Fuel filter changed, now seems to empty out overnight

[sshanky]

Hi guys,

I decided to replace my 1969 Spider's fuel filter and since I did it, I have to crank the engine for quite a bit of time in the morning before it starts. I realized that it's emptying out overnight -- I can watch it fill while cranking the engine, until it fills all the way up and the engine starts.

The old fuel filter was a small metal canister with a ridge around the waist. About an inch long and in diameter. The new one is larger, about 2 inches, clear plastic, with visible element.

After reading a bit online, I am starting to wonder if the small metal thing I removed might have been a check valve, and if the fuel filter is underneath the car somewhere between the tank and the fuel pump. I have read that the fuel pump has a diaphragm and I wonder if that is the check valve that keeps the fuel from emptying back to the tank. I looked online and found that there is an OEM check valve available, and I wonder if I need one.

Can anyone shed a bit of light on this for me? I am not sure where the fuel valve should be, if I need a check valve, etc, and if I mistakenly removed a check valve that I now wish I had.

Thanks a lot...