2001 Saturn L300 - v6 3.0 Liter - Won't stay running after a breakdown and bad...

[fdryer]

With ignition on or with engine running, do you see, feel or smell gasoline on those two fuel fittings? Yes = fire hazard. No = move on. The safety clips are there, in my opinion, to restrain each hose with the bell housing from flailing around if one or both disconnect from circular clip failure. The high pressure fuel lines are coming from the passenger side and are allowed to flex along with engine movement. While one clip doesn't move as easily as the other may or may not be important as long as a leak of fuel isn't seen or smelled.

The fixed lines on the right side of the bell shaped fittings are bolted to the intake to secure them from movement. The flexible lines from the left can be rotated a few degrees and pressed to the right. I think at least one O-ring is used per fitting for sealing each set of fittings. There's very little play in fittings once they're connected together. As you can imagine, there should be no room for looseness for O-ring fittings. Fuel line fittings are precise to seal against high fuel pressures exceeding the 40-50 psi regulation. I've disconnected those lines as part of the removal process before the t-stat was accessible for replacement. If these lines must be disconnected, a tool to release the locking circular spring inside the bell fitting will allow separating lines. Reattaching them (clean of dirt and any debris) simply requires pressing the flexible line to the fixed line and listening for a click as the hidden spring locks the line together. Any small speck of dirt that interferes with sealing can result in an immediate fuel leak as soon as ignition is turned on - fuel pump operates immediately for 2-3 seconds if the engine isn't started.

[BrandonKastning]

Originally Posted by fdryer

With ignition on or with engine running, do you see, feel or smell gasoline on those two fuel fittings? Yes = fire hazard. No = move on. The safety clips are there, in my opinion, to restrain each hose with the bell housing from flailing around if one or both disconnect from circular clip failure. The high pressure fuel lines are coming from the passenger side and are allowed to flex along with engine movement. While one clip doesn't move as easily as the other may or may not be important as long as a leak of fuel isn't seen or smelled.

The fixed lines on the right side of the bell shaped fittings are bolted to the intake to secure them from movement. The flexible lines from the left can be rotated a few degrees and pressed to the right. I think at least one O-ring is used per fitting for sealing each set of fittings. There's very little play in fittings once they're connected together. As you can imagine, there should be no room for looseness for O-ring fittings. Fuel line fittings are precise to seal against high fuel pressures exceeding the 40-50 psi regulation. I've disconnected those lines as part of the removal process before the t-stat was accessible for replacement. If these lines must be disconnected, a tool to release the locking circular spring inside the bell fitting will allow separating lines. Reattaching them (clean of dirt and any debris) simply requires pressing the flexible line to the fixed line and listening for a click as the hidden spring locks the line together. Any small speck of dirt that interferes with sealing can result in an immediate fuel leak as soon as ignition is turned on - fuel pump operates immediately for 2-3 seconds if the engine isn't started.

fdryer,

Thank you as always for that detailed post. I have completed the test and it determines there is no fire hazard. I will be continuing.

I took paper towels and went around the fuel lines and connectors (with cold engine) then cut a square from the really nice car wash dryer cloths and did 1 test with a key over. No smell, no drops, no leaks.

I then ran the engine with the same results (1-2 minutes on idle before starting to make those bog down noises-- which I believe will resolve when the Upper Manifold + Front + Rear + Throttle Body + Crankcase Housing is all replaced and Engine Treatment is run through it) and the fuel test also tested good. No smell, no drops and no leaks.

Good news!

[BrandonKastning]

2000 Saturn SL2 - YouTube (Getting a Top Engine Clean w/ SeaFoam)

YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQoA-83UG6c


5 Minutes of Cleaning! wow! Huge smoke clouds. I am just imagining how much cleaner the engine and lines are. The sensors must run 100% better also with less chance of triggering a false positive also I would think.

You would think this would be considered normal maintenance (Not GM); well it's now going to be in my maintenance cycle.