I find it interesting that the fuel tank side fuel line came off the filter (MUCH) easier than the engine side fuel line.

That was exactly my experience yesterday. I thought it just might have been me...guess I was wrong. Eventually, it did come off, but it was a ROYAL PITA!!!

 

My lines are jammed onto the filter, I think the previous owner tried to just pull the lines off. i can see one of the springs pulled partially out of the line housing. I cant get the line off and dont really wanna risk breaking the line since the truck runs and doesn't leak, but for peace of mind Id like to change the filter.

Any tips on something like this? Is there a replacement section of line I can get if I do mess up the fitting? Thanks

 

How did you get it off?

I saw a couple of answers regarding leaving it alone along with it is recommended that it be changed every 10,000 miles.

I agree with the 10,000 mile change but not leaving it alone.

I left mine alone for a while now and wont give up until it is changed. Here is why!

I have a 2004 expedition and my daughter has two 1999's. One of my daughters had a electric fuel pump fail. I pulled the filter and it was so dirty you couldn't get anything out of the filter. It was basically clogged.

I told my daughter to change the filter on her other 99 which she failed to do. Needless to say, her fuel failed 2 months after the first. Again the filter was nearly clogged.

I may be wrong, but it is my opinion that the more clogged the filter gets, the harder the fuel pump has to work. In this case, failure is imminent.

Just my 2 cents!

Still like to know the screwdriver trick. I have the transmission out of the car and the transfer case. Both driveshafts are removed and the exhaust system. I have lots of room to yank, pull, push or whatever it takes to get the stupid thing off. Had the filter for a year now. Thank goodness at this point that the car has been down for transmission for 11 months.

Finally sent my 65 Mustang Fastback for body and paint and a stall opened up in my garage.

 

I bought the ~$10 set of plastic tools at Advance...I just kept pushing/pulling on the front side of the filter/line with the tool inserted and finally it came loose.

 

those thing look like such pieces of crap but i think they work better than the metal tools

 

I ended up buying the metal ones for my fuel tank removal...the plastic ones just would NOT allow the fittings to release. I hated paying $15 each for the metal tools at Advance but the fuel pump lines released almost immediately with the metal tools.

 

I tried to replace mine a few months ago. No problem just PM. Got the line coming from the tank off easily with the small plastic rings. I then fought with the other line for about an hour before giving up. I put the new filter on the shelf and walked away. LOL. But this thread has inspired me Im going to give it another shot today. I'll let ya know how it turns out.

 

Gotta say I wish I'd had the metal tools to begin with...now I have both 3/8" and 5/16" for future use. I think they were ridiculously expensive at $15 each, for what they are...but they sure worked NICE!

 

Well was looking at doing this today as well, but gonna have to hold off. Looks like PO screwed up the egine side of the filter attatchment and there is just a piece of hose there with like 3 worm clamps...no biggie. However, the tank side has what I guess you would say is the infamous clip. How in the heck do you fit a tool in there? There is like barely enough room to slide my hand in there because the corner of the front tank is right up on it.

 

Some vids I found on youtube.com

How To Change Ford Fuel Filter - YouTube

Fuel Filter Change 1996 Ford Explorer 5.0 AWD - YouTube