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I just noticed a good crack in the rubber case on the long oil line. Had me worried and was wondering do I need to replace the line which is only 3 years old. That is 3 years on my engine. The rubber is just a protector of the line in side that holds the pressuure I guess?

There is no oil leaking from the line.
What your take on this?

Thanks
Ken

Ken: Funny you should mention this. I just noticed small cracks starting to appear on my rubber oil lines. I restored my M-38 three years ago to. I guess they don't build anything like they used to! Does anyone know of any stainless steel braided oil lines that can be used?

I noticed a lot of the rubber in most item's installed have deteriated in the first two to three years.

The rubber boots in wheel cylinders, the rubber water pump bypass hose, the accelerator pedal boot, the gas tank grommet, so far the Transmission shift boot is holding in there. The Transfer case shift lever boot didn't last long. Every whindshield wiper blade has been crappy.
The generator regulator cable rubber slit and peeled right off the flexable core. The rubber in the spring bracket hangers is cracked as well.

I don't know what country the rubber is being farmed out to. The companies moved off shore and quality has gone with it. I guess we can thank our government for the invironmental regulations imposed on them.

There isn't much pressure in the oil line. You could use it for a while before it leaks, BUT...

If it decides to start leaking during a long ride you could have:

* a mess, or
* a seized engine, and
* a large repair bill

Based on cost of a new oil line, I would change it right away. My $0.02.

That outer layer is the sheath. It doesn't carry any pressure. It is there to provide chaff protection for the inner hose. The industry standard life limit for today's rubber products is 10 to 12 years. If you bought the hose new and it's sheath is starting to weather check (crack) then you should have no problem allowing the hose to stay in service at least for it's remaining 7 years. I would either rejuvenate and seal the cracking sheath or slip a long piece of heat shrink on it and shrink it to seal the sheath.