97 Mountaineer fuel filter - replace
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
97 Mountaineer fuel filter - replace
Most of the time there is a pressure tester/release valve on the fuel rail close to the injectors. It looks like the valve stem on a tire but all metal. Just trace backward from the injectors. There will be pressure but not alot of volume. Place a rag over the valve then push in the needle. I always wait until the car has been sitting for a period of 2-3 hours, then push the valve just to be sure. The pressure will bleed off on its own over time. The filter is easy to access. put a container under it though as the gas will flow out once you disconnect it. PS, no smoking or other fire source when you do this job.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 886
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
97 Mountaineer fuel filter - replace
to release the fuel lines, either plastic or metal. You need to push the line in as you push in the tool. Then the line should pull out. I don't think it is that tricky. Frankly, there are people who just can not remove a fuel filter, it must be genetic. Liquids are not compressable and I've never bleed the system first. A rag will catch what little squirt there is. The filter does contain a fair amount of fluid. I cap the open end of the filter with a finger as it is removed. Then I blow out the contents into a glass to see what has been picked up over those miles.
