Probably everyone has done this already, it's an easy afternoon job. Can't even finish a beer.

Disconnect neg terminal on the battery, relieve fuel pressure on the system, have an absorbant towel handy to catch the fuel that spills, buy a plastic fuel filter tool, get ready to wrangle the line loose, some PB blaster may help. Once the line is loose, point it upward so the gas doesn't continue dripping.

 

A few more pics. I change every 50K miles.

 

I know this is an old thread but how to you release pressure on fuel system?

 

By taking the line of the end of the fuel filter. lol

Or you can wait over night for the fuel pressure to drop.

nice write up Sean!

 

To eliminate fuel pressure, remove the fuel cap then pull the pump relay or fuse then crank to start... the engine will start only for a few seconds then die. At that point the pressure will be gone and you stand little risk of a mess.

 

Or push the valve stem down on the pass fuel rail under the black cap.

 

I know we all seem to replace this part every now and then , but is the fuel carrying so much crud it makes a difference?
I changed mine last year again , and i dont think there was any noticable difference.
has anyone taken the filter apart to see whats being caught up inside?

 

I may get flamed here. Answer to your question is no. Fuel filters don't get plugged up unless there is a problem. The ONLY times I have seen plugged filters are when the gas tank is rusted, a rubber fuel line degraded, or some other failure. Without any other issues like the rust or rubber breaking down you should never HAVE to change a fuel filter. I have cut open filters many times before just to see whats plugged in the filter. I have cut open only a couple still good filters which looked like new inside even after a couple hundred thousand miles. I have quit changing fuel filters honestly (besides the diesels) and have yet to have a problem with anything around here because of an old filter, trucks, cars, lawn mowers, you name it.

Diesels on the other hand do get junk in the tanks from some stations and should be changed every so often.

 

Yup rust, rubber, stones.... from filling from a can. EVERY fuel pump has a filter prior to the fill hose
The volume sold ensures very little junk accumulates in their tanks.

 

In the past (20 yrs ago) I purchased the cheapest fuel available; really bargain prices. The truck would start to stumble at higher rpms as the filter clogged. Since then by using name brand fuel, I've not experienced the same issue. On the other hand, it's cheap insurance.

 

Condensation in the tank will cause a filter to clog due to the element becoming saturated and swelling.

The things are cheap and easy enough to replace every year.

It may be a waste to do it that often, but I do for peace of mind. Sort of like the windshield wiper that still has some life in it, but gets replaced anyway.

 

I normally replace them every 100K miles in our gas trucks just because its right there in front of my face while doing an oil change. But haven't changed one in quite a few years now.

 

Last winter my shop got a new account because of stopped up fuel filters . The company has a fleet of crown vics with returnless fuel systems . A few of the filters were so full of water they froze solid ! Change them on a regular basis and by name brand fuel . Another tip , do not buy fuel while the tanks are being filled . All the trash and water gets stirred up and can temporarily be suspended and make it to your tank ! I once had a car towed in from a pump with 8 Gallons of water in the tank !

 

I did exactly that and still had a ton of fuel run out as soon as I pulled the fuel line off the filter.

Wear glasses, and old clothes. You're going to smell like fuel.

 

I have yet to experience any improvement from the gas filters I've changed over the years. I bet they were all just fine.