fuel filter

rangermike5353 · Nov 17, 2017

Hello,
i have a 96 ranger and i bought a after market fuel filter usually there is an arrow marked which direction you install the filter . But the one i got is only marked "in", meaning going towards the carb or tank. i have it going towards the carb. it still runs rough so do i have on backwards or do i have idle issues.
please help thanks Mike

Mark_88 · Nov 17, 2017

Hi Mike,

Did your idle issues happen before or after you changed the filter?

I would have to say the "in" means that is where the fuel from the tank comes "in" for the filter to work properly but they are likely bidirectional to at least a minimal amount to allow fuel to flow so if your problems started before the fuel filter was installed you likely didn't cause the problem by reversing the filter.

Swap it around if you are not sure...someone told me a long time ago fuel filters should never stop fuel flow completely unless they are defective or damaged...but I never asked anyone else about that since it was for a different vehicle (Suzuki Sidekick).

adsm08 · Nov 17, 2017

Ford's fuel filters are only minimally bi-directional and will cause problems if installed backwards.

The rounded end faces the tank, the flattened end faces the engine, and "in: is the side fuel is supposed to go into the filter on, because when it goes from the filter to the engine it is going "out".

So yeah, you installed is bass ackwards.

Also, a 96 anything should not have a carb.

rangermike5353 · Nov 17, 2017

Thanks, i got 3 of these on ebay for $15. its a ultra power filter never heard of this brand b4 . when i went back on ebay this fiter isnt listed anymore.

rangermike5353 · Nov 17, 2017

i switched it around still the same rough idle thanks for the info anyway

fastpakr · Nov 17, 2017

Was it running rough before the filter swap?

adsm08 · Nov 17, 2017

I have never once seen a fuel filter fix a rouogh running condition.

tomw · Nov 18, 2017

I have never seen a fuel filter cause a rough idle condition. If it is plugged enough to affect the idle, then it should have REAL problems going down the road, and would likely be looked at before it got that bad.
Rough idle is generally a leak in the intake causing lean mix that misfires, ignition problems or mechanical problems in the engine.(leaky valve the most likely, hidden at higher rpms)
tom

atikovi · Nov 20, 2017

rangermike5353 said:
But the one i got is only marked "in", meaning going towards the carb or tank. i have it going towards the carb.

Well there's your problem. Rangers haven't had carbs since the 80's. And I wouldn't install a $2 filter on any vehicle I depend on.

fuel filter

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