Fuel filter???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
Fuel filter???
I was thinking of installing a fuel / Water seperating filter. This is a replacable elimate canister type filter. I have an 81 and I can not find any OEM filter, can anyone tell me where it might be? The reason I want to install the seperating filter is to eliminate the possibility of water entering the carb and pump assy's. Al
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Take the air cleaner assembly off, there will be a filter on the front side of the carb between the two mounting bosses and slightly in front. It should actually say "filter" on it. (it's built into the Q-Jet)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
I am talking about the in line filter from the tank to fuel pump. Thanks for the carb info though. I know of the small final filters. The filter I am planning on installing has about a 1 pt capacity of fluid with a 28 micron eliment. Al
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Atlantic Beach FL
Water is attracted to the ethanol in our fuel. In cars driven every day, we burn through it before the water absorbs into the fuel. On boats, they have a fuel/water separator, as they typically have fuel sitting in them for extended periods. Startron and similar additives help with the separation, etc. A water/fuel separator is probably not a bad idea for a car that is rarely driven.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Best is to talk to your regular filling station about their pump filters, if you get water, call the state. Keep the tank full as much as possible.
The separators like Racor etc work well, but with so little room, I don't think I'd bother.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Presuming that the OP knows the difference between a boat and a car, and knowing that '81s have fuel systems that are pretty much 'sealed' unlike boats with huge open vents, and that very few if any car owners have actually provided any examples of water accumulating in cars to the point that it causes harm due to use of E10, I can only assume that he must be getting water in there through a deliberate act.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
I was thinking of installing a fuel / Water seperating filter. This is a replacable elimate canister type filter. I have an 81 and I can not find any OEM filter, can anyone tell me where it might be? The reason I want to install the seperating filter is to eliminate the possibility of water entering the carb and pump assy's. Al
I would think almost any marine store outlet.
Close to you would be, West Marine. They carry a full line of separators as well as associated lines and brackets.
Accessible through their web site.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
I already have a large supply of fuel /water seperating filters. I own a Marine servicing dealership. I am looking for the OEM in line fuel filter which should be prior to the fuel pump. If an 81 does not have one so be it. We install several of these type filters to clean the fuel, especially since the advent of Ethonal fuel. The replaceable filters also clean the fuel of debri from the tank. The use of this type of filter can also remove water if any is present. I am not saying I have water in the tank at all. Ethonal fuel is a great fuel system cleaner, but it also loosen's the varnish and crude on the fuel tank walls from the last 30 years. C3's have plenty of room for these type of filters. Al
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
You are kidding, that is the only fuel filter in the fuel system? I figured there was an inline filter somewhere underneath the car somewhere. I am going to install my large capacity filter near the fuel tank. I saw an easy to access area. Thanks for the reply. Al
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Here in Ft Lauderdale, we are pretty well aquainted with the ethanol problem particularly in marine
E10 wash won't hurt a diaphragm pump and anything less than a strainer mesh isn't recommended before the pump, that's why GM didn't do it and you can't find one.
E10 wash won't hurt a diaphragm pump and anything less than a strainer mesh isn't recommended before the pump, that's why GM didn't do it and you can't find one.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 518
Likes: 12
From: Panhandle
Don't Stop There!!!!
Something else to worry about!!! The fuel lines.
If your fuel lines are rusting on the inside, they may be flaking rust. Don't forget the return line, if its rusting, it maybe putting small rust particles in your gas tank.
Changing the fuel lines is a BIG TASK!
I recently pulled my tank. It is relatively new, but had a bunch of small metal particles inside. I'm think'in gas line rust. They are starting to stain my nice relatively new tank.
If your fuel lines are rusting on the inside, they may be flaking rust. Don't forget the return line, if its rusting, it maybe putting small rust particles in your gas tank.
Changing the fuel lines is a BIG TASK!
I recently pulled my tank. It is relatively new, but had a bunch of small metal particles inside. I'm think'in gas line rust. They are starting to stain my nice relatively new tank.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
The 81 like alot of other cars has a fuel "sock" in the tank that's a filter of sorts keeping larger pieces of crap from getting to the pump, but that's it, and it's plenty. As for water separator, it's not needed at all. Unless you get bad fuel (really unlikely because of the way station systems work) or someone puts water in your tank, you should'nt have an issue.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
Even if I was going to use the mechanical pump, there is absolutly no problem running a filter between the pump and tank. This has been done for years. I have installed probably over 200 filter systems like this. This is an OEM position for every Mercruiser engine made for the last 10 years. It is crazy to not have a filter on the fuel system. The recircuting system found on many of these cars are perfectly capable of flowing proper fuel flow with an inline suction side filter. I am tired of getting snide comments, when I was only asking if the C3 had an inline filter somewhere prior to the fuel pump! Al
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 1,194
From: Canberra Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Even if I was going to use the mechanical pump, there is absolutly no problem running a filter between the pump and tank. This has been done for years. I have installed probably over 200 filter systems like this. This is an OEM position for every Mercruiser engine made for the last 10 years. It is crazy to not have a filter on the fuel system. The recircuting system found on many of these cars are perfectly capable of flowing proper fuel flow with an inline suction side filter. I am tired of getting snide comments, when I was only asking if the C3 had an inline filter somewhere prior to the fuel pump! Al
I would certainly be interested in seeing how you mount the filter up near the tank. It is something I have thought about a lot given the age of the fuel system.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
People are trying to help, that's all. Maybe you're amazed by that fact that there's tens of millions of cars running around with no filter or water separator between the tank and pump- but no one's really come forward with a good or demonstrated reason for putting one either.