Fuel filter help!

T

troy_279

New member
Hi all. Lookiing at doing some maintenance and I've run into a problem. This may be more for those that live in the rust belt area... I tried to change my fuel filter and for the life of me can't get the lines loosened. The rear one i can loosen from the filter but the flare nut is rusted to the fuel line so the whole line turns and the front I can't get to loosen at all. I've sprayed penetrating fluid on the flare nuts a few times now but can't seem to have any luck. Any suggestions?
Thanks
 
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I decided I wasn't going to do it until I can replace my fuel line. I figured it'd be safer that way. Then again, this is my issue.

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Yeah, like I said, decided not to mess with it right now because I didn't want to be stuck. I think your option is vice grips and twisting and hoping.
 
What I found was that the penetrating oil would drip right off and be dry by the next day. Here's what I did and mine looked so rusty I questioned even changing the filter.

Spray it down with whatever you have. I gave a new WD40 pentrating spray a try (supposed to work better) and then coated the threads with MP grease to keep the threads coated in oil for a few days. When I did the job last saturday both lines cracked open without any trouble.

That said, considering that the lnes are carrying fuel, if mine looked as rusty as those above, I'd buy a new set right away.
 
They can be a b*tch. Soak it with WD-40, PB Blaster, or something of the sort. In vest in a 6 point wrench, hold the filter in place and pull. It'll come loose. Where are you located?
 
I looks like the filter has a nut on it too. What you really need is a set of Flare wrenches. They are specifially made for this type of job. They are wider to grip the skinny nut, and prevent rounding off.

TEKTON 2655 Flare Nut Wrench Set Metric 6-Piece

Here's the whole set of flare wrenches for under 20 bucks. You can probably walk into the local sears and grab them for under 30 bucks. I highly recommend a set of these wrenches, they come in handy. I don't have a set, but am lucky enough to work in a shop where the techs pretty much give me free reign on their tools.
 
troy_279 said:
i have a set of those wrenches and holding the nut on the filter as well, just no luck
Click to expand...

Loosen the filter bracket and let the filter turn instead of the fuel line. Try not to stress the rusted fuel line.

It may be time to replace the fuel line. The rear one has a joint about 12" back but I'm betting the front one goes to the rail.
 
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Drcoffee said:
Loosen the filter bracket and let the filter turn instead of the fuel line. Try not to stress the rusted fuel line.

It may be time to replace the fuel line. The rear one has a joint about 12" back but I'm betting the front one goes to the rail.
Click to expand...

The front one likely doesn't go all the way to the rail (at least not on my 97). It goes to another inline connection (identical to the joint mentioned above) just inboard of the fuse box above the left valve cover (very easy to get to), however, the clamps holding it in place between the filter and this connection look to be a b*tch too.

I can't offer any advice that you haven't already received regarding getting the lines disconnected. I will say, however, don't buy a filter from Car Quest. I tried one from there and I could not get it to stop leaking after connecting the lines (no matter how tight they were). Turns out, the threads on the filter were cut about half the depth compared to the stock filter. The threads on the line were bottoming out before the flare made contact with the sealing surface of the filter. Picked up another filter from Advance Auto Parts and it worked like a champ. Turned a 30 minute job into a 2 hour job.

Good luck.
 
Cut the lines. Put barbed hose fittings on each end of the new filter. Reattach with high pressure fuel line hose. I did this a year and a half ago and never looked back. Makes changing the filter a 5 minute job.
 
Footofgod said:
Cut the lines. Put barbed hose fittings on each end of the new filter. Reattach with high pressure fuel line hose. I did this a year and a half ago and never looked back. Makes changing the filter a 5 minute job.
Click to expand...

Hey what size fuel line and barbed hose fittings did you use? I'm in the same boat :cry:
 
I change my fuel filter usually 1 or so a year, and I really blast the lines with WD40, but one of my flanges won't spin, so I undo the other side then I spin the filter loose. I dont really have an issue with the other side because it is changed so
Regularly now.
 
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