hey guys i need to replace my fuel filter and i discovered where it was and it looks like a pain in the butt. is it as hard as it looks to replace? should i even go down there to do it or do you think i would need a lift and a lot of time?

 

It not THAT hard to do. The hardest part is getting the rubber lines OFF the fuel filter itself. If it hasn't been changed in a long time... they are stuck on there. I ended up cutting the rubber off the fuel filter nipples since there is some hose to spare. To get the lines back on I lubed them up with some WD40.

Just put the rear up on jack stands, chock the front wheels, and remove whatever is in the way.

 

yes it is as hard as it looks but you can do it. I relocated mine with some fuel line, btw if you search there are a ton of threads on it.

 

do you think i can shove my hands in their or do i need to drop the differential

 

It is indeed as big a pain as you think it will be, maybe worse. You can do it laying on your back with the rear of the car on stands. Mostly you do it by feel, as you cant really see anything. Time will be in the 2-4 hour range for your first time, so it does suck. But its not impossible, and its difficult to screw up. So go for it, just make sure you have a long afternoon with nothing else planned.

 

thanks guys im going to try it out hopefully i wont get to frustrated.

 

http://www.rx7.org/Robinette/fuel_filter_replace.htm

Enjoy

 

There is a thread in the archive section to help.

Also, use some penetrating oil (I can get a small can up there) to wet the lines where they attach to the filter. Then the hoses will break free much more easily.

Dave

 

Imagine the worst job possible, with cramped and cut hands and fuel dripping and burning like HELL as it goes down your arms and collects in your armpits and on your face, etc.....and then QUADRUPLE your imagination and you come somewhere close to the ******* pure hell that changing the fuel filter can be.

It IS easier on a lift, at the very least you'll need 4 jackstands set as high as you can get the car (unless you are like REALLY tiny!). Think this through, be prepared to have something to block off the fuel line from the tank, a 5/16" or so bolt usually works okay. You need a short extension on a ratchet, and there is often just a small combination of components that work exactly right to get to where you need. You are either going to be too long or too short...VERY frustrating.
This SHOULD be a 10 minute job, but it ends up taking hours. There will be some that say they can do it in next to know time, but these same people also talked to Elvis yesterday.

 

Cant you do something to purge gas out the lines so it won't go every where? Also while your there maybe relocating it so its easier next time

 

You will get frustrated! Two hose clamps or line plugs will lessen the pain somewhat.

There was a guy here last year who claims that he can do it in 15 minutes - including the time taken to get the car on and off jack stands.

 

you need one of those flex ratcheting wrench to take those bolts off that hold the fuel filter in place. it'll make the job wayyyyy easier imo and this is where i wasted most of my time. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...sName=Wrenches
just need one where it can lock in and just ratchet it out. you'll still probably get a shower of fuel when you pull out the lines.

 

I haven't talked to Elvis, or slept at a Holiday Inn Express recently, but...
When I did mine a couple of years back, I did it lying on my back under the car with it on stands. IIRC, it took me about an hour. But I DO have a large selection of small ratchets/extensions/sockets collected over the years, and lots of practice working in tight spaces on various racecars.

I wish I remembered exactly what I did to keep from getting a fuel bath, but I had no trouble (that I remember) with that. I think I drained the lines into a drain pan while staying out of the way of the dripping gas.

Dave

 

I keep a 1/4" extension in my hand when I finally pop the hose off. I use that to plug the hose, works quite well. At the same moment, I use a fingertip from the hand holding the filter to keep gas from draining out of it. It would be great to source some nipple caps or something so I could plug that end too. There is little pressure, but the fuel just keeps flowing.

I strongly recommend you take the part of disconnecting the hoses seriously. Gasoline causes cancer, fact. If you let it run down your arms or worse yet, on your face, Bad things can happen. Work in a well ventilated area and with no time pressure so if you spill you can let the fumes dissipate. I myself was diagnosed with cancer last year, and at age 31 the *only* risk factor I can suspect is exposure to solvents and fuel in the garage.

Dave

 

I pinched hose from both ends before removal. You can use vicegrips wrapped in electric tape. When I removed one end - I capped filter with rubber cap (HELP! section in autozone)

Took me less then hour for first time. But I have lift, tools and lot of DIY expierence.

It's tight there..

 

It really isn't hard, I could probably do it again in about 15 minutes taking my time. As long as you purge the gas lines and are able to get the car onto jacks then it is quite simple, unless you have gargantuan hands.

 

make sure you drain the fuel pressure... it took me a while because it my first time but... if you have fat hands get someone who doesnt and like EjCabrera said a flex head ratcheting wrench will save you lots of time. do it from the passenger side if you havent already

 

So - how is Elvis?

 

Get ready for some knuckle scrapage and finger cuts. Wear rubber surgical type gloves.

+1. The extension works perfectly, just be ready to plug it as quick as you can and try not to let the fuel run down your arm. That's if you left the fuel in. Good Luck!

 

I still don't see why so many people have trouble.

- You need to remove the 2 rear belly pans on the car for better access. These are on either side of the diff.

- You need to depressurize the fuel system. Start the car, pull the fuel pump relay, let the car stall. Then, go remove the gas cap. This will minimize fuel mess big time.

- Get some hose pliers - they're needle nose, with curved ends that go around the hose, as well as an assortment of small pliers to move the hose clamps back. Once the clamps are back, spray a little WD-40 or other oil on the end of the hose where it meets the fuel filter. Use the hose pliers to twist the hose to break it loose, then pull back.

- Once both sides are off, unbolt the fuel filter. Using an extension, you can get to it from behind the diff subframe fairly easily.

- Swap the new one in.

Typically takes me a half hour, tops. I still have no idea how people make an all-day event of this. The big ones are depressurizing the lines and tank - if you don't do this, you will be taking a gas bath. That's just common knowledge when doing anything with the fuel system, though.

I'm needing to do mine in the near future, I'll have to document it for ClubRX.

Dale

 

There is actually a specific tool for pinching off hoses, basically they look like a pair of plastic tin snips with a rounded blade. You sqeeze them just like a pair of scissors around the fuel hose, then move the adjustment ring down to keep the tension. I think I paid $3.99 for a set, somewhere in that price range, has reduced messes ten fold for me, great investment.

 

Yeah, I know. I have them. And there is tiny tool that looks like metal bar and 2 screws. I like small vicegrips on those stiff hoses much better. Plastic thingys good for radiator hoses but were to big for me on fuel filter job