I replaced my water pump housing and when i was replacing the coolant hoses my hand slipped and snapped the oil metering line at the clamp. I have read many posts about having to replace the oml once they break. Is there any other way i can fix this and be safe? I was thinking i could pull the clamp off and get a new clamp somewhere? I appreciate any help you guys can give me

 

replacing the oil metering lines is a pretty hard tasking. especially if you do not want to break anything else, such as maybe the rats nest...

 

I would replace it completely.

Or at the very least, cap both lines, disable the OMP properly, and start using premix.

 

Damn...that sucks. It may NOT be what you want to hear, but you need to replace that whole line. And to do it right means taking a LOT of stuff off.
A lot of stuff....

 

this is terrible. right now its my daily driver and i take the rental car back wed morning. its not possible to get clamp(s) off mcmaster carr (i saw a thread where i guy bought tubing and clamps from them), cut the old clamp off, slide the tube down over the banjo barb and use the new clamp?

 

do yourself a favor. order the stainless steel replacement OMP lines from rx7.com or rx7store.com and install them, i think they cost less than $100. keep the rental for another week if you have to. my previous FD had an engine fire because one of the lines blew oil all over hot turbos. do not take any shortcuts, you will regret them later

 

Though replacing them is the correct way, a wise old rotary guru once told me that you can take a short piece of silicon hose and zip-tie it to the barb on the ring and slip a few inches over the line and zip it.

Though I don't doubt that it works, I would keep an eye on it and change out your lines as my good friend papsmagu has said, as soon as you can.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to try and clamp the tube with the extra parts I ordered without replacing the whole thing right away. The more I look at it the more it looks like i can cut the old clamp off and reclamp with a new one. If that doesnt work ill use car hugger's method. I plan on getting a daily driver soon so I will watch it until I can completely replace it.

 

I checked the price. They are listed at $95. Does anyone know the price of the plastic only Mazda lines?

Has anyone had experience (good/bad) installing them? Go on easy?

 

I believe mazda lines are around 80 for the pair. Ihor and I install s/s OMP lines on every rebuild that comes through the door.

To the OP, I wouldn't drive the car until the problem is properly fixed. You won't know that your quick fix failed until your FD is on fire.......

 

so you its a terrible idea to cut one of the ears off the clamp and reclamp using the same type double pinch clamp? If i were to replace the whole thing i would have to use same clamps and same type hosing, correct? So it shouldnt matter if i reclamp it now as apposed to if i were to install new ones right? the worst thing that can happen is the clamp isnt pinched down enough and oil sprays all over starting a fire (which is obviously devistating), but that could happen if i buy new and not clamp it enough. i was thinking of using some vacuum line or something of the like and slipping that over the tube and clamp for a protective measure.

 

I installed the stainless braided lines whilst doing my rebuild, as it is the perfect time and everything is easily accessible. And believe me (and others) when I say after seeing the condition of the stock plastic lines after years of that nuclear-furnace engine, you wonder how they EVER hold up!

 

I would not use silicone rubber for carrying hot oil. Navigate to, and read the "Neoprene, Silicone, and Viton Tubing Test" (Item 7) following this web page.
I repaired my damaged OMP line using a Viton hose. There are a few more pics of the problem and the "fix" in posts #17 and subsequent on this page.

 

Once you get a new stainless or OEM OM line in your hands you'll understand why repairing what you have is less than ideal.

Basically, what you have is brittle and failure prone, and for all the work that goes into a quick fix you'll regret not having done it 100%.

Dave

 

Silicone won't hold up. It will deteriorate from the oil. If you REALlY HAVE TO you might be able to get away with it for a VERY BRIEF time period. I have worked on a few cars and was shocked at how some people have replaced those lines with silicone and intended the "upgrade" to be permanent.

 

LOL I did the exact thing when one of my lines busted^^ Carhugger

Didn't work too well though, line kept popping off. I'm just premixing until I get the chance to replace the lines.

 

well last night i ground one of the ears of the clamp off. tonight i plan on reclamping the tube and possibly putting some viton hose over it as a precaution. I took everyones advice and im going to order the stainless lines. hopefully the reclamp method will work until I get a chance to install the new lines. Thanks for all the insight guys, i appreciate it. and thanks wstrohm for the links, very helpful.

 

This would be the time to make sure your OMP actually works. Many of them fail over time. I agree with those who suggested going premix...permanently. I've gone that route and don't regret it. I know what engines look like inside after running premix for many seasons on the track. You can't beat lubricating with clean oil over dirty oil.

 

Wise?!!? Silicone will basically dissolve when it comes in contact with oil... who is this wise old rotary guru you speak of?

 

Good silicone will hold up just fine if in contact with oil mist, like a vacuum line. However hot oil immersion (aka the oil metering line) is not a good choice.

David

 

what do you use to premix? i used protek r in the past but was thinkin bout going to a regular 2 stroke oil. what ratio should i use? ive heard 1oz to 1 gal of gas. as of right now its strictly a street car

 

8-10 oz of a good grade of 2 stroke oil per tank is all I use - I happen to have bought Castrol 2 stroke oil from Wal-Mart this time around. Redline has a few very decent synthetic grades that are low-ash formulations, smokeless and in some cases biodegradable. There are people who premix regular crankcase oil. I'm sure there are tons of opinions out there on this topic. 1 oz per gallon may be a bit much IMHO.

 

I think that's the ratio for gas lawn trimmers and blowers...

 

what can i buy from autozone that works as premix? i've been using MMO but its not really a premix.

 

Its a good idea in theory, but here is your problem: The lie is no longer pliable as it was when new. The clamps work on the principal of compression, and that the tubing material will compress properly. If your line snapped, instead of bending or creasing, it is beyond the reliable lifespan anyways... and definitely beyond the reliable lifespan for re-clamping it as a permanent solution.

Just my .02