Fuel filter too short? Tool needed, or not?

[RangerX]

I’m changing the fuel filter on my 94 Mazda B4000, same as Ranger and gen1 Ex. I bought a motorcraft replacement filter, FG-1060. It measures 5.5” fitting end to fitting end, and is the right part number for the truck.
The filter I removed off the truck measures 6.5”.
I haven’t done this for myself in years, so I did read up and watch a video to refresh myself on the details, and there’s a warning to not use a filter that has too short fittings, because you won’t be able to get the disconnect tool on next time you change it.
The new filter looks too short to get the tool on next time.
So I go back to autozone, have them check other brands to see if they might be longer, and none are.
Then I go to Napa, same for the Napa filters.
Then, the guy pulls a filter for a 1995 rather than 1994, and it’s longer!
But he then tells me that I don’t need the disconnect tool on these, they only use the white plastic hairpin clip to keep the lines attached. Says the lines just pull of by hand after the clips are removed!
So now I’m unsure on it all.
I would like to use the made in USA motorcraft filter, but it has short fittings.
The Napa filter has long fittings, but is made in China and I’d rather use the motorcraft because of that if I can.
I’m probably over analyzing this and won’t own the truck by the time it needs another filter, but...
Tell me, what’s the true story here? What filter should I use?

Side note: all brands I checked came with caps on the fittings and new plastic clips, EXCEPT the motorcraft!

 

[RangerX]

Here’s those clips and the disconnect tool, just to be clear what I’m talking about.

 

[boominXplorer]

Rangers with plastic fuel lines (98+ I think) use the clips instead of the special tool. I'd just use the Napa one since it will fit better. Explorers use that same filter until like 98 when they went to a slimmer one.

 

[BKennedy]

If its the same as the Explorer, you need to use the disconnect tool. I always thought the clips were used to put a little pressure on the line to keep it from slipping forward and loosening.

 

[RangerX]

Boomin, yeah maybe the guy was thinking newer trucks.
Brian, I thought the same, that the clips were just extra security.
I did use the tool to get the lines off, same as I did years ago, but I did not try to just pull them off beforehand, so what he said made me wonder.
Looking inside the line end with a light, I don’t see any fingers or anything like I expected, tho. I thought it would be just like a clutch line coupling, where the white ring pushes in to disengage the fingers.

 

[410Fortune]

If it has the white clips then you do not use the tool
The white clips are the retainer = can use shorter filter

I love the older trucks with the white clips SO MUCH BETTER then the spring lock connectors
I think you can use the 94 short filter because you will find your B400000000000 has the white clips
The fuel filters come with the white clips, even if they fit the spring lock style trucks, just FYI

 

[RangerX]

Huh. Okay. Both my trucks have the white clips, so I guess I’ve never actually seen the spring lock connectors, and just assumed I had them.

 

[gmanpaint]

For those that have the spring lock lines, here is a cheap alternative to buying the tools.

 

[410Fortune]

spring lock are just like the connections on the air conditioner or the fuel lines at the engine
Sping lock SUCKS the white clips I love!!

I have been using a sharpie cap for many years on these things, I like how he outs it in a vice LOL
I just cut them up with scissors....should spray some lube and some compressed air in there before the tool if the spring lock is giving you fits