S197 fuel filter - anyone changed theirs? Tool needed.
Discussion
Bought a new fuel filter among other items to service my car today. Removed a plastic cover under the driver's side to reveal the fuel filter.
Job looked easy enough (remembering to relieve the fuel pressure first!) but it seems you need a special tool to remove the old filter clips, as mentioned in the Haynes manual.
It occurred to me that I could cut the flexible fuel line, fit some new line and a different type of clip but as this engine is fuel injected I'd need to be sure the new line could take the pressure.
Anyone know ehere I can get the tool required or done the job and used an alternative.
Apparently V8 and V6 fuel filters are the same.
Malc
Job looked easy enough (remembering to relieve the fuel pressure first!) but it seems you need a special tool to remove the old filter clips, as mentioned in the Haynes manual.
It occurred to me that I could cut the flexible fuel line, fit some new line and a different type of clip but as this engine is fuel injected I'd need to be sure the new line could take the pressure.
Anyone know ehere I can get the tool required or done the job and used an alternative.
Apparently V8 and V6 fuel filters are the same.
Malc
roger1197 said:
U.S. Automotive will get you tool in a few days or you can borrow mine if you are anywhere near Brum or Coventry.
Dont try to disconnect the lines without the tool though.
There is a workaround. Remove the fuel pump relay and run the car until it stalls (ie. the fuel lines will be empty and de-pressurised). Then you can remove the fuel lines without the fuel spurting out everywhere!Dont try to disconnect the lines without the tool though.
Leave the engine to cool first to be safe though!
Malc, did mine at the weekend funnily enough. Should have done it with the Whipple install as Dunk says. You don't need a tool as they are a simple push-to-fit clip. You may be referring to the wrong section of Haynes - the quick connect couplings are described as "Type II" in section 4-4, and shown in figure 4.37.
Remove the relay shown below. Let the car stall (assuming it starts) and crank the car for min 5 seconds as Stig says. Then you simply remove the fuel lines by pressing on the little green tab on the clip, and pull them off the filter. If you can't press hard enough with your finger then use a small flat head screw driver. Have a few cloths handy and be prepared for a fair bit of fuel to come out.
You don't need to do this for the filter, but removing the fuel line to the fuel rail is a little more tricky should you ever need to do it. I bought a tool from Machine Mart and it was garbage. I got it off with 2 small screwdrivers in the end - once you see how the thing works it's fairly easy.
Fuel line to fuel rail.
Remove the relay shown below. Let the car stall (assuming it starts) and crank the car for min 5 seconds as Stig says. Then you simply remove the fuel lines by pressing on the little green tab on the clip, and pull them off the filter. If you can't press hard enough with your finger then use a small flat head screw driver. Have a few cloths handy and be prepared for a fair bit of fuel to come out.
You don't need to do this for the filter, but removing the fuel line to the fuel rail is a little more tricky should you ever need to do it. I bought a tool from Machine Mart and it was garbage. I got it off with 2 small screwdrivers in the end - once you see how the thing works it's fairly easy.
Fuel line to fuel rail.
Edited by benny.c on Monday 12th May 11:27
Cheers Benny, I thought I was stumped and thanks to you guys I'm not!
At least you can get to the filter "from the side" lying down rather than right under it (unlike a C4 Corvette which is just by the cat and you have to lie right under it while fuel runs down your arms into your eyes!)
All the best. Malc
At least you can get to the filter "from the side" lying down rather than right under it (unlike a C4 Corvette which is just by the cat and you have to lie right under it while fuel runs down your arms into your eyes!)
All the best. Malc
You can't tell how dirty it is unless you cut the housing apart. Which I didn't and I've thrown it away now. One thing that helps avoiding a petrol shower; when you take the filter off, keep the outlet pipe facing up, as it seems to have some sort of non-return valve in it which stops the petrol flowing out the inlet pipe. I turned mine upside down to have a look and got soaked 
Milage was at 20K. Service says 30K But Whipple recommend 20K for supercharged applications.
Milage was at 20K. Service says 30K But Whipple recommend 20K for supercharged applications.
Edited by benny.c on Monday 19th May 10:18
Cheers guys, been meaning to do this job ever since my original post but just got around to it. Pretty easy job and I used a small screwdriver to release the green tabs.
Because you can do it by, in effect, lying alongside the filter, there's not a real danger of a petrol shower if you releive the fuel pressure as described above. You can do the job " at arm's length" so to speak.
When I tipped the old filter up, the fuel that came out of the "tank end" was REALLY dirty.
Don't know if I'll get (even) better fuel consumption or better throttle response or power now. I'll have to go for a long drive to find out.....
Cheers again!
Malc
Because you can do it by, in effect, lying alongside the filter, there's not a real danger of a petrol shower if you releive the fuel pressure as described above. You can do the job " at arm's length" so to speak.
When I tipped the old filter up, the fuel that came out of the "tank end" was REALLY dirty.
Don't know if I'll get (even) better fuel consumption or better throttle response or power now. I'll have to go for a long drive to find out.....
Cheers again!
Malc
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