fuel filter in right direction?
 

I have a 1979 RX-7 and today I took it to a mechanic to change oil and the fuel filter under left rear wheel well. I bought the fuel filter for him to replace. I bought the metal fuel filter Microgard 33032. Since it wasn't like the plastic see through filter that was being replaced, I'm not sure if he put it in the right direction. There was a N at one end of the metal fuel filter. What does this mean? If the fuel filter is placed in the wrong direction, how would I know? I have a high performance holly fuel pump to feed my 4 barrel holly. The carburetor seems to be getting enough gas, but I hear a strange sound under the car. I will check tomorrow to see if it is the fuel pump working too hard.

This mechanic has never worked on a RX-7 before. But I'm not sure if he knew what he was doing. Any suggestions? I hate to take it back unless I know a good test to see if it was put in wrong.

Possible it says (In) on end of filter? Have looked online for detail pics for that filter with no success. If you can see the installation,check to make sure the fuel line in & out of filter is not kinked. Some fuel filters have no in/out installation necessary. Pics i saw of filter online show one end of filter slightly different than the other having a crimp in the outer shell,it is possible it is directional.

I am taking the car back to the mechanic. He installed the see through filter next to carburetor the wrong way. This one clearly shows the arrow pointing to the carb!! So when I take it back, I'm going to have him look at the metal filter underneath. I bought a new filter that shows an arrow point a specific direction. I assume that if the flow direction. I will have him install this one and be sure and point the arrow toward the front of the car to the carb! The other metal one is a WIX 33032. It looks a little more heavy duty too.

Wix filter about the best you can get. Want to add regarding the mechanic,having worked on an RX or not,no excuse for installing a filter backwards-on any car. Possibly take it to someone else... these cars fairly easy to work on,maybe with assistance from someone here you could do small maintenance tasks such as these yourself.

Yepper GSL-- I change spark plugs easily. But underneath fuel filter needs lift to get to. I will not use jack--too dangerous!

Fuel filter usually consists of a canister, with an element and a spring inside, with the flow of fuel assisting the spring to maintain a seal against one end of the canister. I've never installed one backwards (as far as i know) but i imagine you could possibly hear it oscillating or fluttering or farting as the fuel flow tries to overcome the spring and bypass the element when installed backwards. There will be an arrow or some other marking that denotes flow direction on the filter.

You are right to never get under a car supported only by a jack, but take all the precautions - solid, level surface, wheel chocks, jack stands, and still be careful and you will be fine.

Remove it and throw it far, far away. There should be only one fuel filter, and it doesn't go under the hood.

That's a big negative peejay. You should see how dirty the filter is at the carb even after going through the tank filter! And I have a 4 barrel holly! No problem feeding it with my Holly fuel pump! The filters take everything I throw at it! And I have a bridge engine 13B too.!

Maybe your tank is really rusty and your pump is working to hard.

No mention made of this in your previous posts. Believe you should turn your attention to fuel supply-tank. Your double filters are a band aid trying to cure the problem of dirty fuel supply.

That's a big negative GSLSEforman-- my tank has been cleaned and freshly coated. Ever since it was new, and I'm the original owner, it has had to have fresh filters changed frequently. It is the sign of the times. Our gas supplies are not clean and need filtering. Talk to me when you have had your RX-7s as long as I have.

Talkin to ya,owned mine since was 7yrs old,2nd owner. Tank has been out to inspect and clean,nothing in there to speak of maybe 10 years ago. ALWAYS keeping tank full with good quality gas pretty much eliminates condensation=no rust. Consistently using good quality fuel results in very little trash in tank. Fuel filter changed every other year regardless of miles put on,cut filters open to check for dirt/contaminants. Some,very little,why filter is changed semi annually. Ounce of prevention...are you using branded gas or whatever is cheapest. Lots of places around here sell cheap gas,have educated my m/c and car customers that the price of the gas shouldn't be only determining factor when filling up. Long term use of lesser quality fuel leads to contamination,injectors that don't spray properly & poor performance. After a repair bill for undoing long term damage by running car with little to no fuel in tank+cheap gas and consider the fact that most modern cars have no replaceable fuel filter other than what's on pump module in tank and cost of filter & pump its much cheaper in long run to buy best gas available. Suspect the nature of your problems may be with what you're introducing to fuel system. What kind/brand of gas are you running in car?

Yepper I buy cheap gas at Wallmart! But I don't have injectors. This is why I use double filters. Carb stays nice and clean. My mechanic, world renown Rotary Performance in Garland, TX, says keep the filters going and buy regular unleaded.

If these guys are your machanic, I'm sure they know which direction to install a filter.

Negative Kansas City, I only use them for the big jobs. Because they are about 50 miles away. I am trying to find a good mechanic in the mid-cities area of Dallas/Ft. Worth to do simple things for me that require a jack.

Yes,you don't have injectors,but...you do have contaminated fuel,your filters say so. Seems like a waste to have cleaned and coated fuel tank only to run crummy gas thru it. If you ran good gas you'd only need the one filter at back of car. Again two filter band aid...