Dirt in Fuel Filter 1984 vette

[L_Guero1]

Dirt in Fuel Filter Help!!!

Hi I love this website first of all. I recently purchased a 1987 coupe, its' beautiful and was running fine. One day after work, i started it and it smoked really bad and idled like Sh*t!! Was missing at every rpm range. I managed to get home and changed Plugs, wires, cap/rotor, and fuel filter. when I changed fuel filter it was NASTY. over a few tablespoons of silt/dirt came out of filter. I was told the vehicle sat in storage for over 6 months, guess I should've cleaned the tank before I continued using it :0( Anyways, filter replaced and runs slightly better (at least Idles) but not like before and there is no power, can't even smoke the tires anymore. Do you think I need to remove the tank, is it difficult? or continue to change out fuel filters until looks clean, I want the power back!!!! Please help.

 

[Ken]

Welcome To The Corvette Action Center L_Guero1!

There is another filter, also known as a "sock", on the fuel pump bracket. It prevents sucking up debris and water from the tank. I suspect that since you say the car has been sitting for six months, in what I assume to be less-than-ideal conditions, and no fuel stabilizer was added before storage, most likely the gasoline in the tank has deteriorated. When gasoline gets old it forms a varnish, and can clog or severely restrict the flow in the lines. I'd check the "sock" since you already replaced the fuel filter at the frame rail.

 

[Magmotor]

Welcome...

Here's the "sock" Ken was talking about. If a few tablespoons of silt/dirt was in the inline filter, you can imagen what the sock looks like. Good luck with it and let us know the outcome.

 

[Ken]

Thanks Jim.

_ken

 

[Magmotor]

Here's a few other items to check once you get the tank situation straighten out.

 

[L_Guero1]

Thanks so much!~!!!

Thanks for the great Info, I will definately let you know the outcomes.

 

[Cajun]

Fuel pump

Changed my fuel filter and pump on my 88 Vette. The "sock" was black and brittle. Now it runs like a scalded dog. Check the adjustment on your tv cable, make sure it is connected. Mine slipped off, and wouldn't sift at all.

Cajun

 

[oldace84]

My '84 has 87k on it. I've changed the fuel filter, and have never seen anything like this.
Maybe I'm just lucky. What do you think?
thanks
tony

 

[rrubel]

I did mine last weekend; the original sock is made of a porch-screen-like material and is supposed to be black. Not sure about brittle, but mine definitely was falling apart.

With the new pump, even though it's a generic, the car starts and idles MUCH better. Was having some issues with the new chip on cold start where it'd hesitate really badly when first getting into gear. No more... smooooooooth all the way.

I think it was the original pump with 140k on it!

[RICHR]

 

[Ken]

... the original sock is made of a porch-screen-like material

:L Not quite Rich. It's a little finer, as well as coated to prevent water from being sucked up from the tank.

_ken

 

[jpanek]

What coating allows gas but not water to go through? Don't quite understand!

 

[Ken]

Ok, it took me a little while...

What coating allows gas but not water to go through? Don't quite understand!

Removing Water From Fuel

There are three ways to remove water from fuel.

1. absorption
2. coalescing
   and
3. stripping

With absorption, filters use remove water from the fuel.

Coalescing uses gravity and slow flow rates to let water droplets drop out of the fuel and collect at the bottom of the fuel filter. An example of filters using the coalescing method of water removal would be diesel fuel filter/water separators. We also used this method in the refinery when shipping fuel by pipeline.

The stripping method to remove water is the one widely used by the manufacturers. This method uses a silicone treated medium in the filter, that limits the flow of water while allowing fuel flow to the filter and from there to the injectors. This type of water removal is very efficient.

I also found some stuff on "MYCELX" but I'm not sure that it applies in this case. I cannot for the life of me though, find anything specific as to the brand name for the coating found on automotive fuel-filteration systems.

_ken

 

[rrubel]

:L Not quite Rich. It's a little finer, as well as coated to prevent water from being sucked up from the tank.

Dang! Cut a guy some slack here! I did say porch-screen-*LIKE*... ie, semi-rigid black mesh. New sock was a finer white cloth and a completely different consistency.

[RICHR]

 

[Magmotor]

Ken,
Here ya go...!

Full Service Solutions:

Virtually no other company can supply the range of materials that DuPont offers. For example, in the fuel inlet area, you can specify a filler door and pocket of durable Minlon® mineral reinforced nylon and a filler cap of tough anti-static Zytel® nylon and Delrin® acetal. For low-permeable fuel hose and tubing, DuPont offers Teflon® and Tefzel® fluoropolymers that are used in a variety of different multi-layer constructions.

 

[Ken]

I should have thought of DuPont in the first place!

We're on the right track...

Minlon® Overview

Minlon® mineral-reinforced nylon resin is one of DuPont's lines of engineering polymers or plastics, known for their strength and stiffness. Plastics, long used as substitutes for wood, glass and metal due to their lower weight and cost, have been improved and enhanced in qualities such as strength, elasticity, waterproofing and temperature resistance. Engineering polymers like Minlon®, for example, can withstand hot oil temperatures of up to 150°F and can therefore be used for parts under car hoods. Minlon® parts will not warp or crack, and they resist some plastics' tendency to stretch under pressure and strain. Engineering polymers can be molded to a variety of design needs, and offer increased safety to workers since there are no sharp edges in production.

Minlon®, made by DuPont since the early 1970s, is nylon 66 that is chemically bonded to a mineral or mineral-and-glass blend. The mineral blend makes the product stronger and stiffer than nylon bonded to glass alone, or non-reinforced nylon. Minlon®, manufactured globally by DuPont, is produced in granules and sold to industrial customers who typically use a process of injection molding to manufacture specific parts. Popular uses include gears, wheel covers and automobile parts, but the polymer has also been used in light fixtures, due to its heat resistance, and in chairs. Minlon® can be colored as part of the process, saving time and money for painting, and one variety can be chrome-plated, offering a variety of design uses such as the interior door handles in luxury cars.

Here it is:

Fuel Delivery - Bringing the Best Materials Together

To help automakers meet demanding emissions requirements, DuPont has developed materials for extremely low permeation applications in fuel tank flanges, fuel interconnects, vent hoses and tubing. DuPont offers fluoropolymers and tough, antistatic thermoplastics to reduce permeation and dissipate static build-up. And, these materials have the durability needed for long-life performance requirements.

For example, a fuel sender module molded with Delrin® acetal features low permeation, excellent retention of stiffness and strength and minimal swelling when immersed in fuel. It also shows better strength, stiffness and toughness compared to other acetals. Delrin® acetal also is ideal for snap-fit joints, which reduce parts count and cost.

DuPont fluoropolymers, used in hoses and tubing, allow near-zero permeation with automotive fuels. Teflon® and Tefzel® also are chemically inert to all types of automotive fuels including biodiesel and sour fuel and can easily provide 15-year durability. There are several design options, depending on temperature, pressure, permeation and flexibility requirements. Based on your specific requirements, we can recommend the most cost-effective design and supplier to meet your needs.

_ken