Engine bogging down/Where is fuel filter?

[monkeygirl]

i recently inherited my dad's 1985 airstream 290 motorcoach, picked it up from san diego, made minor maintenance repairs & bought all new tires, to drive to tennessee. been on the road for 2 1/2 days and engine started bogging down like it wasn't getting fuel. it has a chevy 454 and we can't find the fuel filter and/or not even sure this is the problem. anyone know where the filter is and/or any suggestions on what could be the problem. thanks.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, it is very common on those Chevys to feel like a fuel problem and only need a distributor rotor.

[klattu]

Half way up the frame from fuel tank.
This is exactly what mine does when filter is dirty.
There is also one at fuel tank, but I'm not sure is stock on mine.
Buy two when you find the type needed, and carry a spare.
This happens to me if I run fuel tank low, as below 1/4 level.

[overlander63]

It's likely a fuel delivery issue. Most of the motor homes had two fuel filters, as indicated above, and most of the longer ones had a second fuel pump at or in the fuel tank. If you replace the filter(s) and still have a problem, check the fuses to see if the electric fuel pump has blown a fuse.
Yours is somewhat shorter than most, that's why I'm not sure if it has the second fuel pump and filter at the rear. The filter may be really hard to spot, if it has the rear one it will be a canister type mounted on the frame rail near the tank, pretty much hidden from view.

[AirRowan]

Mine did the same thing and I change all the ones mentioned above but it still lagged going up hills and accelerating. It was the small filter on the carb it self. It is easy to find and replace just remove the air filter (top and bottom) and on the front of the carb you will see a 1/2" (the biggest one) fuel line going into the passenger side. You will see a 1-1/4" hex cap remove that and there is a small filter. That was my problem.
I hope to never have fuel problems again

[Jim Foster]

Originally Posted by AirRowan

Mine did the same thing and I change all the ones mentioned above but it still lagged going up hills and accelerating. It was the small filter on the carb it self. It is easy to find and replace just remove the air filter (top and bottom) and on the front of the carb you will see a 1/2" (the biggest one) fuel line going into the passenger side. You will see a 1-1/4" hex cap remove that and there is a small filter. That was my problem.
I hope to never have fuel problems again

This will be your problem. Common to Quadrajet carbs. Happened on the road on my Snap-on truck. I just removed the filter until I got to the next parts house.

[John H.]

there are Two size filters. a Long and a short. Mine is the Long. So I assume yours would be also. I buy 2 at a time. and change this Carb filter every 10,000 miles or sooner.

I also buy Sea-foam By the gallon and add a Cup or Two every fill up.

So far. NO issues with the engine.

[DaveFL]

After experiencing engine shutdown 6 times in 2 miles near the end of a 300 mile trip, all PO notes and bills show he must have had the same problem, he changed filters every time he went on a trip. I didn't, opened gas cap, checked wires and sat camping for 6 days, started up and drove home 300 plus miles and not a problem. 454's were notorious fuel vapor lock engines but as some mechanics said it was before fuel injection. I will continue looking for the gremlin, in the past, I checked fuel pressure, back flushed the filter and so little came out it couldn't cover the little finger nail, along with fuel pump pressure test(good before filter and after at the engine, I changed out all plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, module, covered fuel line near engine with insulation. If I don't find a bad ground or wire in the fuel circuit, I will install a switch that will send power directly to the fuel pump bypassing all the sensors, relays and solenoid. Has anybody made an access hole under rear bed to make it possible to pull fuel pump in fuel tank without dropping tank?

[deltatango]

Originally Posted by DaveFL

After experiencing engine shutdown 6 times in 2 miles near the end of a 300 mile trip, all PO notes and bills show he must have had the same problem, he changed filters every time he went on a trip. I didn't, opened gas cap, checked wires and sat camping for 6 days, started up and drove home 300 plus miles and not a problem. 454's were notorious fuel vapor lock engines but as some mechanics said it was before fuel injection. I will continue looking for the gremlin, in the past, I checked fuel pressure, back flushed the filter and so little came out it couldn't cover the little finger nail, along with fuel pump pressure test(good before filter and after at the engine, I changed out all plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, module, covered fuel line near engine with insulation. If I don't find a bad ground or wire in the fuel circuit, I will install a switch that will send power directly to the fuel pump bypassing all the sensors, relays and solenoid. Has anybody made an access hole under rear bed to make it possible to pull fuel pump in fuel tank without dropping tank?

The PO did that on my 280. Someone cut hole in the floor. It needs a cover now like you see on boats etc.

Mine does the bogging thing too.