Replace fuel filter,lines?pics

Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
2,169
Location
stamford, CT
Hi all! Just took pics under my 98 LeSabre. I had new fuel filter installed about 2021, ac Delco...has about 18,000 miles on it. Looking;under as in pic you can see the bracket that holds the lines,they are not looking good..the pic with silver line shows the rest of fuel lines are ok. It's just at the bracket area...should I replace them or think they have good more 3-4 years in em? Thier factory original..since 1998...
As for the filter the camera made it look worse! Think it will hold up few more years?

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Rust goes two ways, it is either much worse than it looks or nowhere near as bad as it looks. They look okay to my eyes but I would wire check them carefully and brush them down then spray them with self etching primer and spray over them with chassis black and then rust proofing.
 
Rust goes two ways, it is either much worse than it looks or nowhere near as bad as it looks. They look okay to my eyes but I would wire check them carefully and brush them down then spray them with self etching primer and spray over them with chassis black and then rust proofing.
Good idea right there. Also I would go ahead and change that filter again - while he can before the rust makes it impossible. Prob would not have to replace it again after that.
 
Rust goes two ways, it is either much worse than it looks or nowhere near as bad as it looks. They look okay to my eyes but I would wire check them carefully and brush them down then spray them with self etching primer and spray over them with chassis black and then rust proofing.
What I am thinking to do.spray undercoating on them.and filter. Stuff you'dr spray on new metal gas tank. Or some kinda rust protecting paint spray
 
Good idea right there. Also I would go ahead and change that filter again - while he can before the rust makes it impossible. Prob would not have to replace it again after that.
I did the filter first time 2018-19. Was fun. Last landlord I had permission work on car but not here now .the plastic lines that connect beginning of gtrr,that easy connect tab broke as plastic lines turned.jad to buy new lines .
 
Park a block away until you replace the rusty gas lines. And if you smoke and toss cigarettes, quit.

Make sure homeowners insurance fully covers a house burning down from a car burning up in front
 
If you look at those lines too hard,you will create leaks. Underneath clips holding the lines in place is a bad area because they collect dirt. All this goes double for the brake lines, BTW
 
$120 is cheap for peace of mind. But I wouldn’t call those an immediate risk. Likely what would happen is a pinhole leak. You’d notice drips after parking the car. Not exactly a life-threatening emergency.
 
What would you expect, it's a GM product.
I have a 94 Roadmaster wagon used to drive a lot.
had serious rust on the lines from the tank
Lines had a slight angle but mostly straight.
I dropped tank
Scraped off the loose rust
Found clear vinyl tube that could fit over all 3 lines from Lowes.
Smeared PL premium polyurethane construction adhesive over all the metal lines to seal out water.
Slid the vinyl tubing over top the wet adhesive.

Idea being to keep water away permanently, and it worked.

There is around 45 psi of pressurized gasoline in the output from the tank pump.

The rest of the line is a black plastic nylon which when it gets old can snap, and snap it did on me.
Then near engine is an accordion like clear gas hose that gets brittle.

My hand bumped it and it snapped in half. Now imagine if that happens with engine running!

I replaced all the cheap as can be rotting plastic fuel line. I lost any good feeling towards GM cars after too many issues and won't buy any even used ones. I feel better about Honda, or Ram trucks with Cummins engines and even they can have issues with the 6.7L, mine is a 5.9L and it is great, not a northern truck eaten up with frame rust.

I feel like the last good cars GM made were in the 60's, everything after that is awful, and I owned a lot of 70, 80, 90's GM cars and they were all awful

My daughter bought a GMC Acadia 2011 several years ago with 120,000 miles and had to have it towed twice $1000 each time. Last time it broke on a trip trans blew up. Something went wrong with the converter, makes a high-pitched continual screech when running.
Its the trans cause we disconnect the converter bolts and engine runs quiet.
 
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Example of lousy black nylon gasoline line snapped off 94 Buick at engine hookup, imagine if it broke while running, fire!
It broke when my hand brushed it in summertime.
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I lost any good feeling towards GM cars after too many issues
Over the years, chatting casually with folk I meet randomly, a consistent cold feeling about GM products is evident.
The fuel line in post #18 is a great example.

Regarding those rusty fuel lines: I'd give 'em a thoughtful sanding and paint them with rust reformer as the rust is so localized.
That filter seems odd. While I'm no expert, the OE fuel filter, as well as the replacement for my '05 Ranger, were both stainless steel.
Ha-ha, see if Motorcraft makes a filter for your Buick!
 
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