Porous fuel feed and return pipes on HDI 110?

[HDI]

Noticed a smell of diesel when having a nosey under the bonnet, nothing obvious until I noticed that the rubber feed and return pipes that supply the fuel filter were wet with diesel. Wiped them off, had an inspection but couldn't locate any damage or leak area's. Checked them agian the following day and they were moist with fuel again.
Seems they are porous, is this common problem.
Replacing them won't be fun!

[Peter.N.]

If they are plastic they don't usually go porous but if you have a leak at one end the fuel will very soon creep along the pipe. You really need to clean the pipes off and then watch them with the engine running.

Peter

[HDI]

Done that. It is a slow process, after wiping them dry nothing is apparent when running for a 10 or 20 mins. It's the following day when fuel is visible on the outer surface of both pipes. The material is hard rubber. There are no actual leak points evident, fuel weeps through over about 20 -30 cms at the engine end. I'm pretty certain it is due to porosity.

[Peter.N.]

If it is actually rubber you could be right, all the Hdi's I have had dealings with have had hard plastic pipes, maybe someone has replaced yours, rubber pipe is certainly easier to work with. You should be able to obtain a length of pipe from a motor factors or if not from ebay.

Peter

[HDI]

They are the original formed rubber pipes. If it's possible to cut the affected section out and replace with some standard fuel hose I'll do that. I haven't yet seen how they are connected at the filter though.

[Peter.N.]

I don't see why not, if you need to join it you can uses a section of smaller hard plastic pipe between the sections. My Hdi's have plastic pipe fitted to quick release type connections on the filter, looks as though its been fitted warm as its pushed in hard, I don't see why you can't use rubber although the connections may be different on yours.

Peter