Fuel filter change: easier than I thought
 

I changed out all my filters and fluids today, I was a little nervous about the fuel filter but it went easy and smooth. Last time I changed a fuel filter on a diesel it was on an old 80's truck and the thing took 3 guys and 2 hours to get it running when the injector pump got airbound. It seems like the old diesel fuel had a much stronger odor than the newer stuff but maybe my memory is bad. My PS fired right up after the change, no problem. None of my oil filter wrenches fit the oil filter so I used an extra large pair of channellock pliers to get it off. It went on as tight as I could get it by hand which means the channellocks will be required again next time around. I didn't find any grease fitting on the ball joints (2wd), is there a way to grease them?

Congrats on getting everything changed. Unless you've got aftermarket stuff on the truck, the only thing you can grease is the steering linkage.

A big strap wrench may be in your future for oil changes. I was able to find one at the local AutoZoo. Leslie brand IIRC. And you may already know this but if you warm the truck up before an oil change, that filter comes off a bit easier too.

Punch a hole in the bottom of the oil filter first and loosen it to all the oil to drain to make it easier/cleaner.

i have seen people brake the head off of the filter base doing this..there not very strong.. i use a sharp 1/4 inch drill bit thats about 16 inches long in a battery operated drill..this lets me drill a hole right at the very bottom of the filter and pull the bit out before the drill gets oiled....just a matter of wiping off the dit..

NAPA recently went to a fuel filter which included a cover. The new cover nearly matched the stock cover in design. Their newest cover has an indention in it that a socket wrench will fit. Makes it real easy to replace. As for the oil filter, we do the same. We tighten by hand, run the truck for a couple a minutes to warm up, and give one last hand tighten with a rag. That seems to keep them from leaking, and you can take them back off by hand. Make sure to lightly oil the seal on the filter, and check the seal bed for debris before installing. Read a few stories about the seal from the old filter staying on the seal bedand the new filter was installed on top. They lost oil very quickly...

That's exactly how I do it, the drill bit method. But I also loosen the filter before I drill a hole just to make sure it not on there too tight have have issues getting it off. Just over cautious. :)

yea, the replacement fuel filter came with the screw cap. $26. at the local place. ouch. I saved the original cover so next time I'm in a major city I can buy just the filters for probably $10 each.

Odd, the filters dent and get punched pretty easy, just a couple light taps from a hammer.
I always use a nice, pointy punch. So far so good on my six 7.3s.

I agree.I used a 6 inch nail and a couple light taps-done.

I get my fuel filter with cover at NAPA for $19. I change mine every 5000 miles with oil and air filter change. I get 19 to 20 MPG hand calculated each fill-up. I saved my factory cover in case, but will never go back to channel-locks to open and close the cover. Wrench is NICE.

Just a thought......