Help please:

How do you remove a stuck fuel filter on a 1984 E-350 6.9l van? I can't get mine to budge. I couldn't find a squeeze type wrench big enough for the filter so I bought a cloth strap type and can't get the filter to budge with it. There isn't much room to work on a van is there? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

I know that they make socket drive type filter removers if you can get to the bottom of it (I don't have a van, nor have I ever worked on one so I'm not sure what you have for room). You'd want to open a new fuel filter at the auto parts shop to make sure you bought the correct size I guess. I use one of those cheapie $2 rubber strap wrenches from HoboFreight to do mine. I probably have a lot more room than you do though.

PB Blaster at the top of it to try to soak in? Screwdriver through it and use that for leverage?

Good luck,
Mike

 

if you got the strap wrench then you should be able to put a 1/2 drive breaker bar on it pull the strap to the top so it will have the ring or the ridge to grab hold of and give it hell

luc to ya

 

Thanks all:

My filter mount is a little loose and is a little springy. I will tighten it and try again. My strap has a lot of spring in it too. I will try a pipe on a ratchet and see how that works. The only thing I had to spray it with was WD40. I will let it soak overnignt and see if that helps.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

This forum is the greatest isn't it?

 

You can make a goofy, but effective strap wrench using some steel strap and a vise grip (the thinner the steel strap, the better). I can really reaf on mine if I want to and it grabs very well.

 

David85

The problem is, in the Van I have very little turning arc. Vans are a definate problem to work on. My next Van may be a pickup.

 

I see your point. If worst comes to worst, you could try to remove the filter head, and have your way with it on a bench. But again, I'm not sure how easy that would be on an E-series.

 

David85

It wouldn't be too hard to remove the whole thing but then I don't really have a way to hold it. I might bolt it to my van somewhere else. I don't have access to a vise or any such. Sometimes I think I should get a Powerstroke so I won't have any problems. LOL

 

I am not familure with the Ford vans and how much run you have but I have ran into tight filters several times and I have had to take a hammer and chisel to get them off. I have seen them before that a chain wrench would rip the filter in half and then the chisel to finish them off. Good luck.

 

I really don't even want to say this, but make sure your going in the right direction.....

 

PLC7.3

Thought of that, Think I am going CCW. It is upside down though. I have done thing like that. Senior moments you know. I started having them in High School.


"Fahren Sie nicht schneller, als dein Schutzengel fliegen kann ."

 

Funny thing about senior moments, the older you get the closer they get to each other.

Something to look forward to.

I would search at several parts stores looking for the correct filter wrench.
The same size fits the oil filter.

Sounds like the last fuel filter was installed a bit tight, now the rubber gasket is stuck to the filter base.
The WD 40 will not get in where it needs to untill you get it to move a bit.

I have destroyed filter wrenchs trying to get the oil filter off, usually the fuel filter is no problem.

Where is the fuel filter on an E series?
On the F series it is located behind the alternator.
Those bolts need to be tight on an F series to keep the alternator from moving.

 

The filter on the Van is on the drivers side. It only holds the filter but I will still tighten it. Now I have to put a new injector and injection line into the number 2 hole.
I was installing injector instalation kit and either the threads pulled on the injector or I crossthreaded them. Whatever I can"t get it to stop leaking. I think they were stuck as it unscrewed hard all the way off, but I could have crossed them. Whatever I am ordering a new injector and line.

 

Well now I have another problem. I got leak fixed on the fuel lines, but haven't got the fuel filter off yet. However when I was test driving it, it quit. Just quit all of a sudden like you turned off the switch, but every thing else works. Its almost like the fuel shutoff solenoid lost power. It cranks really good but I don't think it is getting any fuel. There is no smoke when I crank it. Shouldn't there be some white or gray smoke if it is getting fuel? I haven't got it home yet to check it out.

Very frustating.

I hate to keep bothering you good people, but thanks for all the help.

 

How long do you figure you drove it before it died? 5 min 10 min?

Do you know of any fuel leak since you tried to remove the filter?