Can not get the gas filter off

[Tango40]

95 xlt 4.0 i got the clips off on both sides what do i do next i tried to slide the ends off but it wont budge.iam i doing it right,should i keep pulling on the lines,i dont want to break anything.Thanks for any help.

 

[Jason_25]

You HAVE to buy the special tool.

It was a PITA with them, I can't imagine how hard it would be without them.

You can get the tool at autozone for like 7 bucks. It's a bunch of little plastic rings.

 

[RFR2212]

Originally posted by Jason_25
You HAVE to buy the special tool.

It was a PITA with them, I can't imagine how hard it would be without them.

You can get the tool at autozone for like 7 bucks. It's a bunch of little plastic rings.

What he said, and while you're there, get yourself a Haynes or Chiltons Manual... the whole process is outlined there in detail
Pete

 

[Robert]

Skip the rings on the left, go with the tool on the right. The first time I changed my filter, I didn't know about the spring clips and forced my lines off. It took a lot of forcing to get it to come free. Once I had it off, I had to go over to Checker's and get new retainers. That was when I saw the fuel line removal tools. That was a couple of years ago. A few weeks ago it came time to change my filter again so I picked up the special ring tools along with my filter. I fought again with it for a couple of hours without getting it off. I went to Pep Boys and picked up the tool on the right. It worked much better than the rings. It still took some work, but I got the lines off with a lot less cussing. I still had to replace the springs, but I planned for that and had already picked them up. The spring retainers were in the "Help" section, the one with all the red packages with lots of neat do-dads. The part numer is 55138. I know Autozone, Pep Boys and Checker's carry them.

 

[tbomb]

just out of curiousity, how often should a fuel filter be replaced? mine might be due.

 

[topo4u2]

I change my filter every 6 months. It is really bad for the electric fuel pump if the filter starts to get plugged and for the small price of a filter its a whole lot cheaper than a fuel pump in the tank.

 

[Robert]

My '97 Owner's Guide lists the change interval at every 30K miles under severe duty. I let the first one go to 60K and didn't notice any change with the new one. Then again, my Explorer was running fine before the filter anyway. I changed the second one about 35K miles later.

 

[dogfriend]

In California, you never have to change it.....ha ha ha

I changed mine at 79k anyway.

 

[KevinK]

186K and still never changed. I Got tired of dicking around trying to get it off and I had the special tool.


KevinK
'91 XLT w/original fuel filter

 

[B94Sport]

I was getting a rough idle problem that could have been attributed to my fuel filter having 50K on it... So I replaced it (Why not? It's $6). As for the plastic rings/metal tool... I bought the plastic rings because I could not find the metal tool at AutoZone... If you put them in position and then apply pressure to them by forcing a screw driver or other tool between the ring and the filter and using it like a lever, they come easily. Replacing my fuel filter took all of half an hour.

 

[Opera House]

The secret I've found

Is pushing the fuel line IN when you are pushing in the tool before you pull out the line. And all I got is the cheap plastic tool that I usually back up with a pliars for better pressure. I admit it used to be a pain but once I learned the procedure it takes no time at all.