Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums  

Umm, how exactly did the filter seal debris get to the fuel pump?  IF it went from the filter to the pump, you got something flowing backward or a filter installed in the wrong place.  If you're carbed, filter's in the wrong line.  The filter should ALWAYS be between the pump and the carb/fuel rail/throttle body (CFI).  Then, even if the filter did have a comeapart, it would simply dump the debri back in the tank on an EFI system (assuming it didn't block the return line) or in the bowl of the carb if the strainer isn't in place on the carb inlet (possibly sticking the needle valve/seat open for some interesting effects).  If it goes in the tank, so what?  That's what the sock on the pump is for, large particulate that will harm the pump (beach sand, pea gravel, boulders).  It is much easier to push fluid through a filter than it is to pull it.  Trying to pull a fluid through a filter usually will result in cavitation at high flow rates.  Cavitation (air) in a fuel line, I would consider bad business.  I'm confused how stuff got IN your fuel pump.  If you have a mechanical pump, and carb system, there won't be a return line to the tank.  That would mean whatever killed your pump got pumped into the tank where you last bought fuel, and the dead filter isn't really what you found in your pump.  However, mechanical pumps are usually little more than diaphragm pumps with check valves, which don't have any rotating parts, and are quite difficult to destroy.  Those things will pump some pretty serious sludge if they can suck it out of the tank.  If you have EFI, there WILL be a return line.  In which case, yeah, if a filter comes apart DOWNSTREAM of the pump (in tank), then the debris may get pushed all the way back to the tank.  The return line simply dumps back into the tank, and doesn't go through the pump at all.  In that case, I have to ask why you don't have a sock on the pickup?
 
If you're running an aftermarket pump, it's very possible THAT is what's intolerant of gasohol (E10), and the pump itself got unhappy.  I'm still trying to figure out exactly what seals you're talking about too.
 
This is one of those cases where some photos and diagrams of your fuel delivery system are worth a bazillion words.

It has a large 1qt comp style filter before the pump,and a small glass filter before the carb.

don't get E10 after it rains we gotta stick the tanks and check for water the point is don't be a cheap and buy a full tank if there 1 or 2 sunny days in a row since if water gets into the tanks it gels up the gas and i don't even want to think about when it snows since to check the tanks are in the ground and it may be cool for the summer to keep down fuel costs but i hope this winter E10 is not a super bad idea "which it very well might be".