Howdy all,

I'm hoping one or more of you can help me. I'm confident there's someone here who's familiar with my problem because I've been lurking here for a long time and have gained a lot of knowledge from you guys! I just replaced my thermostat housing to fix a major coolant leak. It was a bit of a chore, but that leak is taken care of. In doing the repair, I messed up the fuel line that runs behind the housing from one side of the engine to the other. At first, it was shooting high pressure fuel to the drivers side. I put a hose clamp on it and that seemed to take care of it, but after driving for a couple miles, I started smelling gas again. A check under the hood confirmed my fears: it was leaking again, though just a steady drip this time. After fiddling with the hose clamp a bit, that leak stopped, but the hose started swelling and a new leak started further to the passenger side. I've included a picture of the culprit. The shiny hose clamp just right of center in the picture is on the leaking hose. You can see how the hose is bulged to the left of the clamp. Now I'm wondering if there's a semi-easy fix, or do I need to replace the entire assembly with the fuel rails? I've spent hours searching for information and haven't found squat. Any help would be much appreciated!

 

I guess I should have mentioned: This is on a 2003 Ranger Edge 4x4.

 

Welcome to the forum

Yes, not a factory hose, lol
Someone has done a patch job

The 2003 fuel system runs 55-65psi fuel pressure so that type of hose and clamp setup won't hold up

You will probably have to do some disassembly to get to the connection at the Fuel rail

replacing the whole line from fuel filter to engine/fuel rail may be the only way to "do it right", I don't have a 4.0l SOHC so can say if the are two fuel line sections from filter to engine

Wrecking yards should have them, 2001 to 2012 Ranger 4.0l will have used the same line

 

RonD, thanks for the reply. I've done a lot more research and it looks like this is part of the supply line to the fuel rail. I don't see any way to just replace the hose part of it. I suspect that it was factory glued or epoxied to the metal connectors on either side of the engine. While I haven't been able to find any used parts from the 2003 Ranger 4.0, I've found a bunch from other model years and other models using the same engine. The research I did shows Ranger using the same 4.0 SOHC from 2001 until it was discontinued. I know I can use any of those, but what about other models using the 4.0 like the explorer, mountaineer, and mustang? If so, does anyone know what model years would be compatible? The attached photo is from a ebay add describing this as fitting 06-10 explorer, mountaineer, and mustang. It looks like the part I need, but I intend to leave my stock rails/injectors in place. The circle shows where mine is leaking and the arrows show where I think I can just disconnect the line from the rails. It seems I should be able to bolt it directly to my rails, making it an easier repair. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks, Davisdog

 

Yes you should be able to remove the 4 bolts and replace or repair that piece, probably a re-usable O-ring in each connection.

I would think the only difference will be the fuel line connector, Ford used different connections over the years

The Mustangs would be different but explorer/ranger should be the same 4.0l SOHC fuel system.

 

So I did some more digging, including taking some more pictures of the setup in my truck and comparing them to the pictures of the used parts for sale. While I think the use part I posted above would bolt to my fuel rails just fine, like you said the connector (in the left of the picture) won't match up, it isn't long enough. That seems to be the difference between the different vehicle models that use the same engine. I did find a new OEM part that I think will fit so I ordered it last night. I'll let you guys know how it turns out. Thanks very much!