chawkins2001

This past weekend I decided to take apart the sender unit and take a closer look at our fuel filters.

Our fuel filters are not in fact one and the same with the sender unit. The filter pops right out after you pop off the top of the sender unit.

I also took some measurements of the little bugger to see if they are any aftermarket replacements. I am going to buy a stainless 10 micro mesh washable filter for my e85 setup from Division X (GT500 vendor) and run it inline. Not quite sure if removing the stock filter in the unit will cause some electronic issues, but only time will tell.

There is no actual part number on the fuel filter itself as a fyi.

99lightning

good info i want to get my fuel filter changed in spring

Joncl

Wow that filter is dirty. How many miles on it?

chawkins2001

Not sure, that was a spare unit I picked up off the forum.

turbo97se

What myth? I have been saying this for some time and had pictures .. but you're the smart one that figured out the filter that I mentioned in the other thread .. I figured someone would sooner or later.

rockthemullet

Thanks Craig!

sufyaanahmed

Good info I wish they had part number

cm60k

Good job Craig,,

May find aftermarket filter from K&N or AFE or bikes filters or any other car models, that can matching

the filter measurement spec....?!?

ZAYED,,

Joncl

Benz does it on purpose to not sell it separate so you have to buy the whole assembly for insane prices

G_Money

So how much and when will this service be running at BIP

black06c230

This right here!!!!

GunMoto

As Craig mentioned, we can consider running the OEM sender unit without the internal pleated filter, and instead, run an aftermarket external inline filter on the output side of this OEM sender unit.

EDIT: Using an aftermarket inline fuel filter will allow easy/straightforward replacement at service intervals.

Of course, this is a separate issue from the fuel sender leaking. The top half is still prone to cracking, resulting in fuel puddling on top.

jcjmw

Chawkins: Thank You! Finally, someone has provided proof that the fuel filter can be separated from the fuel pump!!!

Now, if you and or BIP comes up with a replacement filter (in OEM location) or an inline filter that makes it a lot easier to change.....that would be spectacular!!!

Joncl

It cracks because it heats up from the clogged filter that is why they recommend changing the senders at 60k miles because of the fuel filters
If one can change the filters I doubt the pumps would over heat and crack.

berti_00

thats great, now do you still have to remove the whole sender unit out or can you open it and pick the filter out

AMGPilot

the fuel doesn't heat up....

Joncl

The electrical components work harder creating heat in the pump because the fuel filters get clogged up
Maybe we should run a fuel cleaner with every other fill up to clean out the filter as much as we can

austingtir

I find it very hard to believe there is not something we can change that out for. That looks like fairly generic filter to me.

Can post up some accurate measurements in mm? The holes in the top and bottom and the width and height?

My Nissan Navara oil filter looks very similar just bigger holes on inlet and outlet.

berti_00

I run injector cleaner often

GregMB

I'd be more inclined to blame ethanol-based fuels than anything else.

The plastic on both the driver & passenger side parts are really brittle/fragile. It never seemed up to the task...

Definitely makes sense to convert to a more traditional externally-accessible fuel filter.....and based on how filthy they always seem to be in these photos, change them a LOT more frequently than 60K miles!

-G

chawkins2001

It needs to come out to unclip the lid, you then have to twist it so you can pull it off bro. But once you twist off the top, the filter pops right out.

chawkins2001

Does anyone know for sure what size our feed fuel line is, ~6an?

Joncl

Chawkins is it possible that the one you have was easy to open up because it was in good condition? In other words if the sender has already been heated up and brittle would it crack rather than open up like yours did?

chawkins2001

No sir, both the lid and cup is stout. There are two clips that you have to push down in order to twist the lid. You only have to twist the lid about an inch max and then slowly pull it off. There is nothing to really break accept the piece that the fuel hose clips onto. Once you pull the fuel hose off, you will be ok as there are no other brittle pieces to deal with really.

This one had about 100K miles on it lol.

Joncl

Nice I bet changing that filter will save the pumps/senders