Hi guys, hoping someone can help me out with some knowledge I'm not exactly very mechanically minded as you can see from my post below, but decided to try to learn and give things a go.

I've recently discovered fuel leaking from my fuel pressure regulator (malpassi), in my MY02 WRX. It's also running walbro fuel pump and Motec ECU. So I changed the old fuel hoses (which were hard and cracking) and also re-applied plumbers tape to the tread where the brass bits screw into the regulator. This improved the leak but it was still happening. So decided to remove the fuel regulator totally so that I can still drive the car without fuel leaking everywhere, thinking this was ok to do (basically just bypassed it by joining the hose that plugged into the bottom of it to the hose that came out it's side, and plugged the vaccuum hose connected to the top of the regulator). This has fixed the leak, however, since then the car has very unresponsive, underpowered and jerky when accelerating even 1/4 throttle when not on boost eg 2000 rpm. It's fine at idle, and seems to pull smoothly once boost starts spooling up - havent dared to try past 4000rpm though in case it's running lean or something.

So basically the questions I have are:

1) With the Motec ECU, could bypassing the fuel pressure regulator alone be responsible for the lack of low down power and jerky driveability - due to being tuned with it in place? If so, is it safe for me to continue driving without the regulator temporarily, or is it likely to be a very expensive lesson?

2) What other things can I try to stop the leaking occurring from the regulator? - I'm pretty sure it's occurring from the fuel outlet part of it - where the brass tube screws into it.. It's a new hose and the clamp was done up tight so unlikely to be leaking from the hose joining the brass tube. Or could the whole regulator just be buggered and needing replacement?

3) If my fuel pressure regulator is buggered - any recommendations for good value ones (besides malpassi)? I'm running VF30, stock internals and injectors, STI TMIC, Motec M800.

Thanks for any help guys, and sorry for the long-winded post, but more details the better I think. Appreciate your advice.

yes the poor running issues are most ikely caused by removing the malpassi regulator.

throw the malpassi in the bin,

buy a good quality regulator (not a sard, turbosmart or ebay piece of rubbish)

fit new quality regulator, set fuel pressure, and get it dynoed to check afr

__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

let me get this straight, are you running NO fuel reg at all? if so, thats probably why it runs like shit as it has no fuel pressure. put the stock reg back in or the malcrappi and drive it to a good workshop and get them to sort the fuel leak, then go from there. if you are driving around with no reg you will be looking for a new motor VERY soon

__________________
MY93 Impreza GX 1.8L, 0hp, 0nm

stick to stock

__________________

Long live the WRC

The car won't run with no reg. I reckon it would have had the Malpassi after the stock one. So he's probably dropped the fuel pressure below what the car was tuned on, but not to zero.

Aviod driving it until you reinstate the fuel pressure to what it was prior to the leak.

I have the T/S one... and bought a $30 dollar gauge from Enzed as well. Very happy with it. It doesnt miss a beat supplying fuel for over 300 through 5/16 lines. Set static to around 40psi... and you should be fine. Take it to (your choice of tuner - Ill pm you for where NOT to go ) for some verification that all is well and your worries should cease.

Brent.

__________________
* [REXPLOIT] - EJ207 2.2L build. Under assembly:
* All Sling - No Bling: Member 002:
* WRX Club of WA member / CAMS member / CAMS registered volunteer:

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

is your t/s loud?

The reg Tode, or my pump?

I havent noticed the reg being overly loud, no. I have the run of the mill Walbro intank pump (255L/hr), which, like everyone else's Walbro/Bosch units, gets vocal on a hot day... but I'll listen to the reg when I get home.

Stimpy, on from my other post, I have no leak issues with the Enzed brass fittings and thread tape on the Turbosmart one.

Brent.

__________________
* [REXPLOIT] - EJ207 2.2L build. Under assembly:
* All Sling - No Bling: Member 002:
* WRX Club of WA member / CAMS member / CAMS registered volunteer:

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

the reg.

I run a aeromotive type, i'd say its pretty loud over the stock unit and even the sard reg.

just wondering.

Thanks for all the replies guys - and no I havent been driving around in it since the short test drive after removing the malpassi reg. Pretty sure the stock one is still in place - if it's the small cylindrical black plastic thing that's in-line with the fuel return hose.

Getting the malpassi looked at by a mechanic and will be getting a different one if need be. What's the easiest way to check what pressure the malpassi was set at? Trying to avoid getting the car dyno'ed again if possible.