Fuel line and inline fuel filter

[nmg72]

I have a stock 1997 Eclipse Spyder GST. I bought the car used, so I was going to do the usual maintenance changes. I brought it to Firestone so they could do the timing belt and water pump. I changed the oil and oil filter myself and also did a recharge on the K&N air filter that was already there. I was about to change the fuel filter when after about an hour of trying I just couldn't loosen the top bolt.

So I brought it to Firestone for them to change it out. What a disaster that was. They tell me they were able to get the top bolt undone but couldn't get the bottom one undone so they put it back and didn't charge me. While driving home, it wasn't driving the way that it normally drives, and when I opened the hood, they had the fuel line from the top of the filter kinked in a 90 degree angle. I took the battery out to take a look as to why the filter wasn't in the mount on the firewall and why it was turned in an odd way and come to find out, they crimped the copper fuel line and it had a small leak.

I had to have the car towed to them the next morning and the manager was without words as to what the mechanics had done and was going to make sure it was fixed without charge. Later in the day he gave me two options, put it back to 100% factory stock which would take 3 days to get a new fuel line in, or do a different inline filter system.

The system he has on now is basically:
They cut the nut off the copper fuel line and secured a rubber fuel line hose to the existing line with a hose clamp (screw style). Put a clear in line fuel filter with both sides secured with a hose clamp (screw style).

He also has the oem fuel line coming in just incase their system isn't up to par.

My question is should I leave the inline system they have in place? The nice thing is that future filter changes would be a lot easier, however, I can't help but wonder if their system is efficient enough to do the same job as stock.

Or should I do an upgrade with braided lines and a spectre inline fuel filter?

If I did do an upgrade, do I run the braided steel line from the fuel tank to the engine, or do I use the existing copper fuel line and clamp on to that like what they did with the rubber fuel line?

I don't plan on modding the engine and am going to keep it stock.

 

[chinola69]

If you don't plan on modding the engine then yes keep it stock. Replace the whole line dont ghetto rig it with clamps your talking about ## fuel system here. They might have a problem removing the line from the pump assembly to. And definitely don't put a POS spectre anything.

Note: if you did run braided lines with AN fittings then it is recommend to weld an AN fitting to pump assembly and the run ## braided line all the way to fuel rail with a filter in between of course.

 

[nmg72]

OK. So back to stock it goes.

Is it safe to drive with they system they have in place? They are only 2 miles from my house, but work is 33 miles.

 

[DSM Jeff]

If they are actually able to get you a factory line, have them do that. Our fuel systems run too much pressure for what they seem to be thinking. A rubber line with clear filter is something you'd see on an old carbureted vehicle that has very low pressure. The fuel line is not copper, it's steel. What they could have possibly done is to cut and flare the factory line, put in a new section to your filter. I'm doubtful they would have been able to do a good job. Fun part is, running a new line will not be all that easy and they will need to lower the front subframe to feed the line through.

Once you get your car back, 1. never bring it there again, 2. check everything over your self. Look for any possible problems, or kinks in the new hardline, make sure the fittings are tight.

Good luck.

 

[nmg72]

To quote Han Solo, "I have a bad feeling about this".

Is there an alternative to having the oem line installed?

I've been going through google searches and found Russell Performance Aluminum Fuel Line and Fuel Line Adapters.

If it's best to keep the oem line for what I want, should I just tell Firestone to bring the car to a Mitsu Dealership and have them pay to fix my car?

I mean, if you are saying their "fix" is subpar, how can I possible trust them to do the factory line install?