Fuel Filter

[Ray]

Hi there!
I'm a proud owner of 1998 GC, 4x4 I6.
It's a great vehicle. I have 90k on it and it runs like new. So far I have olny spent money for oil changes and preventive maintenance. Great off road vehicle and great mall assault vehicle as well

I was just wondering, how come Jeep started installing fuel filters inside gas tanks? Does anyone know why they decided to do that?

[jeep450]

The fuel filter is a filter/regulator assembly that you CAN change, you just have to drop the tank to do it. The part number is 4798301. There is a clamp that holds it into the top of the pump module. Take the clamp off and pry EASLY on each side with screw drivers and pop it out. Lube the seals on the new one with light grease and put it back together.

hth

[Ray]

I was just trying to figure out why Jeep engineers decided to go that way.
What if you get some crappy gas and plug up fuel filter in the middle of nowhere. It's much easier to carry a spare and change it out if needed.

[jeep450]

The fuel filter is suppose to last as long as the fuel pump is good. In the engineers mind, the both should go bad at the same time, which might work in the lab but not in the real world. All manufactures are going to this design. I work at a chevy dealership and right or wrong the engineers screwed up designs is what is going to put money in my pockets.

[jeepboy73]

you wonder if it is a filter at the bottom of the pump or just a screen. i can garantee that plugged fuel filters have ruined more fuel pumps than anything. the only dissadvantage i see, is that fuel injectors would be more prone to failure, but that isnt the case. i think that no inline fuel filter is good, but bad for the dealer cause of nonserviceability. which reminds me, i have to replace my filter. out.

[Ray]

They used to install filters outside of fuel tanks. But it was changed in 1996, i think. There should have been a reason for that.
The reason I brought this issue is that I've been experiencing some hesitation when starting cold engine. That happened right after I used a bottle of expensive "Prolong" injector cleaner. It's not a big deal really. The car still runs great. Maybe that cleaner knocked off some dirt and it got stuck in ono of the injectors??? That could slowly drain some fuel through the injector, after seating for a while. Has anyone experiensed similar symptoms?