Was it karma? or "Why Glass Fuel Filters Suck"

[FFredo]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

For some reason, the first time I read the title I thought of THIS kind of glass fuel filter:


But that's probably NOT the kind you meant, huh?
You more likely meant THIS kind (& I had to stop and think, "What kind do I have on MY truck?")


I am running a little aluminum can looking thing...because it was already there, but what do you guys recommend? The plastic kind like this, or what?

Dan, the one in the middle (inline glass with replacable filters) is the low down dirty snake in the grass that I was using. On my Chrysler I'm using the one on the bottom of your pics. Plastic with aluminum.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by FFredo

Dan, the one in the middle (inline glass with replacable filters) is the low down dirty snake in the grass that I was using. On my Chrysler I'm using the one on the bottom of your pics. Plastic with aluminum.

Here is what I am using. It has a replaceable filter inside. Got it at NAPA.

[kelsfine69]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Here is what I am using. It has a replaceable filter inside. Got it at NAPA.

Just a FYI..I have one of these now and its about 8 years old. It started leaking out the seal and I though oh no biggie. Took it apart and the square o-ring was all disintegrated like it was contaminated with a foreign fuel?? So I bought a new o-ring with filter(cannot find just the o-ring) and checked the surfaces for burrs, dirt, etc...For the life of me I cannot get it to stop leaking..I have had it apart like 8 times and it still leaks...Truing to find something better.

[B_Hix]

First of all man I'm REALLY sorry for what happend to you. I know it's no consolation, but about 3 months after I bought my 49 (before I started the body work thank God) I started it to let it warm up in the driveway as it was winter.

I went in the house to grab my stuff to leave for work and heard a thundering crash. Ran outside and my truck was missing. It caught reverse as it warmed up, launched off my driveway, down a 40 degree hill, hit a tree stump, spun hard to the left, through the neighbors back yard and lodged high cerntered on their retaining wall, about 1-foot more and it would have dropped 5 feet off the wall.

Destroyed both metal running boards, drivers side front and rear fender and most of the front suspension after going over the stump. Lots of other dents and scratches but comparably minor.

If it is any consolation, this only re-doubled my determination to save the truck. Again, really sorry for what happend!

ALL - for what it is worth, I have used those clear Spectre filters on numerous vehicles for over 20 years - they are fine if you make sure they don't touch anything - any vibration on that glass and it will eventually shatter. Had a guy in town lose a 50K 55 chevy car - same problem. Just make sure they are suspended in open space and you're fine - if they touch anything there will be trouble.

Lastly - after the hot wire from my MSD to battery POS shorted out from prolonged rubbing and caught my under carpet insulation on fire I ALWAYS - ALWAYS have a fire extinguisher in my vehicle. When this happened I didn't and I had to rip off the positive battery cable (battery is behind the seat), rip the seat up (pulled metal screws out in a adrenaline panic) and put the burning insulation out with my bare hands (2nd degree burns) I learned my lesson. ALWAYS HAVE A EXTINGUISHER!

[Pyrotechnic]

I had one too and it was OK for awhile, but one day I went to clean it and as I was tightening it all back up, the glass cracked.

The best filter for rubber line and hose clamps is this one:



That's the filter you want to be running. It's a Wix 33033. All metal can for 3/8 line.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...&keyword=33033

http://napaonline.com/Catalog/Catalo...033_0320228303

http://www.fleetfilter.com/filter/33033.html

Even the plastic Fram G3 and it''s clones, that look like this



..don't seem all that safe to me. Don't get me wrong, I've known plenty of people that have run them and I myself have run a few of them too and never had an issue, but one day I was watching my motor run and noticed the plastic housing was PULSATING with the fuel pump. That was enough for me to go look for a metal can filter. Though I'm sure these plastic ones are plenty durable, it just makes more sense to run the metal can filter that has a 60 PSI burst pressure, especially if it's under the hood next to a hot motor.

[BruthaMan]

Glad you are OK, Fred. It could have been a lot worse. Sounds like you have a great local FD.

Friend of mine's truck burned to the ground a few years ago. I posted some pics in this thread. There was nothing left to salvage.

Have a similar glass filter in my '72, was there when I bought it. Will be picking up the filter Pyrotechnic recommended, today. Not going to take anything for granted, love my truck too much!

[VWNate1]

Actually ;

If you take the time to source up the right O-Rings they're fine , they just don't filter much do to the screen used inside them .

I have plenty of these as I remove them from all vehicles that pass through my hands but the fire wasn't caused by the filter per se , it was por installation or failure to service it on a regular basis .

I now use the WIX/NAPA clear plastic ones because there's so much bad fuel out there , I keep a spare in the glovebox and chang it wherever I am when it truns bron or has crud in it , much easier than cleaning the carby .