Change Your Fuel Filter Lately?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
WOW that is some serious gunk! Glad to hear of your positive results after replacing it.
Mine starts quickly and runs great, plus the filter is super shiny compared to the rest of the hard parts so I think a previous owner changed it. I'll check the receipts/records that came with the car, to be sure. The car has 66,000 miles.
Mine starts quickly and runs great, plus the filter is super shiny compared to the rest of the hard parts so I think a previous owner changed it. I'll check the receipts/records that came with the car, to be sure. The car has 66,000 miles.
Last edited by DGXR; Jun 5, 2017 at 02:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
Likes: 967
From: Communist Colorado
Mine was a Fram, so I know it was changed at least once. Im guessing it was changed when the fuel pump was replaced about 12-13 years back.... that would be the time to do it in my opinion... but this is all 2nd hand knowledge. The previous owner had the car for a few years, but his father had it most of its life and he did the pump.... thats the story I have... so I have to roll with it.
Last edited by 81c3; Jun 5, 2017 at 02:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
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From: Communist Colorado
Last edited by 81c3; Jun 5, 2017 at 04:34 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
Likes: 967
From: Communist Colorado
How would the fuel lines rust in a sealed system with fuel inside them and no air to cause the corrosion? I'm not really too concerned with the fuel lines rusting inside. The car was garaged its entire existence. The fuel filter had no rust at the inlet in the line. I actually would never had known of all that gunk if I didn't bang the filter on the shop table and seen it come out. It'll be fine... 
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
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From: Communist Colorado
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
Likes: 967
From: Communist Colorado
I don't think it's Iron Oxide. ("Rust"). Wrong color. It is also a large size grain of fairly regular size. Rust flakes are much more random. That's why it still ran, the element didn't get plugged with finer sediment, those big grains could still pass fuel between them. I see specks of orange which could be RTV from an earlier repair. Because the in-tank strainer had to have failed in order to pass these grains, I'm thinking the granules may be the remnants of the strainer screen. Another possibility is that the incorrect style of hose was used during previous pump exchanges, and the grains are hose debris. But this is less likely as A: When the hose burst, it wouldn't run, B: The strainer still had to fail to pass the grains.
I think it's the strainer.
When you figure out what that gunk is, please revive this thread and post back. I'm curious as to what it turns out to be.
I think it's the strainer.
When you figure out what that gunk is, please revive this thread and post back. I'm curious as to what it turns out to be.
I surely will. The pump/sender unit is on its way. Will I be able to see well into the tank with a flash light? I haven't done this job yet... so not sue what exactly to expect in that regard.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 761
Likes: 66
From: Fitzwilliam New Hampshire
My 94 coupe owners manual says, Periodic replacement of the fuel filter is not required. My self I would think 100,000 miles this should be done. My car has 105,000 And I do not think anyone has changed it, no records with car, I will have to check and see if it has original filter. I have a new one and will change it regardless.
Last edited by A Peter C4; Jun 5, 2017 at 11:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,778
Likes: 580
From: Langley BC
Since it only costs a few bucks and only takes a few min I usually change my fuel filter yearly. Since mine is in storage for the winter I also generally drain the tank out when I change it to be safe. But that is proabbly way overkill.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Team Owner
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Racer
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Utica Mi
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Nope just stating facts.
I just found a 92 that has been parked in the garage since the original battery died 20 yrs ago....(20k miles)
Was in the process of bringing it home when my Brother passed away unexpectedly.
So I have been out in Az. for the funeral and to spend some time with my parents for the last 10 days.
Flying home to Detriot in the morning, and plan on picking it up later in the week.
I just found a 92 that has been parked in the garage since the original battery died 20 yrs ago....(20k miles)
Was in the process of bringing it home when my Brother passed away unexpectedly.
So I have been out in Az. for the funeral and to spend some time with my parents for the last 10 days.
Flying home to Detriot in the morning, and plan on picking it up later in the week.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Sad to hear about your brother.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
Likes: 967
From: Communist Colorado
Results of Fuel Pump Swap
So heres what I found.... obviously Bubba Gumps Corvette Shop installed the pump 12 years ago without a damn pick up strainer!!! I looked inside with a flashlight and theres no sign of it.
So the positives of the swap are:
1.It was very easy with the exception of the return line rubber hose connection. That was a PITA because it was old and brittle.It did NOT want to come off!! I wound up cutting back a 1/2" or so to get to a better section of hose for the attachment.
2. There is sediment in the tank, but nothing I would call excessive for a 31 year car.
3. I noticed the pump is much quieter
4. The engine starts quickly EVEN when hot now!! (it would take a lot longer before after the first start of the day)
5.Throttle response seems just a bit better now
One negative:
When I come to a stop and get out, engine running,I get a whiff of fuel smell from under the hood now that I didnt notice before. I dont see any leaks of any kind under the hood at the filter or back by the pump/sender. I even pulled the fuel door back off and rechecked to see if there were any signs of wet fuel.... nothing, bone dry. I dunno... Other than that, everything is improved drive-ability wise.
Im pretty sure Bubba didnt have the paperwork that came with the Ecklers unit....
So the positives of the swap are:
1.It was very easy with the exception of the return line rubber hose connection. That was a PITA because it was old and brittle.It did NOT want to come off!! I wound up cutting back a 1/2" or so to get to a better section of hose for the attachment.
2. There is sediment in the tank, but nothing I would call excessive for a 31 year car.
3. I noticed the pump is much quieter
4. The engine starts quickly EVEN when hot now!! (it would take a lot longer before after the first start of the day)
5.Throttle response seems just a bit better now
One negative:
When I come to a stop and get out, engine running,I get a whiff of fuel smell from under the hood now that I didnt notice before. I dont see any leaks of any kind under the hood at the filter or back by the pump/sender. I even pulled the fuel door back off and rechecked to see if there were any signs of wet fuel.... nothing, bone dry. I dunno... Other than that, everything is improved drive-ability wise.
Im pretty sure Bubba didnt have the paperwork that came with the Ecklers unit....