Hey guys,

I've got an MY02 B4 that I have installed a Walbro 255L/hr fuel pump in about 10 months ago for an Ecutek tune I had done.

In the past week a very minor fuel leak has grown into a more major one. The car still runs fine, but whenever the car is stationary (ie no airflow going through the engine bay) the fuel smell is almost overpowering. Sure enough the leak is coming from around the fuel pressure regulator.

Now the rubber hose that leads FROM the regulator to the drivers side fuel rail looks quite perished and is leaking at the clamp join, but the regulator also seems to be leaking from the brass screw where the fuel line goes INTO the regulator from the fuel tank.

I have had issues like this before, about 8 months ago, where I got the manifold removed by subaru and they said the regulator had carked it. I ended up getting a second hand regulator from JWS over here and it looked to be in good condition and did not leak when first installed. Now 9 months later I have a rapidly increasing leak from exactly the same area.

I have read on some wrx forums that the Walbro 255L fuel pump has a history of causing Subaru FPR's to fail due to an increase in pressure supplied. Is this plausible? Initially I was under the impression that it is just a higher flow rate pump, but to get a higher flow with the same plumbing to the engine I suppose you need to increase pressure.....

So, a secondary question...if I go through all the trouble of having to take the manifold off to get to the regulator, am I better off just going an aftermarket regulator instead of trying to source a new standard B4 regulator? Will the ECU need a retune to compensate or are these aftermarket regulators able to be adjusted manually?

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MY02 Blue Pearl Liberty B4 - 185kw atw
Ecutek Stage 2, 3" Exhaust, Hyperflow CAI, Walbro FP

pictures please.

also, very highly absolutely doubt a fuel pump will cause a regulator to fail.

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Long live the WRC

I find it hard to believe that a pump would kill a regulator.. I'd say more than half (if not even more!) of the forum users on Perth-WRX have an uprated fuel pump of some kind, and I've never heard of it happening.

tuna, just been for a drive so the lines are all hot. I'll let it cool down then let it leak and take a pic.

All the reading that I did when I installed the walbro indicated that the standard regulator should be fine.

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MY02 Blue Pearl Liberty B4 - 185kw atw
Ecutek Stage 2, 3" Exhaust, Hyperflow CAI, Walbro FP

There's plenty of people running much bigger bosch pumps with standard regs and not having any issues.

Did you replace the fpr o-ring?

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A fuel pump such as a Walbro will not put out enough pressure to kill a regulator.
The perished hose and leaky joint would be a good place to start...

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No Subarus currently owned

These parts confused me.
I was under the impression that the FPR was after the rails, on the way back to the tank...




Secondly, just because it's a good read:
http://www.perth-wrx.com/vb/mechanicals/1248-tuna-tech-fuel-pressure-regulators.html

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Signarape!

matt,

cheers for that! It seems my FPR working knowledge is lacking somewhat. Great link.

I will post a pic tomorrow morning as its getting dull outside and my camera wont cope!

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MY02 Blue Pearl Liberty B4 - 185kw atw
Ecutek Stage 2, 3" Exhaust, Hyperflow CAI, Walbro FP

Went out this morning to take some pics, and where the regulator is located in the B4 (under the intake manifold runners 1 and 2) it makes it very hard to get the camera in a location to take a picture!

I am relatively certain it looks like a loose/perished injector return hose connection with the regulator.

Another question about the regulator though for tuna or anyone else-

When regulators do fail internally, does that mean fuel leaks into the vacuum side of the regulator and would seep out of the "bell shaped" end of the regulator?

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MY02 Blue Pearl Liberty B4 - 185kw atw
Ecutek Stage 2, 3" Exhaust, Hyperflow CAI, Walbro FP

I would not be driving the thing until this is sorted. Really dont want fuel dripping around in a hot engine bay.

Repair asap. Start with the fuel lines. i.e. cheap and easy and work from there.

Brendon

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