TheSamba.com :: View topic - Crappy fuel filters..you know which ones!

Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:14 pm

We all know and have probably used the GENERIC inline plastic see-through filter,the ones that have the yellowish paper element and the stepped inlet nipples,1/4" then stepped to 5/16th's.
These have been around forever,and many different manufacturers copycat this filter.
I have noticed that a large majority of these filters are now labled "made in Israel",and have seen these on Mahle/Hengst/Mann/Fram/Wix,etc.etc......so basically these outmoded filters are not something worth ACTUALLY MANUFACTURING by those names above,and others,so they simply buy them and brand them with a different logo,and more than likely these are all from the same factory (?).
Anyway...I am posting this because I recently encountered 2 Hengst "brand" filters having problems I have never seen before with this type filter. I have 2 on my engine,with one mounted horizontally,and looking at the filter element will reveal that it is "sagging" downwards and the top edge of the filter is pulling away from the end cap and allowing the filter to migrate downwards.
The other filter is mounted in a vertical position,and the element has completely detached,and fallen down away from the end cap entirely. You can see that they bond the filter with a black "glue",and the glue lost its bond with the end cap.
I can only guess this is because of ethanol gas? Or the glue/manufacturing is subpar?
Either way,I checked out a Fram as a replacment and yep,same "made in israel"filter. The filter was THE EXACT SAME.
There are not many 1/4" filters out there,compared to 5/16"s,so I ended up buying a "Taiwan" copy of the same filter until I source a better option. Maybe the Taiwan one will be better? Maybe the filter won't detach,but will it leak? It is all a crapshoot! :shock:

Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:27 pm

Hastings GF1
http://www.drillspot.com/products/465626/Hastings_Filters_GF1_Fuel_Filter

Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:35 pm

Heatshrink and grommets can be your friend.....

Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:06 pm

Now THAT is a damn fuel filter!! But back to (my) reality with cheap,disposable filters,I went to Carquest and a guy brought out a nice,1/4" see-thrue filter and it is larger in diameter,and it is made in Russia!!!
I guess the 1/4" filter is such a odd filter,they are made in distant lands! :lol:

Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:22 pm

LOL, you're looking at his oil filter. The fuel filter is above the trans

Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:28 pm

Click the link he provided with the pic.

Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:52 pm

nick wharton2 wrote: LOL, you're looking at his oil filter. The fuel filter is above the trans
;)

Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:26 pm

Ive been using Robs Fast fab AN6 fuel filters on my two engines and on two customers ones. I really like his products. Well made, fuel filters are cleanable and reuseable, and look nice to boot. Shame I dont see it on his site anymore. Worth the buy, even at 40bucks. Red, Black, Blue, Silver anodized.

I found it : http://www.fastfabonline.com/carburetion.html
32$

Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:41 pm

jfats808 wrote: Ive been using Robs Fast fab AN6 fuel filters on my two engines and on two customers ones. I really like his products. Well made, fuel filters are cleanable and reuseable, and look nice to boot. Shame I dont see it on his site anymore. Worth the buy, even at 40bucks. Red, Black, Blue, Silver anodized.
Remember this is the samba, more than three dollars for a filter that should last at least three years is entirely too much,
Myself, I agree with you and will continue to use a quality filter even at 80 bucks

Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:52 pm

The metal cased filters such as used on modern cars can work fine. The problem is you go looking for a old school filter and get lawnmower quality, tell them you have a ford or BMW to get a filter worth using

Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:00 pm

This one is from Summit http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g1507/overview/

Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:27 pm

might just be over due for a filter change,yup there are a lot of companys that do that with just about any thing.kinda like my kids car,it says chevy, but it is also a suzuki and also a daewoo, and who knows what else or who else branded it for thier own company, we live in a global market,I never know where my banana's are coming from these days.
I try to change those filters every year but sometimes it's two years before you have a chance to think of what you want for lunch. I get mine from west marine, they used to carry a big clear filter that size inlet...not any more, so I have 3 of those.

Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:39 pm

Napa gold 3031 or Wix 33031 same filter. Metal filter 1/4" inlet,outlet. About $3.00 or $4.00 a piece.

Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:40 pm

Glenn wrote: Hastings GF1
http://www.drillspot.com/products/465626/Hastings_Filters_GF1_Fuel_Filter

So...is the complete underneath of your car sprayed ?

Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:00 pm

forget that! I think its cool he rested the whole car on the MAC tool box!

Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:45 am

many moons ago I used only the steel filters,I wouldnt have a plastic or glass filter(still wont have a glass one), but after getting a load of shit in 2 cars from the same station cloging both cars,nomore,only see through on mine so I can see whats happening and if there is shit in the tank/line/filter.

Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:48 am

I hate the glass, unscrewable take apart filters with the cleanable element. heres why. I was drifting around a dirt pile off road in my sand rail I used to have and the filter CAME APART AND SPRAY GAS EVERYWHERE. Almost a fire. Luckily I smelled gas n shut it down. Put the filter back together and cruised back to the truck. That was it for the day. Now I run a 1 piece 1/4 inch metal filter under the gas tank in my Baja and soon I'm putting one in my 73 Street bug (shes not road ready yet.

Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:55 am

I personally know of 3 cars that had major engine fires from glass filter BREAKING. A '69 GT 500, a '71 window van, and an Allison Daytona buggy. The Mustang needed harnesses and paint, the bus and the Allison were a loss.... No glass for me, I use a BIG steel can Fram filter on the buggy. Not sure of the number just went through the filter cabinet and grabbed on that fit. My 57 fuel system is all AN -6 fittings and I'm using a Russel aluminum filter before the pump up front.

brad

Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:01 am

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+Products/555/15032/10002/-1

These types of filters are good enough for a $40,000 SBC they are good enough for my $5,000 VW

Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:13 am

superpro56 wrote:
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+Products/555/15032/10002/-1

These types of filters are good enough for a $40,000 SBC they are good enough for my $5,000 VW
Sure if you have lines with AN fittings.