Hey guys, I have an 85 SE that obviously has rust and crap in the tank. I've replaced the fuel filter twice, once many months ago, and again this past weekend. Now, when driving the car, I can barely get 1 mile down the road before the car starts sputtering, lagging, starving for gas. If I shut the car of, wait a few seconds, then start it again, I can get another mile down the road. I'm wondering if I put the filter in backwards. I have the larger side of the filter, the part with the rim, facing up. I can't see very well to tell where the plumbing is going/coming from on the pump...need better glasses and more light... I'm going to pull the filter off again this afternoon and replace it, or see if I can determine which way it goes.
Thoughts?

 

It might be fuel pump time.

 

I wondered about that but it seems to be pushing fuel fine till it get's clogged. Can you tell me which way the filter faces, large side up or down?

 

Just because fuel is coming out of the line doesn't mean it's at the correct pressure or volume, especially with a fuel injected car. Does your pump whine or make other noise?

Why not just turn the filter around and try it the other way?

 

It runs - crap in tank flows to plug the outlet - stalls. Car sits - crap drifts away from the outlet - car runs again. repeat...

Tank needs to pulled, cleaned (rad shop will dunk it for you), re-lined (POR15 sells a tank-sealer kit) and you should be good. been there!

Stu Aull
80 GS
Alaska

 

May be fuel pickup strainer inside fuel tank is clogged!!