Fuel Filter?

[Heelz3]

Below is a pic of my filter on a 03 Tahoe. I'm not sure if this is one of those flex fuel filters or if I can jsut get it at advance. Can anyone tell me?

Also, on one end of the filter it looks like all I need is two open end wrenches, the other has a nipple type connection, how do I get it off and back on?

Thanks,

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[highrollin113]

flex fuel, thATs why it has that fitting, it will be more costly and i had to get a special tool for removing it

 

[Heelz3]

ok, how much and where do you get the special tool and how does it work? The filter has never been changed so I figured its about time. Would it just be cheaper to have the dealer do it or me buy the filter and tool? Anyone know?

 

[bahollis]

Autozone, Oreilly's... hell, even Harbor Freight Tools has the tool for less than $15

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-fuel-and-auto-trans-line-disconnect-tool-set-96834.html

or

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...alty Tools&cm_cat=Shopzilla&cm_ven=Aggregates



The filter should be cheap too. Trust me, it's way too easy to change yourself to pay someone else to do it. Just open your gas cap, undo your neg cable on the battery...

Get under there with a wrench & your newly purchased tool. Bring a few rags because a little gas will still be in the line too.

Just take it out & put the new one back in the way it came out. I did mine with a homemade tool for the nipple end and it took less than 30 minutes.


Good luck
BH

 

[Heelz3]

Thanks man. I will try to get it at advance. Do I need a 3/8 or 5/16 tool?

 

[bahollis]

I think it's the 3/8", but you should measure to be sure. if you can get both, do it.. and return the one you don't use.

 

[Heelz3]

I just tried to get it off this morning and I cannot get the end to release with the tool. I got the tool that has both sizes and one just 3/8. My problem is I cannot get the end of the line to go back far enough the get the tool inside it to release the little plastic piece. Anyone have any suggestions? I just left the old one on for now.

 

[bahollis]

This is the homemade one I used before I bought the tool.
It's a baby medicine dispenser (basically a large hypodermic needle minus the needle part)

I had originally used my bolt cutters to cut the nipple piece off the filter, so I had to find something in the freaking garage to get it off of there.

This was the bottom section of the outer piece, and I just cut it off about 3/4" long, and then slit one side so it could go on the fuel line. You just pop it on the line, and then push it up into the filter to release the retainer clips. Remove the line, and retrieve your handy dandy tool.

I guess you could use anything like this as long as it's the right outside diameter, and is not so thick that it won't fit up into the filter.



Don't laugh, it worked perfectly, and it did not cost me a penny because I have several of these laying around from when my son was an infant.


Necessity is the mother of all invention - Plato

---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:58 PM ----------

or.....

Push the tool all the way in, push the line towards the tool and slide both back in the direction you want to take the line off and pull the line off. Sometimes they can be a pain.
You might even try twisting the filter slightly as you pull it away from the line.

 

[Heelz3]

Nice idea. I tried again and was able to get it off by going to the next connection on the fuel line. The tool would work on that connection since it had enough room to slid into the hose and I was then able to get it and the filter loose from the car. I took it over to the bench and hacksawed the nipple off the filter. Then the tool would easily go in and release it from the hose. THere is just no way to get the tool end into that connection as long as the filter is on there, you have to cut it off to get the tool in.

 

[bahollis]

you know, I think I read that somewhere that cutting it off made it easier to remove.

I'm glad you got it done, and saved yourself $75.

BH