How critical is a fuel filter?

[XH29N0G]

I recently had my car restored, and I do not see a fuel filter in the line between the carburetor and the fuel pump.  I assumed there should always be a fuel filter.  I am looking at an in line filter (metal and not super expensive) to put in.  Is there any reason I should look at a more expensive one or a particular type.

[Ghoste]

Always run a fuel filter.  The one you describe should be fine.

[A383Wing]

use a metal can style...not the see through one...depending on your fuel line size, they are available at any auto part store. Most OE ones were behind the alternator..pain to change

I put mine in the line just before the fuel pump, that way it protects the pump as well

[johnnycharger]

use a metal can style...not the see through one...depending on your fuel line size, they are available at any auto part store. Most OE ones were behind the alternator..pain to change

I put mine in the line just before the fuel pump, that way it protects the pump as well

What is the concern with the see through one? I like it because you can see if the pump is working...

[XH29N0G]

Thanks that is what I thought.   I am surprised that I don't see one.  

I think the see through ones are considered to be risky for breakage.

[A383Wing]

see through ones are flimsy plastic..which either cracks or gets eaten by today's fuels....go look at any new car today and see if you can find a see through filter on it

personally, I would never use one..but if that's how you determine if your fuel pump is working, 

[johnnycharger]

That is some great points....

[cudaken]

 While I have broken a see through filter, I have never had one break with out me helping it.  Another thing I like (Besides the chrome) it can be cleaned and reused.

Far as other ways to check in the fuel pump is working is replaces the fuel filter which is a pain. Or, you can look at the filter.

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Charger%20Site/11-13-1_zps94596329.jpg.html]

In this case, my 68 Road Runner that sat 8 years with out running. Thought the fuel pumped died, cleaned the filter and she started right back up.

Cuda Ken

[JB400]

The kind that Ken posted is what I like as well.  I will agree about the plastic see through filters.  If they don't fall apart, they cloud up and defeat the purpose of having a filter you can see through.  The metal canister filter before the pump is a good idea if you're using an original tank and lines.  You'll want to clean it often though to get the rust out.

[Indygenerallee]

I had one of those glass style Mr. Gasket ones Ken posted, I would never run one again, the one I had on a 1978 Dodge Ram once loosened up (I had installed it tight!) leaked and the truck caught on fire.. I would highly recommend to just use a regular old steel can style filter!!

[Ghoste]

No fires but I have had two of them loosen up and spill fuel on the intake.  I thought the first one was defective but the second time woke me up.

[nvrbdn]

i have one just coming out of the tank, and another after the fuel pump.

[ACUDANUT]

use a metal can style...not the see through one...depending on your fuel line size, they are available at any auto part store. Most OE ones were behind the alternator..pain to change

I put mine in the line just before the fuel pump, that way it protects the pump as well

If you can't see the fuel, how do you know the fuel pump is working. I disagree. Always use a see through one.

[A383Wing]

I had one of those glass style Mr. Gasket ones Ken posted, I would never run one again, the one I had on a 1978 Dodge Ram once loosened up (I had installed it tight!) leaked and the truck caught on fire.. I would highly recommend to just use a regular old steel can style filter!!

agree...have had a couple cars up here catch fire with those glass ones as well...

[Ghoste]

And as for the fuel pump, if the car won't run and I suspect fuel the first thing I do is check manually to see if the accelerator pump squirts fuel into the carb throat.  If it doesn't and I suspect the pump I disconnect the line before the carb and put it into a large jar and crank the engine with a remote starter.  Given the infrequency of a fuel pump failure I would much rather go to this extra work than risk a fire because I wanted to see if the pump was working.

[A383Wing]

or have that cheap little off-shore see-through plastic filter disintegrate with today's fuels and additives

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Is it bad that I have been running just the stock vapor separator on my 440 for 15+ years with no other filter in the system other than the sock on the pick up in the tank like the factory did? 

[A383Wing]

no filter behind the alternator?

[ACUDANUT]

I had one of those glass style Mr. Gasket ones Ken posted, I would never run one again, the one I had on a 1978 Dodge Ram once loosened up (I had installed it tight!) leaked and the truck caught on fire.. I would highly recommend to just use a regular old steel can style filter!!

agree...have had a couple cars up here catch fire with those glass ones as well...

They are not glass. They are plastic. Replace them once a year.

[nvrbdn]

Is it bad that I have been running just the stock vapor separator on my 440 for 15+ years with no other filter in the system other than the sock on the pick up in the tank like the factory did? 

my  68 charger had a filter in line other than the sock from the factory.

[cudaken]

Far as the Mr Gasket filter, I have been using them for 35 years with no problems except when I break them. What am I doing when I do break one? Tightening them! 

Cuda Ken 

[A383Wing]

I had one of those glass style Mr. Gasket ones Ken posted, I would never run one again, the one I had on a 1978 Dodge Ram once loosened up (I had installed it tight!) leaked and the truck caught on fire.. I would highly recommend to just use a regular old steel can style filter!!

agree...have had a couple cars up here catch fire with those glass ones as well...

They are not glass. They are plastic. Replace them once a year.

please try and follow the conversation...we were talking about the glass & chrome ones breaking, not the cheapo Fram see-through ones

[Indygenerallee]

mine was the Mr. Gasket GLASS style as Ken posted and it leaked and caught the truck on fire. the clear plastic ones are trash as well (flimsy and will get brittle quickly)

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

no filter behind the alternator?

Nope....the vapor separator has a screen built in

[bill440rt]

Right. I always thought the vapor separator also doubled as the fuel filter.
OP, take a look by your fuel pump. It should be mounted nearby on the engine. No other filter was used.

These were used on 440 & HEMI cars. 383 and small block cars used the silver metal canister fuel filter that got mounted in the fuel line near the alternator.

Never a fan of the clear style either, heard too many stories of breakage as well.