I changed my fuel filter on my past 1993, F-150, several times. I had accumalated a small tool kit and aids because I had done it so many times. On my current '04 RCab, F-150, 5.4 I wasn't sure, so I did a Board search for guidance. Search worked perfect. My thanks to TXF150 for his excellent dialog and photos here:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...Filter+Removal

If I may add to TXF150's thread. I had trouble with the blue clip at the rear end of the filter. I easily lifted the center clip part, but I could not decipher if the whole blue clip should come out so I pulled with pliers and the upper 1/3 of the blue clip broke off. My Helms reference is unclear as it indicated after lifting the center part of the clip I should squeeze the sides to create a release. I saw no buttons or sections on the gas line to squeeze.

I next slipped the metal release tool (looks like pliers) into the gas line to release the teeth. Very little gas dripped out that I caught with rags. I had let the vehicle set overnight. I did not depressureize. From my small tool kit I slipped on an old cap onto the rear inlet tube of the old filter that had come from a previous filter. This prevented the gas in the filter from dripping down.

With the back palm of my hand I pushed upward on the back part of the filter until a small space was created between the filter and bracket. I inserted a large screw driver under the filter and leveraged the filter out the top of the holding bracket. Some grunting, but out it came.

I then tried to insert my release tool into the forward gas line to release the teeth. No luck. It would not go in. So I used one of my old nylon release tools (circular with split and very short protruding tube). Slipped right in, gas line released. Again I quickly slipped on an old cap onto the now unhooked front tube of the old filter. Just a couple of drops of gas came out of the forward gas line.

Those who do not have left over caps from previous filters can whittle plugs to fit into the old filter entrance and exits. Or, a small piece of gas line with one end plugged will suffice as a gas escape prevention.

Use a Sharpie Marker to place several arrows on the new filter to reflect direction of flow. The cramped space under the vehicle and small working area may take the attention away from the very small flow arrow on the new filter. My new filter was a Motorcraft, FG986B, same as the old stock one I removed.

I pushed the new filter into the holding bracket from the top down. I then connected the gas lines. Because of the partially broken blue clip on the rear gas line I yanked on the rear gas line several times and the gas line would not slip away from the filter inlet. I suspect the remaining part of the blue clip still functioned as part of the retainer in addition to the inner teeth.

Took test drive in city traffic, then Hiway. No leaks.

Drained old filter from rear inlet tube into cup. Gas very dirty. 12,000 miles. I don't dirve much.

 

Eww. Wish you the best of luck. Should have used protection. LOL

Good job on changing the fuel filter.

The fuel in my filter is always filthy every time I change it.

 

That's what the politcians say "Taking my words out of context."

 

Question, how often should you change your fuel filter just curious!

 

Depends on the fuel you're using but every 15,000 or 30,000 miles.

I run only 93 octane with a custom tuner. I changed mine at 15,000 miles and it was pretty damn clean.

 

Manual says every 15,000 miles.

 

Every 15-20,000,


Fuel filter $10
Fuel line diconnect tools $10
Getting a face full of gas while rolling on the ground under your truck PRICELESS

 

Brings back memories of siphoning gas for the lawnmower.

 

On my '93 F-150 I change my filter every 10,000 miles or so. On my '04, F-150, I will change it approx the same amount of miles. The few bucks involved, and once you do it the following filter changes will take only about 45 minutes, this will keep the small fuel tolerances clean. The gas I poured out of my old filter was musty. I suspect if the dirt that was in the old gas had been dried it would be a dust.

I have found my Helms and Owners Manual only a guide. These manuals are pointed toward keeping the vehicle at the maintenance level for FordCo. But in defense of the extreme auto affectionado I don't suspect there is such a thing as too much maintenance.

 

You should have read all the posting... several people (including me!) comment that you should not pull out the blue clip

Read page 4 https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...Filter+Removal
(my picture & notes at the bottom)

I had that same blue clip on mine and I just used the fuel filter tool to pull the line off.

 

Correct. I read perhaps 50 or so posts that zeroed in on the '04 F-150. Yours is one that I should have read but overlooked perhaps due to the large amount of posts re filter changing.

 

if I remember correctly, someone posted part numbers for the blue clip. Ford now offers a replacement.

 

ya... that was a really long posting... I spent like an hour wading through it at work one day... then went home and did it.

now you know for next time though

and I agree with BlueJay... I remember seeing the blue clip PN somewhere in that posting...

 

Yup - https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...1&postcount=15

 

Dad gummit, I put this in the old thread!

Yeah, I didn't feel like searching for it, knew you would. Should have known you were involved in the original post!