When replacing the fuel filter on a 1996 XJ6, will the fuel keep draining from the tank when the filter is removed until the tank is empty? I have a feeling I'm gonna have to do a quick bait & switch. Am I right?

 

No, it shouldn't. I've never had an issue, at least. Naturally there's spillage from the filter itself but I've never had the fuel drain out of the tank

Cheers
DD

 

The pump is a positive displacement unit and there is a spring loaded check valve. The fuel will not 'siphon' from the tank when the filter is removed.

The only fuel that will drain is the fuel in the lines on either side of the filter.

bob gauff

 

So I just did the fuel filter change. When removing the old one it fell out of my hand so I wasn't sure which direction the flow on the filter is and since both lines going to the filter head toward the front of the car. So is the arrow supposed to point to the outside or the inside of the car?

 

direction would be the flow of the fuel i assume? the old one prob did not have a arrow but the new filter should have one

 

Towards the outside. I changed 6 of these last November when I apparently bought $30 of water at the gas station. =-(

 

Thanks compounder. That means I guessed right>

 

so the arrow is suppose to point outside ? not the direction of the fuel flow?

 

My memory must suck. I thought that was the direction of the fuel flow. The arrow most certainly points to the direction of the fuel flow.

 

Well I'm not sure what you guys were trying to say is the correct direction for the arrow on the fuel filter. Saying it goes with the direction of the fuel flow is of no help what so ever. Everybody knows that. What's the direction of the fuel flowing, towards the outside or the inside of the car? Well after trying one way and than the other it definitely works better with the arrow pointing towards the outside of the car. Hope this helps others in the future when doing a search.

 

Fuel contaminated with water is a problem! If there is any water in it, bubbles of water will "condense" and collect at the bottom of the car's tank. Eventually one will get sucked up. There is an indy station where I USED TO fill up occasionally, and I finally connected my "random" stall, and temporary poor running, with that gasoline. Now I'm a believer in the Name Brand gasoline. Not that its any guarantee, but I've had no further troubles whatsoever, since the last sudden (and poorly-timed) stall in January!

After the first two incidents late last year, I checked everything I could think of, and did some cleaning of the MAF and ISCV, but still had the stall in January. Afterwards I did nothing more than switch gasolines. I didn't even change the fuel filter (although it is time to). Shell & Chevron are my go-to stations now.

The direction of flow through the fuel filter is from the tank to the fuel lines along the left side of the car, so the arrow on the filter should point to the "outside" of the car. But thank you for testing the other way too, jgjeeper! Now we know it really does matter. Sorry for the confusion there.