Changing the Fuel Filter?

FoolishOne

FoolishOne

New Member
May 14, 2006
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A friend and I found ourselves in a conversation about fuel filters and I remembered a thread on SF (take it for whats its worth) where the poster said that the FF did not need to ever be changed; it was designed to be a maintainence free part (they even tried to "hide" it, as most of you know)

Said thread is archived here: http://www.supraforums.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-219703.html

I searched SM and couldn't find anything. I want some knowledgeable info (thats why I came here). Do you really HAVE to change the FF? For the cost and the time it takes, I will always do it, but is what the above thread says true?

Thanks,
»fo

EDIT: Or Supracentral's site: http://www.supracentral.com/content.php?article.47 Now that I realize it is on SC's site I feel better about the info. I skipped over that link originally because I thought an advertisement got archived with the page, leaving the url behind, yada, yada.
 
supra90turbo

supra90turbo

shaeff is FTMFW!
Mar 30, 2005
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Of course you have to change the fuel filter.
Sure, "Toyota Engineers" designed it to last forever, but doesn't that sound too good to be true?

You know the old saying.
 
NA86.5

NA86.5

NA-T Complete Yo
Jan 20, 2006
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Alice Tx
Yeah I tired to change my filter but I didnt have the time. So I took it to a mechanic and they charged me 100 bucks because they said it was in a hard spot.:nuts:
 
I

inline6

Whistle>Whine
Sep 22, 2005
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SoCal
JMDigital said:
Is there a way to relocate the filter so you dont have to drop the tank to change it?
Click to expand...

You dont have to drop the tank. It is a PITA to change tho for sure.
 
shaeff

shaeff

Kurt is FTMFW x2!!!!
Staff member
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Mar 30, 2005
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writeup to change the fuel filter. stick with me, i'm about to go to bed, and it's 6:10am.

without removing the tank: grow monkey arms, and reach around up above the differential and do it. basically the same as below, but with the tank in place. it's a bitch this way, but can be done (and i've done it this way)

filter replacement with removing the tank:

open the hatch, pull the little access panel off in the trunk (not the fuel sender one, the other one) and disconnect the wires. pop the gas tank door, remove the four screws in there, as well as the gas cap, for good measure.

it's much easier to do with an empty tank, but can be done with some fuel in there. get a floor jack and a piece of plywood, jack it up to hold the tank in place.

get some line wrenches and PB blast, and disconnect the feed line, (need line/flare wrenches for that) the return line (pliers to remove the spring clamp) and the vent tube, (same as return line, spring clamp)

now the only thing holding the tank in are the straps. grab a wrench, and a socket with an extension, and have at it. (if you don't brace the other nut with the wrench, you'll bend the mounting brackets, you'll see when you get up in there)

once those straps are loose, all the weight of the tank are on that floor jack. so be really careful! have a friend help you if you're not confident in yourself!

lower the jack carefully, and put aside. (now's a good time to change that shitty old fuel pump!)

now- use flare wrenches to remove the fuel line from the filter on the side connecting to the hardline. (toward the driver's side) get a 10mm socket and remove the filter/bracket assy. from the underbody, and pull it right out.

now, get new copper washers, and do the reverse procedure to put it back in. when putting the tank in, use your knees against the tank, and press your back against the ground to hold it there. i did this alone with 5+ gallons of fuel in the tank. it was a bitch to do alone, but it can be done.

(by the way, i only weigh 130lbs, so i'm a pretty small dude)

note: use lots of PB blaster on the fittings and especially on the mounting bracket bolts for the fuel filter. they're probably really rusty. i actually soaked mine for a week, along with all the fittings and whatnot before i attempted this. everything came right off with little effort, and i live in NY, (rustbelt). the fittings were pretty rusty, but i had no trouble with them. :)

good luck!

-shaeff
 
bigaaron

bigaaron

Supramania Contributor
Apr 12, 2005
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The last 1jz mk3 swap we did the gas smelled absolutely terrible and the pump was not running at all. We pulled the gas tank and the fuel had sat for so long it turned to something like varnish and got all the rubber in the tank all gooey. The return line was completely clogged. The pump had seized up. We changed the filter, flushed out the lines, and replaced the pump. Whole job took about an hour and a half, including draining the tank and taking it over to the gas station for some fresh fuel. I am always finding new strange things that can be wrong with a mk3.

Just thought I would share, if you are going to have your car sitting for a long time, drain the fuel tank or put some fuel stabilizer in.
 
Dachande

Dachande

Arrrrrr Matey
Apr 3, 2005
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Be careful not to break any of the fuel lines. When I tried to do it the lines were pretty much seized and trying to break them loose was causing the bracket holding the filter in place to bend.
 
B

bluepearl

New Member
Jul 21, 2005
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When I replaced my filter it was in the car for 17+ years. It was in excellent condition as/in no restriction at all. Only nice clean fuel came out of it when I drained it. You can install a new filter and get one load of bad gas and thats the end of the new filter. Best option is a fuel pressure gauge.
 
supra90turbo

supra90turbo

shaeff is FTMFW!
Mar 30, 2005
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It's just common sense. Change the fuel filter, as it's a FILTER.


Want to know something funny? for 2 years, i think 02-03 and even some new cars/trucks, GM has non-serviceable fuel filters in the tank. A.K.A. fuel pump strainer. There is NO fuel filter in the system.
Now that's s-m-r-t.
 
phoenix6

phoenix6

Rockin' the blades
Aug 13, 2006
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I tried changing mine once, the monkey way, I bent a fuel line and had to bend it back, it didnt mess anything up, but I never got the filter off. Actually my friend bent the line, to clarify that.

Can we remove the lines AT the filter itself, or does it have to be the metal ones connected withthe counter bolt thingy ma bob
 
supra90turbo

supra90turbo

shaeff is FTMFW!
Mar 30, 2005
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Remove the lines at the filter. IIRC it's two banjo bolts? I don't quite remember how it is.. I just disconnected the line aft of the filter and swung the filter and remaining line up onto the tank, where it still sits.
 
Sl1dewaysSupra

Sl1dewaysSupra

Destroyer of FWD's
Mar 14, 2006
690
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I changed my FF in about an hour and a half. Not too bad, but that was in my auto calss w/ the car 6ft in the air. I would only change it my self if it was on a lift.
 
bigaaron

bigaaron

Supramania Contributor
Apr 12, 2005
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If you use a flare nut wrench on the fuel line side and put another wrench on the filter itself the bracket will not bend. You might need some long flare nut wrenches to get some extra leverage if you have weak arms :biglaugh:

On the tank fuel output, the hardline nut is fixed to the pipe, you need to hold that tight and turn the other side or the pipe will bend.
 
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