What's this pipe / tube by the rear wheel (driver's side)?

[Hawthorn654]

Hi all

 

I was checking my tyre pressures this morning then I noticed a pipe/tube hanging unconnected by the rear wheel (driver's side)...  Anyone know what this is please, and more importantly whether it needs to be connected to something!  

 

Many thanks 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS - please excuse the mud

Edited 28 September, 2020 by Hawthorn654

[farty]

It's a drain!

[Hawthorn654]

Aha - well that sounds like a good thing then   

 

What does it drain; parts of the underside of the car?

 

Thanks for the reply

[Skoda_Moda]

Does the car have a Sunroof? Just a guess, but could be the drain for the Sunroof.

[farty]

Dunno  

 

 

 

Could it be for the petrol filler flap recess?

[sepulchrave]

12 minutes ago, farty said:

Dunno  

 

 

 

Could it be for the petrol filler flap recess?

 

We have a winner!

[Breezy_Pete]

12 minutes ago, farty said:

Dunno  

 

 

 

Could it be for the petrol filler flap recess?

Exactly that, I think.

[TMB]

Yeah you can see in the pic that it's clear tube which is what the fuel filler recess uses.

[farty]

pour a little milk into the area below the petrol filling spout (you can rinse it later) and see where it comes out.

Edited 28 September, 2020 by farty

[TMB]

41 minutes ago, farty said:

 (you can rise it later)

 

[mrgf]

1 hour ago, farty said:

Dunno  

 

 

 

Could it be for the petrol filler flap recess?

....So definitely not a cigarette holder, then? 

[Hawthorn654]

Thanks for the replies and help.  Knowing little about cars and had worried that it was something to do with the brakes, or something else that could have ended in disaster!  Happy to hear its something simple and as it should be.  Makes a nice change. 

[farty]

Did you test with milk as I suggested?  Nobody can be certain what that hose is until  you check.

[Hawthorn654]

Will do so in the morning and will come back to confirm.  Thanks farty (that's got a nice ring to it).  Or maybe I should rephrase that!  

Edited 28 September, 2020 by Hawthorn654

[Breezy_Pete]

Why milk not just water?

[Hawthorn654]

Good question Wino - especially for a vegan

[farty]

Just now, Wino said:

Why milk not just water?

Because it is so distinctive.  A cup of milk will colour a sinkful of water.  And it's biodegradable.  Bit smelly if not flushed away.  

 

When I worked on ships, we found a lot of open-ended pipes draining into the bilges.  All bilge water has to be treated in a bilge separator and capacity is limited.  My predecessor was wont to put a bung in the drain pipe and wait for someone to complain of backed up drains!  I preferred to send someone around, pouring milk down each drain.  All the wash-hand basins and showers were already plumbed into the grey water sewage disposal plant so there were not too many scuppers to check.  One was traced to the sink in the Engineers' workshop!

[Breezy_Pete]

I can see its value as a distinctive marker, but in this case I think a little dribble of water in to the hole in front of the fuel filler cap would be decisive enough.

 

Your story reminds me of a yachting 'fail' from many years ago.  The owner/skipper (not me!) was concerned about bilge water arriving without explanation in the fairly new-to-him cruiser-racer that we'd taken down to the med in a staged race, stopping at various fun ports along the way.  Had it taken out of the water at some mediterranean port and insisted that the stern gland get replaced as it was all he could think of, even though the boatyard said it was fine.  Spent a fair bit on the job cause he was in a hurry and then asked us crew to give it a washdown and polish while it was still out of the water...

Shortly after washing the decks, water was found in the bilges once more.  Turns out that for reasons unknown some of the deck drainage went into the frickin boat instead of out of it.   

Simply not clever.

[farty]

Fair comment.  The milk just provides certainty.  Some drains drip.  It might take a while from pouring to scrabbling under the car.

[VWD]

personally I'd prefer screenwash. Perhaps one of the flavoured type. Then you'd know by the smell, and if it does get into fuel, it'll burn

[farty]

Yes, there are many alternatives to milk.  Blood, urine, diesel, petrol, oil, kerosene (central heating oil), red wine, whisky, gin, vodka, cider, beer, and many more.  But milk is handy and won't poison your cat.

[Breezy_Pete]

Quote

red wine

Are you quite mad, sir?!

[Hawthorn654]

10 minutes ago, farty said:

Blood, urine,

 

I think he was taking the bl00dy p!ss!

[farty]

If you have never urinated on a mate on fire you've never lived. 

[farty]

9 minutes ago, Wino said:

Are you quite mad, sir?!

I lived in a mental hospital until I was 12.