NagChampa

how difficult would it be to replace my fuel filter on my own. I just had my mechanic perform a tune-up on my car, but he did not get a chance to replace the fuel filter. You know the deal...buy your own parts, have a friend who is a mechanic hook you when his manager isn't around and perform maybe 4 hours of service on your car and only charge you for 1 hour of labor. Anyways, I am looking at the filter itself and it looks like you can just screw the top and bottom connections into the proper terminals. However, before I go nosing around under my hood on things that I have never done before, I wanted to get some opinions before I take on this task.

NagChampa

so sorry, it's a 3.0 cl

Chinisimo

it's easy for the replacing part. but it's kind a pain to get to.

do a search and this as been recently asked b4 and i've given my input too.

i drive a 3.0 too

dustbuster4

Piece of cake!

NagChampa

thank you. this is just what i needed. i had done a search and most of the discussion was regarding "where is the fuel filter...under the hood or in the gas tank itself?".

wilp99

damn dust, u didnt even gimme a chance to play captain save a hoe, and use my new book.

ATrain3.0

On the above page, it says "fuel filter should be changed when fuel pressure drops below specified value." I also had a mechanic tell me something to the same effect. My question is how often do you guys change the fuel filter, if at all? My 3.0 has ~61K and I was thinking it might be a good time.

dustbuster4

I think I changed mine @ 60K miles. I also changed it when the new engine was dropped in @ 106K miles.

The filter is not that expensive, so to be safe, I'd change your's now.

ghost_masterCL

106k miles. Dude, what did you do to the engine to make it crap out so soon?

d00g

Me and my girlfriend just changed mine 4 days ago. my car was havin trouble starting and it wa running really rough. its hard to get to but my girlfriends small hands helped out alot. make sure you put those 2 washers back on, lol. i only put 1 on accidentally and it leaked. mine went out at 83k.. our filters are supposed to last about 100k i guess? oh yea...i can tell a big difference now that its replaced, before it felt kinda sluggish, its much better now.

Chinisimo

he sprays

dustbuster4

It didn't crap out!

It was cheaper to drop in an engine with 29K miles than it would have been to do the 105K service (plus new head gaskets, and other damage done by spraying nitrous) and still end up with an engine with over 100K miles.

I got the engine for $550, and it cost less than $800 to have it dropped in. I now have an engine with 77K less miles (and still won't need a "105K" service for several years).

NagChampa

I just did mine this past sunday and it was a bit of a workout. i had to unbolt the (6) bolts holding down the sway bar first, but if you have a lot of the right tools, you may not have to. And yes, please make sure that you have shop rags, paper towels, toilet tissue, tampons or whatever you need to keep the fuel from spilling in the back of your engine! It also helps to purchase a de-greaser or fuel spill spray to wash off any excess fuel before starting your engine once you are finished. The (3) small bolts holding the fuel filter bracket do not have to be removed completely, just loosened enough to spin the filter. One thing the manual does not tell you is that you will need (2) wrenches to loosen the bottom of the fuel filter from the fuel line. Each wrench will turn opposite of the other, (1) clockwisde the other counter clockwise. DO NOT FORCE the filter to turn until you loosen that bottom bolt! Also, do not forget to replace those (2) washers. Once it it off, it's a breeze to do everything in reverse. Just remember NOT to TORQUE any bolt too tight. Yes, I busted a socket wrench bolting the sway bar back on, but thank God that was not a part of the engine itself. Good Luck