Fuel filter removal

[JSooter]

I've hit 10K on my 04. 5 and figured it's time to change the fuel filter. What is the trick to get to the fuel filter? The cover is on too tight to remove by hand. Ok to use wrench on the plastic cover?



Thanks!

Jerry

 

[Punkineater]

I used a wrench with no problem. Just be gentle at first and good luck.

 

[MMeier]

Believe a 1- 1/16" socket should fit the "nut" on top of the filter housing.

 

[Dean Upson]

Be sure to use the 1 1/16th" socket wrench and not just the drive extension, others have tried to use the extension only and cracked the plastic housing.



Dean

 

[nickleinonen]

Believe a 1- 1/16" socket should fit the "nut" on top of the filter housing.

i remember using 1 1/8" on mine... ?

 

[Dean Upson]

i remember using 1 1/8" on mine... ?

You are right, Nick. It is 1 1/8".



Dean

 

[barbwire]

i remember using 1 1/8" on mine... ?

Yeah, but you know how things shrink when they get cold :-laf :-laf

Sorry , couldn't help myself

 

[Fireman]

Yep ! 1 1/8" socket, and DON"T even try to reuse the old O-ring.



Fireman

 

[Tony T.]

What kind of lint free cloth are most using to clean out the inside of filter housing.



Tony

 

[rbattelle]

What kind of lint free cloth are most using to clean out the inside of filter housing.



Tony

I like Scott shop towels on a roll.



On edit: I've never actually taken any rag to the inside of the filter bowl. I just drain it and replace the filter. Don't want to take even the slightest chance of getting a little something on the clean side of the housing.



-Ryan

 

[ramtifosi]

definitely use a 6 POINT socket on the plastic. IMHO

 

[Tony T.]

Normally I would not either Ryan, but last filter change I found a few specks of crud in the bottom of canister after draining all the fuel out.



Tony

 

[JSooter]

Thanks for all the input!

 

[magothy1]

Just changed mine for the first time, leave the drain open for a little while the fuel pump runs and it will run some of that crud out. Myself, I'd be very careful wiping in there. There was a good post about using a 3/4" hose slipped over the stock one to run the dumped fuel into a bucket. I pulled the stock hose back so it was behind what ever that frame piece is. BE SURE to get the six pt socket. The top on mine was damn snug, too much so to me.

'03 3500 flame red stock so far

 

[Cattletrkr]

Those covers are REALLY tight from the factory. Why??? Maybe so DC can sell a few more parts after they get busted up. I don't tighten mine very tight and it always gives me grief when trying to remove it, don't over-tighten.



I've got about 180K between my 2 CTD's and I've only cleaned the inside of the canister once. There's almost never anything in there and if there is, the filter should catch it. I trust the filter more than my ability to completely clean something. Maybe once every 30k or so I'll drain a little FUEL out through the drain, but it's always just that, fuel, no water.

 

[LightmanE300]

For the first time in the 40k I've owned my truck, I got up on a stepladder and looked down into my fuel filter cannister with a flashlight. To my surprise there was a decent amount of dark colored gritty stuff on the bottom. Then to my further surprise and frustration, I'm unable to get my hand with a towel down in there to wipe it up! I tried a towel on the end of a screwdriver, and a few other things. How the heck are you guys actually cleaning the bottom of the cannister?? :-laf

 

[MojaveJoe]

Lightman,

So what did you finally do to clean out the bowl? Iam about to do my 30K fuel filter change and could use any tips on how to do it better or easier.

Thanx,

Joe

 

[LightmanE300]

Mojave- I ended up putting a rag around the end of a wooden paint stirrer, and swiping it around the bottom as well as I could without scratching the paint with my belt buckle I eventually said forget it after getting what I considered 'most of it' or at least as much as my patience would allow me to get If anyone has a solution for this let me know, and please don't say small hands!

 

[MojaveJoe]

Lightman,

Thanks for your reply. I just read the Shade Tree article on this subject in issue 45 of the TDR Aug/Sept/Oct 2004. It mentioned cleaning the bottom of the canister if it was dirty, but gave no clue how to do it. It did say to be very careful about contaminating the intake side of the injector system. Im gonna cross my fingers and hope it's still clean from the 15K change by DC.

Regards,

Joe

 

[barbwire]

Would it work to soak up most of the fuel with a rag, then use a vacuum with a narrow attachment to get the rest of whatever would be in there?