Sharks

While I had my fuel pump off recently I drained and dropped my fuel tank to clean it out. After reading a few threads in the archives about fuel tanks I look at my tank a little closer and discovered that I don’t have a strainer in the tank anymore. Not sure if it has disintegrated or if the PO removed it for some strange reason. So before I put my new fuel pump on I have a dilemma:

1. Do I try to replace the strainer in the bottom of the tank and potentially damage the tank ($$$ for a new tank)? Soaked in penetrating oil, but the seal holds in gas so not sure if that is going to do anything …

2. Find a small filter to install before the pump that won’t restrict the fuel flow to the pump. Has anyone found such a filter?

3. Put the pump on and pray to the 928 gods that nothing large makes it into the pump, but you know how that goes.

Ideally I want to go with Option 1, but after reading how easy it is to destroy the tank trying to get the old strainer out I am afraid to even attempt it. Any suggestions????

Dennis Wilson

If you haven't pulled the fitting out of the tank, how do you know you don't have a strainer? Did you look through the sender opening on top? What condition is the part of tank that is wrapped around the bung that holds the strainer? If it has started to swell at the end or separate I would leave it alone. If it looks nice and tight around the bung, try soaking it with a penetrant then GENTLY try to unscrew the strainer. If it requires more than minimal torque leave it alone. BTW the strainer is just a mesh to catch larger particles so it could be considered a redundancy. IIRC your normal filter is positioned before your pump so an auxillary filter should not be required.

Dennis

jpitman2

AsDennis says, GENTLY on the strainer nut, or you risk spinning the insert, I did. The in tank strainer is the ONLY thing before the pump, the main filter is AFTER the pump. I found the in tank strainer to pretty fine mesh - maybe not as good as paper filter material, but certainly not coarse - apart from being white nylon, it looks as fine as stocking fabric to me (maybe thats because I am a leg man?). With the tnak completely empty and the sender unit removed, the strainer should be readily visible with some good lighting. Because my filter would not come out, and it was damaged, I looked for a filter I could fit between tank outlet and pump inlet, but i could not find anything that would fit in the space AND fit the hose coming from the tank - they were all 1/4" type size inlets and outlets. I am currently in the process of replacing my tank (and all the hoses I can get) with a clean one with a good insert - the mud in the bottom of the old one has to be seen to be believed. Will post a pic when I get camera back from SWMBO.
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k.

Dennis Wilson

Rumpole (JP) ,

Thanks for the correction on the filter location. Thought Chrysler fuel injected vehicles used filters with a 3/8" inlet and outlet. That should be close enough to the 12mm 928 hose to get a seal.

Dennis

jpitman2

Dennis, 3/8 is close to 10mm, so a thin wall piece of hose slipped over that should do the trick. The problem is you only have about 2 to 2.5" length to house a filter under the pump/filter cover in the tank to pump hose, and a similar diameter problem.
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k...soon be post # 928!

Sharks

The tank is in good condition and area around the strainer looks like it has never been messed with. I looked into the tank with a flashlight and could not see a strainer. I grabbed a long blade screwdriver and carefully inserted it into the aluminum opening and it didn't hit anything on the way in. The fuel level sending unit cap has some witness marks on it, and before I removed the tank the filler neck was very close to the fender sheetmetal ... hard to get the cap on and off so someone has dropped the tank before.

I am going to soak the strainer for a few days in penetrating oil and give it a try, but in the mean time I am on the hunt for a small filter with a 3/8" opening so I don't have to mess with it. I will let you know what I find and if it fits. Thanks for the info guys.