I changed my fuel filter today and put in an OEM Nissan filter. Pulled the FP fuse first, and released pressure in the tank as well. Everything was fine.

BUT when I started the car, the engine idled just as before, @ 750rpm in Park. But as soon I hit the throttle even a little, the engine sputtered like crazy. I thought perhaps it's a small glitch as the filter is new and will go away when I drive it for a while. Well, I drove it around for about 40 minutes, at varying speeds, fast and slow. But the problem is exactly the same as it was before. With the old filter, it drove 100x better. I just replaced it as part of a basic tune up (haven't touched anything else yet).

What gives? Bad filter? Has anyone else experienced this with a new filter? I was planning on doing the Seafoam treatment tomorrow, but I gotta fix this first. Any help is appreciated as always.

 

I would buy a small inline mechanical FP gauge and measure the FP with each filter to be sure.

Or just see if you can exhange it or something.

 

more than likly you bumped some connector loose like the maf or tps

id put the old filter back in and if it runs better then its the filter if it still runs crappy then its somthing else so id start by pulling codes from the ecu

 

thanks guys! i had thrown the old filter in the dumpster right after putting in the new one. i am an idiot. yeah, i will try to exchange it from nissan tomorrow. their parts guy recognizes me now, so he just might do it. keep tossing the ideas, though. i appreciate it!

 

Is it possible that you installed it backwards?

 

thats unlikely IMHO, he installed the old one again, so chances are slim to none that the new one was installed backwards.

 

he said he threw the old one in the garbage not that he put it on unless I misread it

 

I think Shawn has been sniffing the Seafoam again

 

I thought he put the old one back on

 

Yes, the new filter was installed correctly and I had not reinstalled the old one to check. And Jeff, it was I who was sniffing the Seafoam as guess what? In my infinite wisdom, after having removed a spark plug for inspection, and then putting it back in, I didn't fully reinsert the coil....it hadn't clicked (!). So the injector wasn't operating. When I noticed that this afternoon, I laughed so hard I almost hit my head on the hood! The problem has been resolved! Thanks a million as always!

 

Glad that worked out. I have a oem 300z fuel filter laying around. You have inspired me to install it this weekend.

 

You lucky bastard!