[V8] A clogged fuel filter leads to problems... fitted text ?

[Ed Kellock]

If you do decide to change the fuel pump, I strongly suggest taking the time to siphon the gas tank dry or nearly so.  The fuel pump is in a plastic cage that rotates and unclips from the mounting base in the tank.  Apparently there's a "special tool" to remove the cage, but I was able to disengage it by hand while wearing a heavy leather glove.  It's tough to disengage (unscrew/unclip) but I was able to with the glove.  YMMV.  

On my 200, I went in intending to replace the fuel pressure check valve, only to find that the one in there was not tightened down correctly.  I installed the new one anyway, but suspect the loose one was allow pressure to bleed off.  The problem being addressed was lack of rest pressure causing really difficult starts.

In the V8, I went in intending to replace the noisy-when-hot pump, but I found a think blanket of lint on the small screen that filters the pump intake.  I just removed that and returned the new pump and it has been fine ever since, with no more noise.

Ed

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From: "Mike Ferguson" <mfjr at pro-ns.net>
Date: 2003/12/13 Sat PM 06:04:34 MST
To: <v8 at audifans.com>
Subject: [V8] A clogged fuel filter leads to problems... fitted text ?

Hey all, 

I don't have to call "Click and Clack the Tappet Bros." to know what a clogged fuel filter will do to the pump.  Yup - I postponed changing mine and am now paying for it..  Two weeks ago on a 25 degree day the BIG-8 started sputtering, popping and missing..  Short of a major catastrophe, fuel starvation is what I thought immediately, as I had gone through just about everything else on the car over the last two years, and of course, that NEW fuel filter has been sitting at home on the shelf for about 6 mo.  After a couple of stalls and pumping the throttle vigorously (a few times), it seemed to clear up and I made it to the garage..

Then, I removed the OEM filter and tried blowing through it - was kind of like blowing through a securely clinched fist, not very compliant at all..  New one was 100x less restrictive..  Awesome, I thought to myself, not a huge deal.  So, I proceeded to change-er out..  Two weeks later (today) on a 10 degree day, the BIG-8 is acting up, identically to a couple weeks ago.. and again, I was able to hobble home 5 mi..  

Question is, would it be fair to say that the fuel pump had a "heart attack" then a brief recovery and is now in fact seeing its last day..?  I have a 5KT fuel tank sitting around, I believe the pump is the same, but what a joy it's going to be working through the 6" opening in the trunk..  ANY BTDT's???  I got a little over a half tank still... ugh!

TIA

Mike 
(90 V8, 155k chassis)
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