So, after 20 years, I figured I had better change the fuel filter on my 90 GTA.

I cracked one of the nuts and loosened it until gas started dripping, Then I put a small pail under the filter to catch the gas that came out. I figured that after the pressure in the system was relieved, the gas would stop dripping.

It's been pouring out all evening. I've collected a few pints now. Is this normal? ..

So ...Once I take the filter off, will gas pour out of the fuel lines until I put the new filter on and tighten the lines down again? (This doesn't sound safe).. Or do I need to empty the gas tank in order to change the filter?

 

Sounds like your siphoning the tank.

 

Yea, that's what I'm thinking.. Is there a way to prevent this?
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Replace the filter and tighten beck the lines.

 

Yeah, once in awhile they'll do that. Time to just jump in there and finish the job before it drains the entire tank. LOL

The lake of gas I encountered stained the asphalt parking area really nice! Several months later you could still see the spot where I figured it'd stop dripping after a few seconds.

 

OK.. Thanks for the tips.. I guess I just wind up getting gas all pouring down my arms and on the floor

 

Let all that old nasty ethanol gas drain out lol. Then ill up on E0.

 

So, I solved the problem of gas pouring out. I have a vacuum brake bleeder. I put the suction tube in the gas filler and sealed the opening where the gas cap goes with some rubber. I pulled a gentle vacuum in the tank which broke the siphon action and gas stopped pouring out.

Then things got worse..

The nut on the gas line that goes from the filter to the engine came undone easily. The nut on the line that goes to the tank wouldn't budge. I PB blasted it and let it sit over night. Today I was trying to unscrew it and one of the wrenches slipped.

This caused the whole filter to twist which in turn twisted the gas line. This caused the line to crack Even after I got it off, I put the nut in a vice and clamped it as tightly as I could. Even then, I had to reeve on the nut to get it out of the filter. It was next to welded in place,

So now I'm dead in the water.... Below are shots of the broken line and the ragged edge of the line that's still in the car..

Is there some way to trim it, flare it and get it to work again, or do I have to replace the whole line?
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I think the line is 3/8 you can connect it with a union fitting.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Dorman-Produc...0-153/10002/-1

 

Wow Jim.

I feel for ya.

Thanks for sharing this story.
Keep us informed how it goes.

I need to change my filter too.
So much to look forward to!!!

 

Best fix is to avoid breaking the line in the first place. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but other times you can shake the PBlaster real good, and let it soak in really well. Then get in there with flare nut wrenches and give the wrench a good, sharp, WHACK! to crack the nut loose. The shock will usually pop it loose, a steady push or pull can more often end up rounding off the fastener.

Pretty sure that piece of the hard line from the filter to the tank can be removed pretty easily, so it can be replaced, or get a repair section and flare both pieces, screw together with a union... I'm sure someone will say compression fitting, but I would do my best to avoid using a compression fitting.

 

Thanks for all the help.

I was so mad when I broke the line that I just walked away from the car for the weekend to cool off and give the problem some thought.

The tip from Tuned Performance set me in the right direction.

I did a bit of looking at local shops for fuel line fittings and came up with a Doorman fuel line repair kit. It has the correct nut and flare and also comes with a dual compression fitting to mate up the other end of the line to coming from the tank. It was just a matter of cutting the existing line back a ways and then fastening the new one on to it. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be.



It did the trick. I got it running with no leaks this afternoon

 

Good to hear!