Too rusty?

[02NavyBlue]

Well with 110,000 miles on the original fuel filter, I'd say it's time to replace it. I already bought it, and upon looking under my car I see that it is pretty rusty. It doesn't look like it will snap off or anything crazy like that, but the outer layer that I can see is definitely getting bad. In these pictures I already have it soaked with wd-40. Should I let it soak for a few hours and then try? Maybe wait a few more days while it soaks? Or not attempt it at all? What if they break anyway, I don't know how to replace these.

 

[Madness]

You can use a needle nose pliers to unclip the plastic end. Gently squeeze the white tabs inside the black part and pull apart. For the metal end, DO NOT TRY TO TURN THE SMALL HEX PART. Put a 5/8" flare wrench on the fuel line and turn the filter only. Can't remember the wrench size for the filter. Might want to try something better than WD-40 for a few days, PB Balster works good.

Try a "SEARCH" lots of posts. Good Luck.

 

[02NavyBlue]

Thanks for the tip, that could have gone badly. I tried a 5/8ths and it wasn't large enough as far as I could tell. I'll jack it up and get a better look and turn only the filter if I can, the brake lines are right under it as you could see.

 

[addzradd]

worst case scenario, mine was permanently rusted on when I got it, autozone sells a fuel line repair kit. it's another piece of correctly flared pipe and a rubber fuel line hose that clamps on, just cut back your old line.

 

[dsmuts]

Mine kinked so I just got some rubber fuel injection hose and cut the line and clamped it on.

 

[FordMan77]

02Navy- I just used my large cresent wrench on the filter side, and held the line side tight. After 2 days of soaking with PB Blaster it popped loose.

 

[02NavyBlue]

Ok thanks for the replies guys, I'll get PB blaster and soak for at least 2 days and then try, no hurry. I'll also get some flare nut wrenches. Oh, and it is a 5/8ths, mine just wouldn't fit until scraping some of the rust off.

 

[BillBoost37]

I go under with some wrenches (just in case the rust hasn't changed the nut size) pair of vice grips and an adjustable. You'll get it.

 

[02NavyBlue]

I got my flare nut wrenches in the mail yesterday, so I could finally start on it today I went under my car and got to work. It had been almost a week since I started putting liquid wrench penetrating oil on it, and it still was a challenge. It took quite a bit of effort, while still making sure the line side was not twisting. Eventually after 15 minutes or so of messing around with it, I finally got it to creep very slightly, almost seeming like it was striping with how slow it went. After 1 full rotation it was "turn-able" by hand and was off seconds later. To my surprise it said NAPA Gold on the side, I guess it's not original after all. I couldn't imagine how I'd get it off it it was much harder. Anyways thanks guys for your advice.
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