On a kind of related note, when I took my car to PR Motorsports, they said that my secondary boost issue (boost pattern 10-0-0) could be caused by 1. clogged main cat or 2. clogged fuel filter. I tried gently to suggest something else since the car boosts fine on the first turbo and completely drops out at 4500 RPM, so I figured it would most likely be a control issue with either the solenoid or charge valve(theory).

Wouldn't a bad fuel filter affect performance in all RPM ranges? I believe there are secondary injectors that come on but I just don't see how it would only affect the car at 4500 RPM and up.

Sorry to derail the convo, just curious if struggling through the fuel filter will resolve my boost issue.

Change it to change it. Since it is in a tight area people probably skip this filter more often than not. For the sake of maintenance, do it. It's cheap.

It's worth changing, but VERY doubtful it's the cause of a boost problem.

Dale

I changed my fuel filter last weeks. It was one of the easiest things that I've done on the car so far. There was enough room (once I removed both protective shields under the car) to get my hands around the differential and to remove the fuel hoses.

I'm 5' 10" 190Lbs and was able to get my hands & arms around the diff from both sides to undo the fuel hoses. The hardest part was moving the hose clams and initially breaking loose the fuel hoses.

OK, you are hired! :icon_tup:

Did my filter today. It was missing a bolt and those hoses were tight. Drivers side spring clamp was difficult to crimp. Nice tool would definitely help. Found various other projects that need attention as well.
On a side note I kicked the tires a little and the car still spins the 255's in 2nd. (Cheap tires)

Thanks!
 

Great write up man!!! It took me more like 2 hours though, but now that I've done it I could probably do it in 30min or less!

Just had to do this also, great help on the write-up!

The biggest issue I personally ran into while doing this, is that apparently the rear end on my car is a little leaky and there was A LOT OF nasty greasy grit everywhere. I kept sweeping it multiple times during the process and by the time I had the old fuel filter out, I was all covered in grit. Pretty sure some of it made it into my mouth and nose, also good thing I was wearing safety glasses but some of it still made it past the safety glasses :-/

Here is a little picture of what i'm talking about, keep in mind this picture does it no justice and only shows a little part of it... Doing this on a lift would've made it so much better overall!!!

Needless to say, by the time I removed the old filter I just felt like going to take a good shower even before reinstalling the new filter back.

Attachment 609853

Did mine yesterday. Wasn't too difficult, just tight. Fixed the popping I had durring warm up too. Thankfully I have decent reflexes, as I was sliding the hose clamp off the hose popped off with it. Seemed like a gallon of gas came falling towards my face. Had to stop to clean my roller as the headrest was covered in gas.

I bought a filter several months ago, took one look at it, and decided... yep. Not gonna happen.

I don't know how anyone gets their hands back there.

They just try.

Sorry to bump this old thread, but what's the outer diameter of the fuel hoses? I'm trying to determine what size hose pliers I need.

Excellent guide, hopefully it'll save me some trouble.

Thanks a lot for this "how-to", I'll do it soon !

I was just wondering why the fuel would stop coming out when the fuel filter is out ?

I did this one time on my MX-5 NB, it looked like all the same process, but as soon as the fuel filter was out, fuel was coming out and never stopped before I reinstalled the new filter. Unfortunately, It took my 20 minutes because of a clamp problem, losing many liters of my fuel...

You do need to remove the gas cap, if you leave it on the pressure in the tank will keep pushing gas out. It's in the instructions in the first post.

The system should also be depressurized somehow, either from sitting overnight or pulling the fuel pump fuse to kill the fuel pump while the car is running so it will drain the lines.

Hands down the biggest mistakes people make are not lubricating the hoses and not using hose pliers. The hoses shouldn't be a big deal to get off. if they are you are doing it wrong :).

Dale

I did remove the gas cap and depressurized the system (with the fuse) on the mx5... that's why I really don't get it.
For the WD40, I won't forget it ! (on the mx5, it's a very different clamp, but it would have helped an,yway, I guess, if I knew it before)

Anyway, thanks for the confirmation, so it will be fine on the rx7. I just wanted to be sure I won't take a fuel shower for 20 minutes again.. because it was such a pain ^^

What size pliers ya'll using? Are the Harbor Freight ones satisfactory? Can I just use channel locks with tape on them?

The picture in the first thread shows the potluck of pliers that I used. HF pliers are fine. Big thing is just something that can get in there and get the job done. Doesn't have to be fancy.

HF does sell hose pliers to help push the hose off.

Dale

I've done it for the first time and it wasn't such a pain. Took me about one hour though, but I guess I could do it again in 20 minutes with all tools ready. I didn't use the hose pliers, not even the wd40. The fuel dripping from the old filter was so dirty... I guess it was really time to change it.
Thanks Dale and all useful previous comments.

Guy had a sense of humor putting it in that spot.

Good for a few now.

100%

Changed w/ OEM filter today, first time attempting, had all the tools. Took me 2.5 still. WD40 is key to slip hoses back on. I guess I work slow. Zero space to maneuver. The worst.

Took me 1.5hrs from jack up jack down , WD40 worked but just getting to the clamp on the driverside was the pain. It was difficult getting enough tension on the pliers to slide that damn clamp back. That said, next time probably take about 45mins now that I know what angles to take.

for some reason, perhaps senility, I attempted this again. It started out great giving me a false sense of confidence.

Breaking the bond between the hose and the barb on the second fuel hose was a major time suck. Having removed the first hose ensured i took a few showers in gas until i wisened up and reconnected the hose. Getting pissed on with fuel sucks. I still smell. Eventually got the second hose removed and the new fuel filter connected to the hoses.

Now I need to reattach the bracket. Hopefully that will go smoothly but I doubt it. Why do I do this to myself…

Very recently, I crawled under the car, saw all the tight spacings surrounding the filter, chickened out and backed off. Took the car to a mechanic and showed him the location of the filter (he taught it was in the fuel tank). Then he put the car on the lift, removed passenger side shield next to the diff, put on his swimmer goggles and did the job. That whole process took him exactly 30 mins.
Which made me think why it seemed such a PITA when I was under the car. I think the main reason should be lack of mobility when being under the car and not easily moving our head/body to see the filter and surroundings from different angels..? or better adjust our hand position...?

mobility is definitely a part of the PITA. Laying down flat on your back with minimal height/ room to maneuver slows the process considerably especially if its the first time. Took me about 2hrs, jack up to jack down. Next time I have to do it, probably shed about 30 mins off. I imagine if i had access to a lift, probably take 45mins at most.

I'm using JP3 filter relocation bracket to the subframe and this filter:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...da367e329d.png