Question about Fuel Filter Change

[Hawkeye Diesel]

For those of you who have already changed your fuel filters, I have a question. How easy is it to break the Frame Rail mounted Filter Housing? I have been under my truck a couple times in the last few weeks, trying to turn it with a socket like it says you should, and it always feels like its about to break! Has anyone broken theirs? Any tips?

[WildStyle]

Had one at work were the plastic nut twisted out of it.

When you do get it off clean the threads and change the O ring. Be sure to lube up the threads well before reinstalling and you can pretty much put it on by hand. It has a stop built in so you cannot over tighten it.

[Painted Horse]

Use a stap wrench if you are worried about the plastic nut shearing off. I have seen several post on the internet of people doing that with a socket.

[Porthole]

Reading some of the potential bowl breakage issues I went and ordered a spare bowl form TousleyFordParts.com

After getting it and thinking, h'mm maybe I should have ordered the drain and sensor to. May as well have a complete spare in the event of something picking up and damaging it.

Pricing at Tousley is good, shipping is a bit high.

$14+ for the bowl and another $13+ for the sensor.

So, if you are so inclined, order them all together, save the shipping.

Bowl - 24.16
Drain - 3.67
Sensor - 15.65

[jflow730]

The first fuel filter change I had the dealer do it so no problem. When it was time to change again I did it myself and after a few turns I was thinking the housing was harder to turn than it should be. Of course at that moment it snapped off. Luckily it was 4:55pm, and the parts department answered, so I had a replacement the next day.

I now have a strap wrench and it is much easier.

[richc22c]

a service tech twisted mine off, they had to cannibaize a new vehicle...