Auto fuel filters on motorcycles ??

Is there any problems with fuel flow running automotive filters on a KZ1000 ? Just owndering because they are normally used with a fuel pump, not gravity flow

dont use the glass inline filters,big fire trap

I think your concerns are exactly right. I use a see through car fuel filter. For yrears there were no problems, but in the last 5 to 7 years I've had problems with clogging, but not with dirt. It seems as if the glue used to hold the paper element or some other substance is clogging the paper.

What happens is, the filter works fine for several weeks or months, but then on really hot days, if left parked in the garage for a few days, the filter will no longer flow from gravity. It's like there is a super thin varnish on the element stopping the gas flow. I con't gravity-prime the carbs to start the bike. It's a very weak seal, though, and usually all I have to do to get the gas flowing is tap on the filter a bunch of times, or even better is to open the gas cap and force a tiny bit of air into the tank. It takes very little pressure to overcome the seal. Once the gas starts flowing through the filter it's fine until the next time the bike is left to sit for several days. By that point, I usually just put in a new filter. Luckily they are cheap. In cold weather I don't seem to have the problem.

I don't know if they changed the glue or the gasoline is somehow more caustic to the glue, now, or what happened. I'm sure any vehicle with a pump won't have the problem.

The gasoline manufacturers probably changed the formulations to meet certain specs and this is now reacting with the glues/adhesives in the filters.

A rumor going around a few months ago mentioned that now with the gas having alcohol added, that the people with the large boats with fiberglass fuel tanks with gasoline engines were seeing leaks due to the alcohol content.

One guy said he almost had to dis assembly his boat to remove/install a new alcohol resistant tank.

I have no way of knowing if this is true or not.

I use an automotive filter on my turbo bike - it's much larger than the typical bike filters.

I do agree about the effects of gasoline these days though... time to start a post on the topic...

Ive run 2 of the metal car filters on my 1105 KZ with 29mm smoothbores for years but lately several people have told me not to use them. Im having problems with gas flow on a 78 XT500 Yamaha single with a see thru plastic 5/16 car filter on it. Maybe it is the gas deal.