Fuel Filter Replacement

[BustaRice]

My car has been feeling a bit sluggish, slow throttle response, and hard pressure on the gas pedal at times. I've recently poured a bottle of Valvoline fuel injector cleaner and it helped a bit but the guy at autozone said I might need to change my fuel filter if the cleaner didn't work or not as well.

If you guys think my fuel filter would be the problem on the car being sluggish and so than does it matter which brand? Because Kragen has one for $12 but autozone has one for $17 and $35 around, so I'm not sure what the price differences will actually make on the car.

I have a 98 v6 cam btw, any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[jdv]

i would buy the one from the dealer. i had to go through 3 knockoffs because they all leaked. so much for saving a few $. while at it i would change the air filter and clean the throttle body.

[BustaRice]

can you tell me the steps on removing (if needed) and cleaning the throttle body? and what to use to clean it with, thanks.

[jdv]

for any vehicle:

- unclamp/unscrew the pipe and air filter housing (the big black box with the round black pipe to it going to the engine)
- unplug the maf (it should be somewhere on the intake, either on the pipe, air box or further to the engine)
- use intake cleaner/carb cleaner. it's a spray you can buy at most car shops. there are too many brands of these but they should all work the same.
- assuming you have all the plastic and sensors in the way unplugged, you will see the throttle body (the metal round thing attached to the engine) spray it with the cleaner. repeat. wipe, scrub with paper towels whatever. be sure you dont leave lints. spray until it is clean (no sooth coming out)
- unplug the throttle cable and open the butterfly. spray it and you might want to scrub it to get the inside edges. keep repeating until clean.
- for severely dirty tb you might need to pull the whole thing off the car and clean all the little holes and pipe inlets in it. i had to do with mine but i live in dust and mud central.

you can see below what my tb looks like. and you can also see the dirt. which can cause idle/power/smoothness issues.

[WickedGen3]

Originally posted by jdv
for any vehicle:

- unclamp/unscrew the pipe and air filter housing (the big black box with the round black pipe to it going to the engine)
- unplug the maf (it should be somewhere on the intake, either on the pipe, air box or further to the engine)
- use intake cleaner/carb cleaner. it's a spray you can buy at most car shops. there are too many brands of these but they should all work the same.
- assuming you have all the plastic and sensors in the way unplugged, you will see the throttle body (the metal round thing attached to the engine) spray it with the cleaner. repeat. wipe, scrub with paper towels whatever. be sure you dont leave lints. spray until it is clean (no sooth coming out)
- unplug the throttle cable and open the butterfly. spray it and you might want to scrub it to get the inside edges. keep repeating until clean.
- for severely dirty tb you might need to pull the whole thing off the car and clean all the little holes and pipe inlets in it. i had to do with mine but i live in dust and mud central.

you can see below what my tb looks like. and you can also see the dirt. which can cause idle/power/smoothness issues.

dude.. thanks for the info.. i just bought this K&N filter cleaner.. will it work.. do i have to re-oil the tB also? and do i have to keep cleaning deep inside.. where the screws are..? or even past that??? man.. my car's been idling rough ! .. and i was looking for ways to clean it.. but didn't know how.. thanks JDV

[BustaRice]

ya i cleaned it out pretty good... i really feel a noticeable difference in acceleration and throttle response now. now just fuel filter and i'm set.

[88 LE]

Originally posted by WickedGen3
i just bought this K&N filter cleaner.. will it work.. do i have to re-oil the tB also?

The K&N filter cleaner is for cleaning air filters not throttle bodies.

You want to use carb / throttle body cleaner. Brake parts cleaner will work too.