Hey everybody. I need some help. I have a 2008 F150 I bought about 6 months ago. It has 36,000 miles on it. I am trying to change the fuel filter and am having 0 luck with it. I am above average mechanically inclined and I have read the technical article that covers it, but am still having trouble so I thought I would post here instead of messing up that great article.

I have purchased all the disconnect tools............all of them, no kidding. I have tried each of the below without any success.






Does anybody have any other thoughts on this? The 20 minutes it should have taken has turned into days now. I am debating taking it to Ford but thought I would try here first.

Yours truly, in dire straits (LOL),
Tony

 

The tool I used is identical to the first one pictured. What exactly are you have trouble with. You can't get the tool to fit?

Nitrox

 

They all fit, they just won't disengage the coupler and allow me to disconnect the fuel line and the fuel filter. No matter what I do......push/pull on filter/pry, its stays on. Is there a hopping on one foot while pushing the tool in trick I am not aware of? LOL

 

I had to push the fuel line inward toward the filter itself before inserting the disconnect tool, then sorta pull the fuel line and tool out in one motion. The back fuel line (tank) side had a plastic clip with a safety that I had to pull out with my thumb nail, not really pull out; just raise it up. That's about all I remember except for how dirty the filter was when I cut it open.



Are you trying it first thing in the morning or after the truck has been sitting for a good long time. I remember reading that it was best to do it after the fuel system has had a chance to depressurize or leak down some. I also left my fuel cap off while doing it. I don't know if this would make that much of a difference. Just thinking out loud.

 

I had the same problem when I changed mine for the first time. Tried the top 2 that you listed and the plastic one end up working. It just takes some effort and some working it since the connector is new and still pretty ridgid. Future changes are very easy.

Just keep working it.

 

I had this problem about the third time I changed my filter. I knew how to do it, but no matter what I did, didn't work. I finally gave up and took it to a lube joint to let them do it. They could not get it off either and said that happens from time to time. They ended up pulling it out, clip and all and then replacing the clip.

 

First time I changed mine it took me about 1.5 hrs. Cursing checking the how to here, cursing some more, finally held my tongue just right and it came off with almost no effort. What was different from the first 1500 tries I dont know. Just keep with it.

 

I just broke the blue clip and everything came off with ease. I bought a pack of clips from the local parts store that are a little different than the OEM but are much easier to get out.