shumax

Where is the fuel filter located on the P5? I saw something under the car in the rear that looked like it. However, every Nissan I have ever worked on had the fuel filter in the engine bay. Maybe that's a Mazda thing---to have it under the rear bumper?

Thanks,
Curt B. Shumaker

carguycw

It's in the fuel tank attached directly to the inlet of the fuel pump. It's accessed by removing the lower back seat cushion, removing the access lid in the unibody, and then pulling the fuel pump. The filter is right at the bottom. It is not a normal maintenance item and shouldn't have to be replaced unless the car is having problems.

I'm not really familiar with the P5, but the thing you saw under the rear bumper is probably part of the evaporative emissions system.

shumax

[QUOTE]Originally posted by carguycw
It's accessed by removing the lower back seat cushion, removing the access lid in the unibody, and then pulling the fuel pump. The filter is right at the bottom. It is not a normal maintenance item and shouldn't have to be replaced unless the car is having problems.

Good god, I hope you are wrong. Why on earth wouldn't Mazda just take a simple inline filter and mount it on the firewall in the engine bay like Nissan, Toyota and dare I say even GM does? That's absolutly ridiculous that you have to go to those measures to change a silly fuel filter.

With all do respect, please tell me he is wrong. Some might think it's not a big deal to do if you only have to do it every 60k. However, I have always replaced mine in my Nissans and Toyotas at 15k intervals when they say to do it every 30k. For me, it's cheap insurance--$10 filter to prtect $600 worth of injectors.


Thanks,
Curt B. Shumaker
"SHUMAX"

carguycw

First, the fuel filter is NOT a regular maintenance item. It is not on any of the maintenance schedules for the car, either in the owner's manual or the factory service manual.

Second, the fuel filters in the gas tank are the ONLY fuel filters on the car. And yes, there are 2, but the low pressure filter on the bottom of the pump is the only one that should need replacement (the high-pressure filter is built into the fuel pump housing, which can only be replaced as an entire unit for $200+). The canister by the wheelwell is the air filter for the evaporative emissions system (checked the FSM).

Third, this freaked me out when I started checking into scheduled maintenance for my car, but a lot of cars are supposedly coming with "maintenance-free" filters now. My local Mazda dealer reports that they have NEVER replaced a fuel filter in a BJ Protege, as part of regular scheduled maintenance or otherwise. However, I may still replace my car's low pressure filter, just because I'm paranoid

obender66

carguy is right about the filter. i don't remember exact conversation with Mazda tech, but he said something about no need to change fuel filter(or PCV valve) on 2 liter cars. Maybe rate of failure of injectors or fuel pumps is so low they don't think it's necessary?
Alex

bougha

I just checked my filter which is in the tank. In the filter was quite a lot metal chips (from factory)

By the way, here in eastern Finland many people buy their gas from Russia (not me) because of the price. In Finland ~1,1$/ 1 Litre (about 4$ / gallon which is not so cheap), in Russia maybe one third of that.

The russian gas happens to be really shitty, so most popular maintenance targets are cats and fuel filters which don't include in the normal scheduled maintenance program

Farsyde

mazda tech here said it was just a sock on the end of hte tank (prolly not a pair of hanes though) and that they dont replace it-just clean it out after 150,000 miles

shumax

Looks like I am going to have to take a picture of this thing---I sware it's an inline filter.

Oh well...pics to come tonight.

doctor_r

I've asked about that too. The tech just told me it was something to do with the emmisions control system (don't think he really knew what the hell it was either)

shumax

Go to the site below and click on the tab called "FUEL FILTER." In that shot you will see what looks like a fuel filter that any old Nissan, Toyota and Honda would have mounted on the firewall on the drivers side of the engine bay. What I don't get is that this thing is mount under the rear bumper behind the drivers side rear wheel. What's more interesting is that a call to Pep Boys for a "fuel filter" resulted in this exact part---the one you see in the Pic.


I don't doubt there is one in the gas tank, but I think the true maint. fuel filter is the one in this pic.

Curt B. Shumaker

http://photos.yahoo.com/shus93ser

Farsyde

it would be sweet if that was a maintance filter but I have yet to find any company that makes one for the protege-went to Pep Boys, AutoZone, and Discount Auto Parts. The only time I found one was for the JDM protege. id really like to change mine out though-even though they cost 30-40 bux if it helps my mileage, with these gas prices, it'll pay for itself in a few months.

shumax

Did you read my post? I was able to find the part at my local Pep Boys. I didn't get a model number, but they guy had it in his hand and it looked exaclty like what you see in that picture. I might go back tomorrow and buy it to take a picture of it.

BTW---it was a purolator and cost $15.00


Curt B. Shumaker


P.S. Is there an FSM out on the P5 yet?

Farsyde

damn 15 bux is mad cheap! Is it a generic fit to the protege or specific? Not that it matters; just curious

silver_p5_owner

Man, I don't know if that's a fuel filter. Everytime I've seen an in-line one on a fuel injected car they have thick walled, reinforced hoses going in and out of them. The hoses in shumax' pics look pretty light duty, like vapor control hoses not fuel hose. F.I. cars have fuel sytems that are under pretty high pressure. I don't think that looks right.

Jeff M.

silver_p5_owner

Yeah, that's vapor control. I just went out to look at mine and squeez the hose. There's no fluid in it. Maybe the filter looks like that but considering the tank is under the rear seats it wouldn't make much sense to pump gas the back of the car and then forward to the injectors.

Jeff M.