Hello guys.

I got a 1996 Efini RX-7 Bathurts ed.
I was going for a oil change, and I wanted to change the fuel filter also.
I found (rare here in Italy) the classic fuel filter I've seen on manuals and how-to, but when it turns to put out the old one, I found something different and bigger!!!
Look out at the attached pictures, and please help me in understanding what is going wrong.

Can I use the spare I've buyed?
The tube are same size, on the "stock" filter there is a third tube, attached to a rubber tube going nowhere, like a "purge" tube.

Thanks to who will answer...

 

Uh oh.

I'm pretty sure that's the charcoal canister you pulled.

 

That's what it looks like to me, also. The fuel filter is above the rear subframe and behind the differential, and not very easy to access.

There are threads describing how to change the filter - it is somewhat difficult because of its location.

Links:
Fuel Filter:
Change the stock one every 15k miles, to be safe. Helps regain a little smoothness and MPG:
http://www.rx7.org/Robinette/fuel_filter_replace.htm
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/fuel-filter-replacement-upgrade-pics-272305/ more pics here

 

I'd be willing to bet that's the charcoal canister too. The fuel filter is directly above the diff and a REAL pain in the *** to get too. I relocated mine to the subframe, it will be MUCH easier to change later.

Put that canister back in if you don't want your car/interior smelling like fuel...rather, if you don't want it smelling even MORE like fuel HAHA.

 

That's a great idea Eric, why didn't I think of that ?

 

Thanks Rich!! And to think, you've been at this sooo much longer than me and I had this idea first, I'm probably the ONLY person with an FD that's ever done it! LOL

 

I've put back it when I saw they where different... I was telling my mechanic that fuel filter has to be be on the OTHER side of the car, but he didn't listen to me...
I have to teach him a lesson about mazda mechanical design....

speedjunkie, do you have a poicture of your relocation?

 

found here- https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...uel+relocation

 

By Mazda Mechanical Design do you mean the part that was derived from the depths of hell?? Like putting the fuel filter ABOVE THE DAMN DIFF?! LOL

I'm not sure if I have a pic, and I would look for it, but I think Catch-22 already took care of you. I can't see the pic he posted on the computer I'm using right now, just a red x.

All I did was run longer hoses (fuel injection rated hose), bought an inner tube for a bicycle tire and cut it down the center all the way around, wrapped that around the filter (to protect from the hose clamps and also to dampen vibrations a bit) and used two big hose clamps to affix it to the subframe.

 

Yes, I mean that...

In Italy mechanics are not used to the japanese way of building cars...

Think that the official Mazda dealer/service in my city don't have Mazda permission to open a wankel engine!!!
If an RX-8, that they sell, broke the engine, they can just put it out, wait for new engine, and put it back in!!!

 

^Well that doesn't surprise me, I don't think alot of the dealerships in America are authorized to do much more than that same thing. I won't even let them TOUCH my car, I will NOT take my car to a dealership. I did one time, for what I don't remember, I think it was a recall thing, but they told me I needed a new clutch, even though I had JUST replaced it. Yeah, I don't think so.

Good luck and have fun with that FD on those beautiful Italian roads haha.

Catch-22, I like how you have that setup, it almost looks stock haha. Is that clamp around it the original from above the diff, just retrofitted to be able to mount to the subframe?

 

lol thats not mine i just searched and found a thread, i will be doing this very shortly though and ill make sure to post pics.

 

Yeah I realized that after I posted that, and I was going back to change it but I kept getting kicked off the internet haha.