Holley sniper 1 fuel pressure regulator not working

[HealeyBob]

OK so the sniper 1 has a regulator on the outbound or return side of the sniper. I have a in tank pump providing 100 psi. It is flooding the sniper. I called Holley and they said I would need a regulator on the input as well. I bought a model 12-880 regulator and installed it on the input side of the sniper. I did not use the return on the regulator and Holley that would be fine. So I turned the key and am still getting 100 psi on the input rsil of the sniper. I adjusted the adjustment screw all the way in and out and it stays at 100 psi. I cycled the key after adjustment each time. I sent a note to Holley. Anybody have any ideas here?

[Papa]

I'm not sure why Holley would tell you to put a regulator on the inlet and the outlet. The Sniper 1 regulator is cheap and easy to replace and when working, will give you 58 PSI at the inlet port with a standard return line to the tank connected to the output port.

https://a.co/d/0f0OCbj

[JMD]

Use a Sniper 2. ;)

I don't think your regulator will regulate if it can't divert pressure back to the fuel tank. You need a deadhead regulator and I don't think yours will work that way. I could be wrong, but that was my first thought.

The way Holley had me plumb the regulator in to my Sniper 2 EFI was to connect the fuel line from the fuel pump to the throttle body fuel inlet, then put the regulator after the throttle body unit with the fuel line from the Sniper TB 'out' to the regulator 'in' and the fuel return line coming from the 'return' port back to the gas tank. The regulator 'out' port wasn't used at all. This ensures consistent pressure in the fuel line and the return valve opens when desired pressure is reached. Creates a more consistent pressure in the fuel line than using the regulator 'out' port, in theory. This isn't just my opinion, it's how the Sniper install manual says to do it. Works great for me.

[Blitzboy54]

This doesn't sound right. If you have 100 PSI on the inlet in means your regulator isn't working or is drastically undersized. The idea behind it being on the outlet side is that it allows the excess flow of fuel past it. My cheap inboard Sniper fuel regulator failed and I put a proper one inline on the outlet side. Having 2 regulators in madness.

What does your gauge say when you set it?

[HealeyBob]

I am reading 100 psi at the inlet side of the Sniper. I originally thought the built in regulator of the sniper should have brought it down to 58. But when I spoke with the guy at Holley he said it was to much. I am starting to think he didn't know what he was talking about for two reasons. He prescribed a fuel regulator that isn't able to handle 100 psi and now a different guy at Holley is telling me not to run two regulators. I cannot get a straight answer out of Holley.

[HealeyBob]

I'm not sure why Holley would tell you to put a regulator on the inlet and the outlet. The Sniper 1 regulator is cheap and easy to replace and when working, will give you 58 PSI at the inlet port with a standard return line to the tank connected to the output port.

https://a.co/d/0f0OCbj

Is this kit for the internal regulator for the sniper 1?

[rich grsc]

I seems the built in regulator has failed, and isn't passing any fuel. Remove it and just use the external, on the outlet side of the sniper

[Papa]

Is this kit for the internal regulator for the sniper 1?

Yes it is.

[Mike.Bray]

I seems the built in regulator has failed, and isn't passing any fuel. Remove it and just use the external, on the outlet side of the sniper

^^^Do this and get back to driving^^^

[Papa]

I seems the built in regulator has failed, and isn't passing any fuel. Remove it and just use the external, on the outlet side of the sniper

Since you already have an external regulator, you can also do as Rich stated and just remove the internal regulator. You will want to plumb the external regulator correctly and put your pressure gauge on the inlet to verify pressure.

https://share.google/oQhpRpTylIdjE7RP4

I recommend removing the failed internal regulator to prevent contamination from the small screen that is part of the regulator from getting into your injectors and causing more problems.

[JMD]

The Sniper 1 internal regulator is known to be a common point of failure. If you're determined to keep the Sniper 1, removing it will save you more problems down the road.

[HealeyBob]

Update. I called tech support at Holley once again and I seem to get somebody who knew the product. He said the internal regulator should regulate it down to 58 PSI. He said if not then the fuel filter inside the regulator is plugged or the regulator is bad. He gave me the part number for the new regulator and filter and said I can check the filter and clean it out and try it. So I did this and it worked. 58 psi. I removed the other regulator and will return it to Holley. I fired it up and it ran great for a few seconds and then the pressure rose and the mixture got rich again. I cleaned a second time and it ran good longer but is starting to richen up again. The a/f ratio is like 12 so it is rich. Anybody know if you can adjust the A/F ratio manually on a sniper 1. I have a feeling there is.

[weendoggy]

The a/f ratio is like 12 so it is rich. Anybody know if you can adjust the A/F ratio manually on a sniper 1. I have a feeling there is.

Yes, you have to do it via the laptop/PC and change the Table type from Simple to 2D Table. That's how you get control.

[Bill Elliott]

As Rich and Mike said, throw away that internal regulator that is know to be problematic. I have the Sniper 1 and that is what I did before I ever ran mine. I have a Aeromotive exteranal regulator , running a Aeromotive in tank pump. No issues at all.

[Mike.Bray]

I fired it up and it ran great for a few seconds and then the pressure rose and the mixture got rich again.

If the fuel pressure is rising that's why it's starting to run rich. Adjust the AE table won't solve the problem, you need to fix the pressure issue. Junk the Sniper internal regulator and plumb it right with an external regulator.

The electronics open the injectors for a fixed amount of time in ms based on the tune. If the fuel pressure changes the amount of fuel injected changes. In other words, fuel pressure MUST be consistent.

It's not rocket surgery.

[Papa]

The Sniper will add fuel when the coolant temperature is low, so let it get up to ~160 degrees and see if it leans out. There is an enrichment curve you can adjust based on how much more fuel you want to add at low temps that tapers off as the coolant temperature warms up.

[rich grsc]

Update. I called tech support at Holley once again and I seem to get somebody who knew the product. He said the internal regulator should regulate it down to 58 PSI. He said if not then the fuel filter inside the regulator is plugged or the regulator is bad. He gave me the part number for the new regulator and filter and said I can check the filter and clean it out and try it. So I did this and it worked. 58 psi. I removed the other regulator and will return it to Holley. I fired it up and it ran great for a few seconds and then the pressure rose and the mixture got rich again. I cleaned a second time and it ran good longer but is starting to richen up again. The a/f ratio is like 12 so it is rich. Anybody know if you can adjust the A/F ratio manually on a sniper 1. I have a feeling there is.
If you had the filter plugged, cleaned it and it plugged again, you have a bunch of crap in your tank, or your fuel hoses have failed. Figure out which, store the internal regulator in the round file and use the external one. Why are you so set on ignoring the advice you get here?

[Norm B]

Do you have a fuel injection rated filter in your system? If not then you need one!

[HealeyBob]

I appreciate all the help here and am learning as I go. I made my own Teflon core braided lines. I cleaned them with Brake cleaning fluid, but obviously, there is more in the lines. I believe the lines are clean now. I will try using the internal regulator for now. It seems that most people discard this and use an external regulator.

[Mike.Bray]

I appreciate all the help here and am learning as I go. I made my own Teflon core braided lines. I cleaned them with Brake cleaning fluid, but obviously, there is more in the lines. I believe the lines are clean now. I will try using the internal regulator for now. It seems that most people discard this and use an external regulator.

If you already have an external regulator I don't understand why you want to keep messing with the internal one since they are sooooo prone to failure. There's a reason the Sniper 2 did away with it.

Also make sure you have a good 10 micron filter, I used this one. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hly-162-554

[gbranham]

I will try using the internal regulator for now. It seems that most people discard this and use an external regulator.

You realize how ridiculous this statement sounds?

[Norm B]

I have been using the Sniper 1 for 4 years now. No issue with the regulator. RF issues are another story but eventually got that fixed.