Where abouts was the fuel filter placed originally, I know its between the tank and pump but is there a particular area it should be? the one I removed was actually tie wrapped to the tank outlet by the most cracked and perished piece of petrol pipe I have seen for years! Don't know if it makes any difference, but 1976 type 4 engine Second question, do people trust the little plastic filters being supplied with pipe kits? or is there a better alternative. Thanks
I don't know where they were originally, cant remember having one on my first bays but then again I never maintained them myself. the common consensus is to have them between the fuel tank and the engine bay and not in the engine bay . plastic ones are fine but it sounds like Johnny has found a better option from Coolair. I would like to see that.
No reason, but the glass screw-together ones don't seem like a great idea to me. I can too easily imagine them unscrewing themselves with vibration. I'm sure they don't but still... Someone once posted on here that VW put them in the engine bay, but the concensus seems to be put them under the tank. Whatever you do, put it tank side of the pump and of course not resting against anythink that'll melt it (exhaust) or chaff through it.
And do notice the "direction of fuel flow arrow" stamped on filter body when fitting, and carry 2 spares .
Ok thanks all, will have a look at the glass ones although good point Zed, i suppose as long as the plastic ones are up to the job they are fine, they just look a bit cheap and nasty!
The plastic ones are fine, if they're of reasonable quality. I'd avoid the glass jobs. Should mount under the tank compartment after the outlet - you may even find mounting holes in the panel above for the omega clips VW fitted to hold them in place. The fuel line should be supported where it goes over the transmission. There's a lot of hot stuff in the engine room, so I wouldn't stick them there. You shouldn't need to touch them for years. If they're filling up with crud, time to clean your tank out!
I had one of the metal screw together ones and it kept unscrewing so went back to a good quility plastic one
I'd definitely avoid the glass and metal screw together jobs. I had one from Machine 7 which leaked, I unscrewed it and checked it and the glass section had a chip in it, should have checked it before installing. Had a replacement sent out which then unscrewed itself while I was running the engine on the drive, I got a wiff of fuel as i walked passed, opened the engine lid and there the fuel filter was *******ing fuel everywhere including onto the nice hot exhaust header! Turns out the threaded section had failed, maybe wasn't long enough or just a bad batch, it was only installed for a couple of weeks too, so not worn due to vibrations. I'm sure all the usual suspects have the same suppliers so i'd avoid them wherever you buy them from. Got one of these now... http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/fuel-filters/sytec-universal-disposable-fuel-filter ... Still not ideal as I had to size up the pipe, i.e. more joints to possibly leak, and it's installed in the engine bay, but has to be better than plastic/glass ones!
I once had a glass screw together one and it was only by luck that while the engine was running from cold that I noticed it leaking , it had un screwed itself , tightened back up only for it to do the same again 2 Weeks later , binned it and went back to bog standard plastic one .
Those glass and chrome filters really should be banned but I guess some people like to see the fuel flowing through them and get dazzled by the chrome but one of these is far safer: http://www.simonbbc.com/fuel-pumps/low-pressure-in-line-pre-fuel-pump-or-pre-carb-filter-kit And ignore the often quoted myth that worm drive clips shouldn’t be used.
