i have a FRam fuel filter, and iw as wondering, does it really get that dirty??? clean gas goes in doesnt it?? my car idles funny until it warms up.. thought maybe the filter was gone.. the gaskets and everything are fine.

 

The fuel filter is designed to protect your carburator or fuel injection system from being contaminated. Various numbers of foreign material can mysteriously find its way into your gas tank. For starters, when you pump gasoline into the tank, you knock a small amount of dirt/dust down the fill tube when you incert the gas handle. Or a bug, spider, bee...etc could have found a temporary home in the end of the gas handle. Dirt, dust, bugs, rust and in the most extreme cases.. sand and sugar can find its way into gas tanks, and its the fuel filter's job to protect it from making its way to the fuel induction system.

Its probably a good idea to change your fuel filter at least 2 times a year or more if you are experiencing problems with fuel pressure.

For fuel injected engines, you wouldn't believe the amount of symptoms a clogged up or restrictive fuel filter can cause. That's always my first attempt at diagnoising a problem, always.

 

my car has a carter afb competition series carb... it filter looks clean.. but should i change it anyways?

 

Sounds to me you have a choke problem. Make sure your choke is opening/closing like it is supposed to. Its possible to accidently bend a rod which controls the choke butterfly. If it is electric choke, make sure power is getting to the electronic choke.

 

i had to put in a manuual choke, i never thought of the bending rod thing... i should check that.. but it stops after it warms up...

 

Describe the "funny idle" in more detail.

 

lets say i start it, with choke on, for 1 minute... turn choke off, and the rpm needle "bounces" i guess... from just above zero to like... 1000 or 1500... i thought it might have been the fuel pump but it stops after it warms up.

 

Does the engine surge? Or does it actually change in RPM's or is it just the tachometer needle that is bouncing?

Anywho... the first thing I would check is the amount of fuel you have in your tank. Second.. Check for any vacuum lines disconnected or burnt in-two. Third... change fuel filter. And most extremely, check your fuel pressure and/or change your fuel pump (assuming you have a mechanical fuel pump mounted to the passanger side of your engine).