I mentioned earlier in the blog that I would be relocating the fuel filter to somewhere outside of the engine compartment. This is done primarily to reduce fire hazard and clean up the appearance under the read deck lid. When I went to work on this project I noticed that the stock metal fuel line that passes through the engine tin was missing and in its place was the soft braided fuel line which was run through the hole in the tin. This increases the risk of fuel leaks with the soft fuel line rubbing against the bare metal.
The first step was to relocate the fuel filter. After a little web browsing I was able to find a fuel filter bracket that is bolted to the transaxle housing. This bracket is designed to hold the stock fuel filter. Given the location of the bracket and the metal fuel line coming through the pan it would have required that I cut the metal fuel line…not something I wanted to do…so a “loop” of fuel line is used to make the connection.
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| When I purchased the car the fuel filter was inside of the engine compartment. |
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| Fuel filter relocated on a bracket that attaches to the transaxle case. |
Next I needed to remove the soft fuel line that goes goes into the engine compartment, install the protective rubber grommet in the hole on the engine tin and then install the solid fuel line that will lead from beside the transaxle into the engine compartment and up to the fuel pump. This allows me to eliminate the fuel filter that was installed inside the engine compartment and to minimize the amount of soft fuel line.
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| The new steel fuel line with the required grommet as it comes through the front engine tin. |
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| The new steel fuel line leading up to the fuel pump. Less potential for fuel leaks in the engine compartment. |
The final part of this project will be to get under the front of the car to replace the soft line from the fuel tank to the solid line that runs through the pan. At that point, all of the soft fuel lines will be “factory fresh.”
