On starting my 1991 Jeep Cherokee (inline 6) the past few days (in weather just barely above 0), I have noticed a bad gas smell in the cab. I opened the hood this afternoon and could see a steady "drip-drip-drip" of fuel coming from the FPR. I didn't take much time to inspect exactly where it was coming from, because I wasn't keen on gas dripping onto the exhaust system, but it had to have been coming from either the in or out of the regulator (maybe due to cracked o-rings), right? It was dripping down near where the vacuum line connects, so I'm guessing it has to be coming from the fuel rail side.

Should I replace the whole FPR, or is it likely it's just the rings? Can you even buy the ring kit by itself? I'd rather not spend $60+ for the whole regulator, if it's just rings.

[EDIT: Maybe the big question is whether the rings from the injector seal kit are the same as the ones needed for the FPR?]

Any tips on doing this job? Seems straightforward enough, I've just never done it before.

 

Just a follow-up, in case it's useful to anyone with similar issues....

The problem was with the Fuel Pressure Regulator. It was a $62 part from Checker/O'Reilly. You have to release pressure from the fuel tank (take the gas cap off) and any pressure in the delivery system (not necessary on all vehicles). Also a good idea to disconnect the battery first. Then it's just a matter of removing the screws, bolts, or clips holding the old FPR on, and putting the new one on. In order to get the new one in easily, I took the ring off the "in" side of the new FPR, and put it in the fitting on the "in" side, instead. It was much easier to get the FPR in then. New rings might have done it, but nobody sells the rings individually, that I could find, and the composition is probably different than a standard o-ring. Also, the vehicle seems to be running a little better now, so there might have been a little blockage, anyway. It was a 1-hour fix, including time spent at the parts store.