Can anyone please tell me the trick to getting the spring clips to release on the fuel lines that are at the inlet and outlet of the fuel filter. I have a 96 F-150 with 302 v-8 and EFI. I purchased three different type of spring clip release tools at NAPA and Auto zone. They are supposed to fit around the fuel line and then push into the coupling to cause the spring to release the band on the inlet or outlet pipe. I have tried for 3 hours and succeeded in getting only one of them off--and I think that was a fluke--the other just won't budge. I have tried more force, less force, turning the tool, turning the fuel line, pushing and pulling.

If I can't get this other one loose, I'll have to get AAA to tow it to a shop.

Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks to all.

John

 

I did the same thing that you are talking about on my Bronco. The thing that seemed to help me was 1)put the special tool on the line and then 2)push the fuel line toward the filter and at the same time push the disconnect tool toward the fuel line. You may have to twist the tool a little, but it should come free pretty easily. You may also wedge a screwdriver behind the disconnect tool to give you a little bit of leverage. Good Luck.

 

Thanks Matt

I too did the things that you said, but to no avail on the line at the discharge side of the filter. I tried 3 sets of tools and 3 hours work before I gave up and reconnected the old filter. |
I will take it in one of these days and see if someone else can get it loose--boy, I hate to admit defeat!

Thanks for the reply

John

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-Mar-02 AT 11:32 AM (EST)]I had problems, too. Not three hours worth, but I had problems.

Seems that the lines would not come apart with the tool inserted (unlike the other end of the lines on top of the fuel tank). After insertion of the tool, rotating it around inside and pulling on the lines, I found there was some trick to it. Now I'm not sure there was supposed to be a trick to it, but this is what worked for me.

Again, after insertion of the tool, rotating it around inside (pushing it harder to get it deeper) and pulling on the line hard, I slid out the tool and pulled on the line and filter again. Each then came apart without the tool inserted.

Perhaps with the tool inserted I was able to pull it apart a very small amount, but then the tool might have got in the way of allowing the seal to have clearance to further separate?

The only pre-filter work I did was to disconnect the battery.

 

I have another question regarding the filter replacement. I have a 1992 F150 5.8ltr. I have the correct tool and have replaced the filter before, quite a while back. At that time I just took the filter off, I had to unbolt the bkt. from the frame to get the filter out but managed it. I also ended up with gas every where and a badly cut finger. I can't seem to find any instructions on how to release the pressure off the lines before replacing the filter.

 

It only took me about 30 minutes to replace the fuel filter on my truck. The longest part was trying to get the fuel pump fuse disconnected, so that i could relieve the pressure in the lines. When I bought a new filter it came with the clips that hold the fuel lines on the filter. I just took a pair of pliers and pulled the old clips out, removed the filter, installed the new filter and pushed the new clips in the slot. I did not need any special tool to remove the clips.

'90 F-150 351 EFI, AOD, K&N Filter, "The General"
'78 F-250 460 C-6 "Old Green"
'93 Mustang 5.0, AOD - No mods yet

 

I hope y'all realize that any time you're working on the fuel system the battery should (or *must*) be disconnected, so I'm not too sure what deere81 was trying to do with his fuses.

stockyd - Yeah, it is easier to take the bracket off of the truck. I didn't cut myself, but this is one of those jobs you have to be quick even without a pressurized system (though it is unpressurized as soon as you take the filter off of one of the lines anyway) since fuel will just continue to leak out (the filter area is, after all, at the bottom of the entire fuel system on the truck - both ends will drain fuel for awhile).

Again, I'm not too sure about how one might go about taking the fuel lines off of these things without the tool - in my experience it seems like I could hang from those lines with my entire weight and they would not come apart. They held so well that upon putting the fuel lines on the filter, and the tank when I did it, I left some of the exterior clips off.

I had a catch basin, and the fuel didn't spray very much at all when disconnecting the filter. Of course the normal amount of fuel kept leaking out of the lines while they were unconnected, but I didn't have any trouble with fuel pressure at the filter.

Now up past the fuel pressure regulator - in the fuel rail or rails - is where you might have pressure problems if you don't relieve the system at the schraeder valve.