Fuel Pulsation Dampener... replace or eliminate?
 

Our '94 (89 K miles, stock) has recently developed a raw fuel smell from an undeterminable area under the hood. Research on this forum says it is probably the FPD. I have read Banzai's instructions on how to eliminate the FPD, but I'm thinking there must be a reason for that part. Why would Mazda include it if it were not important to operation of the engine?

Any comments from experienced DIY'ers? Thanks!

Search Keywords: FPD Eliminate

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=fpd+eliminate
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=fpd+eliminate
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=fpd+eliminate
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=fpd+eliminate
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=fpd+eliminate
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=fpd+eliminate
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=fpd+eliminate

Hope this helps.

... (D. Crosby in another post)

This would seem to say that elimination of the FPD is not a good idea unless replaced with something better.

Thanks for all the links, Monkman!


[Edit: LOL!! One of Monkman's links was to a thread I started back in 2005, asking exactly the same question! Too bad the Alzheimer's is creeping up on me!]

No problem. Glad it helped.

must the upper intake be removed to perform a replacement? i have a new rail with new FPD and will be getting some flowed and balanced injectors. i have never dealt with this before but i was thinking of doing this wires plugs and twin power at the same time. however if the manifold has to be taken off i want to go ahead and put my other turbos and ported wastgate on. just wondering,

josh.

Yes, the UIM must come off. The FPD bolts to the primary fuel rail, which is located right above the intermediate housing on the passenger side of the motor. With a stock seq setup there is a lot of crap that has to come out to get at them......

So maybe this is why my car always smells of gas under the hood...glad I read this thread.

thanks, ill just do it all at once then. not too long i should be at about 300-325 at the wheels i believe. thats the first stage. having trouble with the vmount... finding it at least. a freind is in japan at the moment so maybe ill get him to ship me a HKS!!

can anyone confirm that the aeromotive fpr has the pulsation reducing technology... lol sounds all high tech. if so the additional kg primary rail will be going in and the fpd will come out :) good thread never really took though of taking it out cause my mind is on other things. bumpy

Marren FPD?
 

Has anyone replaced their OEM FPD with a Marren "Pro Fuel Damper?" And if so, how did it work out? Thanks!

...I believe all of the SARD fuel pressure regulators have an internal FPD. I have a SARD Type-RJ with FD3S adapter. Easy to install, works great @58PSI with SupraTT fuel pump.

+1

Cam you/ anyone confirm that? i would def be interested to find out. I would mind getting rid of the achillies heal that is the stock one and eliminate that hazzard. i dont know what id do if it/my car burned down!

This is a direct reponse from Aeromotive, regarding elimination of the Fuel Pulsation Damper when running their Fuel Pressure Regulator:

"The Aeromotive bypass fuel pressure regulator works to dampen pulsations and create a smooth, stable pressure. That is how it regulates. Given a correct installation, with recommended flow path through the fuel rail and to the regulator, and mounting the regulator close to the fuel rail outlet, there will be no need for any additional “damper”.

Today’s returnless fuel systems employ dampers on the fuel rail because either there is no true regulator, or it’s mounted 10-15 feet from the fuel rail."

Brett Clow
Technical Support
Aeromotive, Inc.
7805 Barton St.
Lenexa, KS 66214
913-647-7300 Ext. 109


Hope this answers your questions

Obviously, the second part of the response does not apply to RX-7 applications, as there is a return line and the Pulsation Damper is mounted on the Primary Fuel Rail.

My FPD blew apart on me a week ago and I knew that I would never trust that part again. I have a single setup so under the UIM is pretty empty. I moved my car from one spot to another in the driveway and I smelled fuel...I pop the hood and look at the FPD and it is a gasoline fountain, shooting gas all over, and it is running off the tranny housing right next to the wastegate. Had the car been hotter, or moving I would have had a serious fire on my hands.

I had planned on doing some tuning runs that day after the car warmed up, and I am thanking God that I saved myself. I really dont want to know what would have happened had that RIVER of fuel been ignited.

I used the Bonzai racing how to...since I am single turbo, I removed UIM, removed the primary fuel rail, tapped for a fitting 1/4npt (no need to drill, the original hole is perfectly sized), screwed in a hose barb (i used 3/8ths instead of 5/16ths same gates brand from lowes)...and reinstalled in less than an hour. No more worry of a FPD failure.

I do have an SARD regulator though, so I probably don't need it anyway.

SOOOO glad I caught it before it ignited!! So glad...

I blew my FPD at the track, it let go at the 1/8th mile under 20psi of boost. Needless to say my front rotor was so fuel starved that all the apex seal blew, destroying a rotor, housing and a Gt35R turbine wheel. This would be why we came up with the "how-to" in the first place.

pics http://www.banzairacing.net/fpd_failure_damage.htm

Luckly the car didn't catch on fire and we did make a nice clock, it was a little on the expensive side. All due to a cheap little part.

EXCELLENT!!! thank you sooo much for doing that! that was very curtious and helpful :)

lol that post was from the other page where you first posted the aeromotive official info! i did not realise there was a second page till my new post followed after. just making sure you didnt think my post ment thank you for blowing a motor, and an expensive turbo. with that all said thanks again for your extra effort! :)

thanks to banzai

wonderful....everyone go buy the Aeromotive FPR (I did), chuck the pos Mazda FPD in the trash can, and drive happy

http://www.aeromotiveinc.com/pdetail.php?prod=10

let's put this issue to bed :)