A friendly reminder to not neglect your fuel filter

[MTDewX8]

so how was your day

My started out to finish my issue with the fuel filter.
still no go and i have broken it loose enough to leak fuel now.

If I can find a NEW harden line before this weeknd I will be installing it before my planned trip this weekend to OR. either way it has to be done.


the engine side of the fuel filter nut will NOT come loose. got down to all wrencehs suggested and lastly heavy vice grips which sucked cause of the space to get to it.

anyway, hopefully the dealer has the part i need.

and to top it off, I got my new CBI bumper with exhaust port. so I figured as i needed a new muffler to run pipe to the new spot. yeah well now it rattles cause there is not enough room. was unable to finish the job for it was already 2 hrs past closing. will have to get it done when I get back from my trip.
so yeah, what a day. hard metal rattle and leaky fuel is going on right now, hoping to fix the fuel leak tomorrrow.

Vent done

so what wants a beer? I do and am drinking one now. CHeers

 

[Avarice]

First off, great write up bud, always appreciate a quality how-to over my haines manual.

I just did this earlier tonight, took me about two hours, but I'm the kind of guy to do things slowly, check three or four times, and go over the work when I'm done. It always takes me a while longer, but it gives me peace of mind driving knowing I've triple checked all my work.

I went and picked up a crows foot wrench, but I don't think I would have needed it. For once, rust wasn't a major issue, it took some strength to be sure, but compared to the other bolts on my truck it was a breeze. A very very welcome surprise.

I can't say it feels much faster(only drove down residential streets), but the throttle response is definitely better and pulls smoother. Idles a bit quieter and is a bit quicker on startup. All in all well worth the small time and money invested.

Oh, and the gas that came out of the filter was seriously murky. Completely clouded and very mud colored compared to good old gasoline from the pump.

 

[ice2000]

How did you guys discern how long it had been since the filter was changed. Is there a date on it, or did you just have your maintenance records. Mine didn't come with any records sadly(theft recovery), but the filter and bracket aren't rusted at all and are in pretty good condition.

I was the second owner when I purchased the 2000 T4R at 43K, and I never touch the fuel filter until 184,987K. The fuel pump and the fuel filter was the first "major" service I did besides regular oil change, brakes changed, shocks, tires, and transmission flush. I changed the oil at 5K interval since my purchase, but I never gave thought to the fuel filter. For $34 bucks for OEM filter, I would of changed it more often; hindsight 20/20.:wow: Now, I am looking more closely at the maintenance interval for my 2007 4Runner. Does anyone know where the fuel filter is for the 4th Gen?

 

[Lugnutz]

Just took this off at 131K.

Hi! This thread made me wonder how dirty my fuel filter really was. I just bought this 98 T4R with 131K and some things obviously have been abused, but I think the drive train is still in great shape.

So I bought some line wrenches at HF and the fuel filter change was really pretty simple.

I cut the original filter open this afternoon to see if it looked bad inside. The guts of the thing is like mushy cardboard. Mine had plenty of dirt and definately needed changing. I'm convinced that a change every 50 - 60K miles is not a bad idea.

 

[KSWAY]

LOL..Mine is still sitting in my garage..

 

[catdaddy]

Dear Toyota....couldn't you find a worse place to put the fuel filter? 2 hrs to change out and 1.5 of those was trying to get the lines threaded into the filter. I'll be paying someone to change the next one.

 

[t4r4life]

Dear Toyota....couldn't you find a worse place to put the fuel filter? 2 hrs to change out and 1.5 of those was trying to get the lines threaded into the filter. I'll be paying someone to change the next one.

took me 20 mins i think your doing something wrong there buddy

 

[LittleCaesar]

I hope catdaddy has the 2.7l engine and not the 3.4. The former is hard to get the fuel filter changed.

 

[TheDurk]

Dear Toyota....couldn't you find a worse place to put the fuel filter? 2 hrs to change out and 1.5 of those was trying to get the lines threaded into the filter. I'll be paying someone to change the next one.

I hope the fuel filter was not mounted when you attempted to do this. Thread the lines, then tighten the mount is basic technique. I apologize if you knew this.

 

[fenrisx]

I bought a fuel filter for my 3.4 probably 3 years ago. I just got a Puralator from AutoZone. I never installed it... I believe it's in my closet at my mom's house 1k miles away.

If not.. maybe I'll get around to doing this one day.

I can (rather) safely say mine is original and I just rolled 200k a few weeks ago.

 

[catdaddy]

I hope the fuel filter was not mounted when you attempted to do this. Thread the lines, then tighten the mount is basic technique. I apologize if you knew this.

Initially I mounted the filter first and about 20 minutes in I decided to unmount it and try the other way. Hardheadedness and stupidity are a deadly combination. I have the 3.0 V6 auto 4x4 in a '94 SR5 with 127,000 miles and it was developing an intermittent skip so after searching here for a clue I determined it needed a fuel filter. And yes the skip is gone, no noticeable power gain but the in gear idle went from 800 to 1000. A previous owner had written 85,000 on the old fuel filter so it was prolly due.

 

[turbofreak]

I just replaced my fuel filter with a new OEM unit from Toyota. I believe it was the original filter since 98. My advice spray the fuel line threads with a penetrating oil before you try taking them apart. During install snug the threads in and mounting bolts, then tighten down. My 4runner feels much more responsive now and better to drive.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Bump for this! I just did mine this afternoon!

The only advice I have is when you are putting everything back together, finger tighten the fuel line nuts as much as you can before bolting the bracket into place. I did the bracket first and had to take it back off to get the fuel lines on. And during which I stripped one of the mouting bracket nuts.. ugh.

It was a frustrating mistake that doubled the amount of time this job took.


I have not driven it yet and wont until I am done with the S/C on sunday. But I will say the old filter was not too bad.

 

[electronics4u]

Holy Rusted Solid Metal. :cry2:

It took no time to get to it at all. Sprayed it with WD40 and Liq Wrench. Not even budging. I know I can't take a torch to it, but man it is going to take a gorilla to get that thing out. It is still lefty lousy right?
:jk: