| Author | Message | ||
     John W Petsch Jr (Jpetsch) New Member Username: Jpetsch Post Number: 16 Registered: 04-2003 |
I ordered a fuel filter and I am planning on replacing it myself. Any suggestions on what is the easiest way to do this?? I found the filter in the passenger rear wheelwell. It appears that it just unbolts and should not be too difficult. Any ideas on how to cut down the ammount of fuel I am sure will be spilled? Thank you in advance for your suggestions. JP | ||
| Chad Mayes (Cmayes) New Member Username: Cmayes Post Number: 14 Registered: 04-2003 |
Just performed the job last weekend. The job will vary from easy to a pain in the ass, depending how seized the threads are. Taking off the rear tire provides slightly better access but you can do it either way. To minimize spillage: Open your gas cap to release any pressure in the tank. Put the cap back on. The fuel line from the tank to the filter is the only one that will leak constantly if not dealt with. The ideal tool for this would be a hose clamp, a plastic or metal set of locking pliers that are gentle on the rubber fuel hose. I didn't have one so I very gently used a needle nose vise-grip with a rag covering the rubber fuel line. This worked great. You will get fuel spillage from the old filter, not much you can do about that. Just watch you eyes. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 345 Registered: 08-2002 |
You really should release the pressure on the fuel system by removing the fuel pump relay, starting the vehicle and letting it stall, this way you are dealing with low pressure fuel in the lines vs high pressure ful in the lines. Otherwise you might be spraying gas all over the garage. This is what I have read and what the service manual calls for. It is also the way that I did it and you likely only spill what you do from the filter and a very little bit from the lines even of you do not clamp them. Be careful with regards to fumes, disconnect battery and make precautions in case of fire. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 2097 Registered: 02-2002 |
It's a lot easier than that, Brian... Instead, look on the fuel-rail on top of the engine on the passenger side... there's a black cap, looks just like a tire-valve, underwhich there IS a tire-valve! or rather, a schrader-type valve, in this case, for fuel pressure instead of for air in your tires.... Anyway, just cover it with a rag, and depress the pin, just like you'd let air out of a tire.... it'll release the pressure in the fuel system. With that said now, however, it wouldn't really be needed if, say, you got up on a Saturday morning and went out to do it, with the vehicle having sat all night.... now, if you have just driven a couple of hours, pulled up, jumped out, and was going to change the fuel filter right then, in that case, it'd be a good idea to go ahead and release the pressure. FWIW, every time I've done it, the valve will sputter a little, but not an enormous amount, and have had no pressure problems changing the filter either. FWIW, YMMV, etc.... -L | ||
| Garrett (Rover7592) Member Username: Rover7592 Post Number: 106 Registered: 03-2003 |
ACDelco makes the exact part sold by the dealership. Less than half the price at NAPA. | ||
| Edward Mah (Emah) Member Username: Emah Post Number: 60 Registered: 11-2002 |
I just did mine a few hours ago. Remove the tire, open the gas cap to release the pressure and put the cap back on. The only spillage I had came from the filter. No major leakage of any kind. That's it! You will need a 1/2 " wrench and socket to remove the bracket that holds the filter and a 16mm and 20mm wrench to remove the filter. It is tight but there is no need to get under the car at all. Good luck! Ed | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1333 Registered: 02-2002 |
In addition to the AC-Delco part, the same filter is available from the following manufacturers: Purolator F33144 AC GF481 Fram G3727 Motorcraft FG-851 Wix 33481 | ||
| Rick D (Fatmcnasty) New Member Username: Fatmcnasty Post Number: 6 Registered: 04-2003 |
Paul which one is better? Or are they all about the same? | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1334 Registered: 02-2002 |
Some would say the Fram should be avoided. Me, I buy the cheap one. | ||
| Darren Jones (Muddydiscovery) New Member Username: Muddydiscovery Post Number: 12 Registered: 06-2002 |
John, this is too easy. Just follow these steps. Be sure to pad whatever you use to crimp the fuel lines or you will damage them. Good luck FUEL FILTER Remove WARNING: Spilling of fuel is unavoidable during this operation. Ensure all necessary precautions are taken to prevent fire and explosion. WARNING: Ensure fuel handling precautions given in section 1 -Introduction are strictly adhered to when carrying out following instructions. 1. Depressurise fuel system. See fuel system -depressurise - advanced evaps 2. Raise rear of vehicle. WARNING: Support on safety stands. 3. Clean area around hose connections to prevent ingress of foreign matter into fuel system. Clamp inlet and outlet hoses to prevent fuel spillage when disconnecting hoses. 4. Loosen 2 fuel line unions and disconnect hoses. Remove and discard ’O’ rings. Plug ends of hoses to prevent ingress of dirt. CAUTION: Use two spanners when loosening or tightening unions. 5. Remove nut and bolt securing fuel filter bracket to chassis and remove filter from bracket. Refit 6. Fit a NEW filter to bracket. NOTE: Ensure direction of flow arrow stamped on canister is correct. 7. Position filter mounting bracket to chassis and secure with nut and bolt. 8. Remove plugs from fuel hose ends. 9. Lubricate NEW ’O’ rings with clean fuel and fit to fuel hoses. 10. Connect fuel hoses to filter and tighten unions to 18 Nm . CAUTION: Use two spanners when loosening or tightening unions. 11. Remove stand(s) and lower vehicle. 12. Run the engine to check for any fuel leaks. |
