. Each of these flexible sections is a candidate for replacement with braided hose, and replacement is best carried out as a complete engine-bay set rather than piecemeal, ensuring uniform condition and a consistent appearance, with the in-line fuel filter and all pipe connections inspected at the same time.
Formats, Fittings & Installation
Cohline and Petroflex braided hose is available in three formats, by the metre for owners cutting hose to the exact length required, typical for restoration work where the original line routing is being reproduced precisely, as pre-cut lengths for the standard engine-bay runs where the dimensions are known and consistent, and as complete engine-bay hose kits that bundle the correct lengths and clips for the specific carburettor configuration as a single package. Stainless braided hose typically uses dedicated end fittings, AN-pattern fittings in the appropriate sizes such as AN-6 for most classic-MG applications and AN-8 for higher-flow V8 installations, crimped or screwed onto the hose with specific assembly tools producing a leak-tight connection. For simpler installations using the original pipe tails, dedicated Petroflex hose clips should be used in place of standard worm-drive clips, as the braided outer requires a clamp designed to grip without damaging the weave, and the clip should be sized to the outer diameter of the braided hose rather than to the rubber-hose dimension for the same internal bore, as the braid and inner liner together produce a slightly larger OD. Ethanol-compatible hose specification is only effective if the hose-to-tail joint is correctly made, a slack or undersized clip will leak at pressure regardless of the hose's own rating, and the distinctive appearance of the polished metallic braid gives a clean engine-bay look that complements modified or competition specifications, particularly effective on rubber-bumper cars where engine-bay hoses are more prominent.