DANGEROUS Leaking Pro Products Fuel Filter

I had installed one of these canister frame mount replaceable element fuel filters on my '32 pickup project and after a short time (a few weeks and a 100 miles), it started leaking where the canister seals to the body.

http://www.fastpts.com/cgi-bin/hazel-cgi/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item=ppfilters.html

Part No. 10102 Their Description: "Professional Products Powerflow Street Rod Fuel Filter-This is a smaller version of our super popular Competition Filter with similar flow and filtering characteristics. It features a universal chrome bracket with stainless steel attaching hardware and a high quality polished chrome housing.
Dimensions: 4-9/16" long x 2-7/16" diameter. Filter has 3/8-NPT inlet and outlet ports."

I found this info on the Ameduri Racing Products/Hot Rods of NORCO website .

The scary part is it leaked gas the better part of the night and day onto my workshop garage floor and into my floor drain/pit before I caught it. I was just damn lucky that the whole shooting match didn't blow up and burn down my house, workshop, and cars since I have a pop machine sitting near it that could have ignited it when it cycled on.

I thought maybe I had a cracked casting or something, so I picked up another one at my local Sturdevants Auto Parts store before I took this one off. I then took the one off the truck and found that the main o-ring that seals the canister to the body very soft (not gas resistant rubber apparently) and not sealing in the center of it. The o-ring has a square profile and the canister is steel with a very thin edge which seats almost on the outer edge of the o-ring, not the center, which pushes past the o-ring in the groove it sits in. If you tighten it at all it will push right past it. I took the new one apart and it also was the same way and the o-ring was already deformed. I removed the o-ring and reinstalled it carefully, keeping it straight and flat, trying not to tighten it too much when I reinstalled the can and then put it back on the truck. I took it for a short drive and it again was leaking slightly by the time I checked it again. I tightened it slightly more and it leaked more. I'm sure as the o-ring gets softer with the gas exposure, so it will get much worse. Very, very dangerous, especially if you have your car parked where you don't check on it often. Obviously this is a poor design with inferior materials and I think it is Chinese made. Is anyone else using one of these and had similar problems? Let me know.

Is there a small Fram, AC or other canister type frame mounted filter that's AMERICAN made that is out there? I'll need a part number or website link to check it out. The used ones I have seen at the swap meets are much bigger and won't fit in the space I have to mount this one. Otherwise I will have to use an inline replaceable type. I need something with 3/8" NPT female inlet and outlet about 3" long or one with male inlet and outlet #6 AN fittings that is about 4" long.

 

This is the first I've heard of a problem. I sell the Professional Products line and it obviously concerns me.

I'll contact the manufacturer and see what they have to say.

I know out of the 250+ product lines I sell, there isn't another filter this size... just that bigger clunky one you are referring to.

FWIW, we have a very good record with them as far as warranty. The parts aren't cheap, they are inexpensive.
Mike

 

Ok, I did some looking. Since we took on the line I don't see a record of any returns on that part. We've only sold 57 in the past few years, though.

I talked to the factory and let him know of your concerns. His advice was to return the parts for warranty. He said the only returns they see for leaks are because of crushed o-rings from overtightening. I would think this is a new issue for them if your description is right.

I would suggest if you haven't contacted them to make a call. They are all nice guys... car guys... they understand the situation.

I'm sure they would like to see the offending pieces. I'd suggest having them issue a UPS call label and pick up the filters and send you replacements.

They have a minimal amount of money in the filters... it should be no problem for them.

 

Yeah, it's Chinese made, SFAIK.

I'm a bit confused about the needed dimensions....the P.P. is 4 9/16" long, but you mention that you need one that's either 3" or 4" long, depending on fittings. Or, did you mean diameter?

About the smallest bracket type I could find is a Summit brand http://store.summitracing.com/partd...925239+4294839051+4294852562+115&autoview=sku , but it's possibly Chinese as well. It's larger than your dimensions, either way.

Then I thought about this, which is an early Corvette filter...little more traditional, maybe... http://www.corvette-paragon.com/catalog/Product.aspx?id=848DEACA-DD97-433E-9339-A9F07B04DCC6

There are other AC Corvette filters that use brackets which are more of the "inline" style, carried by Paragon (and others).

 

I think You should get Your money back and get another brand filter. You Myfriend were VERY VERY LUCKY!!!. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTOROUS. Had You lost your cars-shop and possibly your life, nobody would be the wiser to what caused it.
Throw that SHIT in the trash or take it back. FEDER

 

I just added on of these to my car but it hasn't leaked yet because I have not put gas in the car now I'm scared.....

 

Is the the red one with the chrome can? If so, I am running one and had the problem described. If you just put it on the car new it will be fine until you take it apart the first time, like to change the filter. You're gonna love what I did to fix it. The problem I had was it leaking out of the top bolt. (I can't remember, doesn't a new O-ring washer come with a replacement filter?) I got the neoprene washer off of the roofing screws used to put down metal roofs and put it with a tight fitting metal washer to seal up the top. Been running it a couple of years and it has been OK.

 

That looks like a Fram COPY.......get a Fram.....
I've had one of these on my musclecar for 8+ years....never a problem.

 

kinda... its smaller and has a different bracket. They have one that looks like the Fram HPG1 as well.

 

That is the exact problem that I encountered when I built my deuce a few years ago. I think that I used a soft copper washer to keep it from leaking. I have 10-12 thousand on it and I have experience no futher problems but I was sure pissed and frustrated when I encountered the issue.

 

No offense to Mikey but I tried one on the T to guiniea pig it for customers....................leaked like a sumbitch as well. I found one section of the seal was folded over a tad (out of the box)and worked ok after I added a better seal. Also leaked around the bolt.

Jerry, I will suggest the AC Delco P/N GF62C, not as flashy but works much better and taked up less room. Canister spins off by hand without a tool as well. I prob sold two dozen of these to folks w/o any issues

 

No problem. I just didnt realize there was a problem with them. Its the first I've heard of it... and didn't want the company to get dumped on if it wasn't warranted.

 

http://jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257066&highlight=I%27ve+got+a+point

No excuse for poor design and/or quality control.

 

Perhaps this could help.

A Wix fuel filter adapted to a single remote oil filter adapter.
You can just see it behind the fuel pump in the pic.





The filter proper is 4 1/2" tall.
3" OD at the flange and body.
Filter gasket is 2 3/4" OD.
Gasket is rectangular in shape and 1/4" wide.
Gasket is 2 1/2" ID.
Filter mounting thread is 5/8 - NF.
Wix part # is 33358

If you use a remote oil filter adapter note that you'll have to make a new nipple.
The old one is 3/4-16 on both ends (set up for the Fram PH8a series of filters).
The new nipple will be 3/4-16 on one end and 5/8-NF on the other.

This setup worked well on little brothers drag race Henry J when it ran the smaller 455 Olds engines and works well on my 462" Buick powered roadster.

 

Thanks everyone! You guys are great! I'm jumping on and off the computer on my breaks here at work so thanks for the great response. I would like to see this work but I'm not sure I trust it anymore, especially since the Des Moines GoodGuys event is coming up next week and this will be the first road trip on the '32 pickup. I'd hate taking a gas bath under it out on the road (or catching on fire either).

Thirdyfivepickup - Could you give me some contact info for them? The issue of over tightening could be relevant on the first one because the seal was crushed down a bit, but the way its designed, you have a bolt coming from the top that is sealed with a copper washer pulling the can into a rubber seal that is very soft. Thats a very incompatible way of sealing those because it needs to be fairly tight to seal the copper washer, which crushes the rubber o-ring too much. When I installed the second one I barely tightened it and it leaked past the copper washer and then when I tightened it more it leaked around the can past the o-ring. A much harder o-ring would be a better fix along with making sure the can would contact it in the center of it.

Homespun91 - I have it mounted like it's shown in the pic on the website and the actual body width of the housing is 2 3/4" without fittings. With my AN fittings installed (to adapt from 3/8" NPT) it is about (a guess here) 4 3/4" which is the room I have between my SS 3/8" hard lines. The Corvette filter is a good one that I'll keep in mind for the next time but I need to get thing going with local parts for now if I can.

36tbird - Yes, it's the red one with the chrome can with just two bolts holding it to the mounting bracket (click the link for a pic of it). I have an extra filter so I can check to see if there is a new o-ring in there. You fixed the problem that I telling 35pickup about of the incompatible sealing (copper washer/rubber o-ring) with the neoprene washer in place of the copper washer. I might try that but I'm still nervous about it.

SinisterCustom - I'd like to try the Fram but its bigger than the one I have and my space is limited where its mounted. 35pickup is right about the size of the one I've got.

Offy - It has a copper washer on the top bolt but apparently its not soft enough on mine. (or the rubber o-ring is much too soft IMO)

Tman - Trent, you described my problem with it to a "T" (pun intended) because when I took apart the new one I got last night the seal was already mangled. Where did you find a better seal? I'm thinking a hydraulic supply company maybe?
The AC Delco 62C sounds very good if it has 3/8" NPT female inlet and outlet and will fit in where it needs to go. I don't want to have to bend up any new hard lines if I can help it. I'll look at one of those too.

C9 - A very trick set-up indeed, but I'm short of time to work on it right now (Des Moines deadline coming fast), plus my space problems under the truck. Thanks for posting though.

 

You're welcome.

Looks like you're dealing with a filter element.

I had hopes the Wix filter would just bolt on....

 

Jerry, the GF62C has 3/8 on both sides, should fit right in the same place. I am trying to decide HOW I fixed the one on the T and looking back, all I did was pry out the seal and flip it over I believe. It pressed back in and seated better that way. Never leaked after that. Mine was obviously pinched as it was assembled at the factory. After trying it, I decided that I still liked the spin on Delco filter better. In some applications, the bolt on the PP one is hard to get to with floorboards and other things.........

 

Mallory makes a real class one. But you have to order the filter form them ???

 

I wont be into work today as the catastrophe claim guy from the insurance just left after assessing the house for storm damage. I'm heading up to the hospital to see my daughter next.

Im sure you can find contact info on their website. I believe I talked to Pete out there, but dont remember.

 

Update: Tman - Bad news on the AC Delco spin on filter. Can you get me one or even the GM part number? The part number you gave me was just for an element, which was a replaceable cartridge type, not a spin on type. The auto parts stores just had that and didn't have the main assembly it goes into, so I called the AC Delco distributor, Pam Oil. They said the main assembly wasn't available through them either so I asked him for the GM part number for it. I then called the GM dealer and they checked the number and said it had been discontinued and was no longer available. I asked him what its application was and he said it was for a 1982-1990 GM school bus chassis powered by their 5.7, 6.2 and 7.3 engines. That made sense but he couldn't come up with anything else like it. Let me know if you can still find that out there in Rapid.

Now back to the Pro Products filter. I took it off the truck and disassembled it again. I switched my AN fittings over to the new upper casting that I had bought the night before and then looked over the sealing surface of the can very carefully. Like I said before its almost a knife edge and it seats to the outside if the o-ring. I saw a few small nicks in it so I took it to the belt sander and sanded the sealing surface so it was flat, true and about 3/32" wide. I had an extra filter with new seals so I looked at the main o-ring seal and it looked OK and not as soft as the last two (but they had been exposed to gas). I installed that and the other two seals. I noticed when I removed one of the seals from the groove it was in, it expanded so much it wouldn't fit back in the groove again!! It was very soft and spongy too. I also tried to use a rubber washer on the top bolt but it deformed when tightened so I just sanded both sides of the copper washer to true it up. The replacement filter package gave a torque spec of 15 ft. lbs. so I then reassembled it and tightened it to what I though was tight enough. I then set my torque wrench to 15 ft. lbs. and couldn't even get close to that without wiping out the o-ring. I backed it down to 10 ft. lbs. and that was still too much IMO so I tightened it as much as I could without totally deforming the o-ring. I took it back apart and checked it each time. Back on the truck and then a 30 mile drive to and from cruise night, everything was dry each time I checked it. Then back home at on the interstate for 10 miles at 70 mph. Into the garage and parked for 15 minutes, I then checked it and found a light film of gas on the can again, no drips just a light film. Probably what was left after the evaporation of the most volatile part of the gas on the highway on the way home. I'll check it again after work (I did put a drain pan under it this time). But unless they start making their o-rings out of harder gas resistant rubber (Buna M?), I don't think it will ever stop leaking. They had better get a handle on this problem or it is going to cost them a lot of money. I hope this doesn't cost someone their life, garage or car.

Thirdyfivepickup - I emailed them the whole story two days ago at: ameduri@earthlink.net and never even received a reply!! They don't seem to be taking this seriously or they don't want any record of it established via email. I guess a phone call will be next. This is their website:

http://www.fastpts.com/cgi-bin/hazel-cgi/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item=ppfilters.html

Ameduri Racing Products was founded in 1995. We are racers ourselves and pride ourselves on offering products that perform with the service you deserve.
Did you know we are now part of Hot Rod's of Norco? Everything from flat heads to cruising to hot rodding including their world famous flamethowers. Come visit us !
We are located in Norco Ca. approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles Ca.
Ameduri Racing Products 1103 Hamner Ave. Norco, CA. 92860 Ph.(800) 418-9573 Fax. (951) 371-5250.

 

Bummer! Just called my ace parts guy and it is discontinued........wonder why GM is going broke, they discontinue a well engineered part(even So-cal had it in their catalog!)! They do have a GF62P in stock, I believe this one was meant for the other frame rail as the flow was opposite, I will get it in hand and look at it tomorrow!

 

A little more info on the Wix fuel filter/remote oil filter bit.

I don't have the parts number, but there is a Wix fuel filter that is the same size, thread etc. as the Fram PH8a oil filter that most remote oil filter brackets are designed for.

A remote oil filter bracket, the right Wix fuel filter and you'd be in business.

The white filter is a Wix on a single remote.

 

I really, really like the system 1 filters. the element in them is easily removeable, and can be cleaned rather than chunked in the garbage.
Yeah, it's a biggish chunk of aluminum, but hell, do what I did and build a bracket out of a peice of exhaust tubing and You will never know it's there.

I have installed dozens, not 1 single problem.

 

C9, Lux, thanks for some alternatives! It sucks when a favorite product is changed or discontinued!

 

I had a scare when Carter claimed they were going to discontinue thier Electric Fuel pumps a while back. Fortunately, the new ownership decided to keep the line, and actually put out a few new models. I use those boogers on just about everything I can hold down long enough to install one on. That's how I found out about system 1 stuff. thier fuel pumps are amazing. I don't live in the right income tax bracket to own one, but really nice nonetheless.

 

Just so I'm clear on this... Has anyone had a problem with the unit summit sells? I have one in my system, but it hasn't seen fuel yet. I am concerned.

 

I think this filter unit is still around - last I looked you could still get it from Rock Auto for $35 or so. Search for AC Delco GF62....the canister and the element is the same as the one on the bottom of the 65 Mustang and Ford truck fuel pumps. There were several versions of this stand alone style of filter - the one on the GM "Kodiak" trucks had a different upper housing with a side bolted set-up.


It has 1/4 pipe inlet and outlet and those top screw holes are tapped for 5/16 UNF.

It will tolerate use under pressure - and one of the screw holes can be drilled out and tapped for 1/8 pipe to mount a pressure gauge.

 

That is the same unit as the GF62C with a TOP mount vs the side! I will look into it. Thanks!

 

If "the Rock" can't come up with the GF62 - I saw the GF62C in their listing too - try looking at ebay for "boat fuel filter" or "marine fuel filter". The filter/ water seperator units that are used on the Mercury marine engine installations are pretty good looking units.

 

I just put one on a 34 Terra I'm building for a guy.
Wouldn't it be easier to just find the right size "Viton" O-ring to replace the defective original one?
I haven't looked at it yet, I'm not in the shop til tonight.
Perhaps get the manufacturere to supply them to people who bought these filters?????