My 01 F150SCab 4x4 with a 5.4 had been idling kinda rough, the gas mileage wasn't getting any better and it seemed to be lugging down on a hill. The plugs are OK, but probably should be changed soon. So that left the fuel filter. An it appeared to be the original at 77K miles - oops!!!

I let it sit overnight to bleed down the fuel line pressure. If it has pressure, you can remove the pump fuse and run it down or you can bleed it off via the Schraeder valve on the injector fuel log (messy)

I bought a Purolator (never any Frams) and a Lisle connector removal tool ($10 at Pep Boys)and went to work. I had read that you had to roll the filter out of the bracket but no way on mine - there just isn't enough slack in the line so I unbolted it from the frame (13mm socket) - you have to leave the nut on loosly until the lines are unfastened. Unsnapped the retainer clips and slid the 3/8 tool in place and pulled each end off. It helps if you put a bit of Vaseline on the outer diameter of the tool to slide it in place - too much and you have trouble handling it - the @#$# filter is in about the most inaccessable place on the frame rail. Once the flex lines are loose, take the nut off the bracket bolt and remove the filter and bracket together.

To put it back together, put the bracket on the filter, slide the flex hoses in place, set the locks and put the nut back on and you are done. The Purolators have a bit of a raised lip on the "out" end and you may have to use an alternate frame hole - there was one about a 1/2 from the original on my truck.

I dumped the fuel left in the filter in an empty Corona bottle (had to empty the bottle first ). The amount of crud was unbelievable and it settles out overnight.

Started the truck up, smooth as silk, no lugging on hills and seems to just plain run easier. Gas mileage? An upcoming 850 mile trip will tell.

 

I changed mine out in 15 min, hardly any mess at all didn't even bleed the line..
Glad your truck runs better.
BTW how did you check your plugs.. I herd that is a pain??

 

I change mine at 15,000 and even at that low mileage, it is unbelievable the trash that runs out.

 

I didnt look at mine... wished I did now to see if it was mucky

 

The fuel coming out the outlet side is clean, what comes out of the inlet side has small black particles and sometimes, rusty fuel. The filters do the job.

 

I'm back home after 891.4 miles.
Going out was 360.1 miles and 17.4 mpg @62mph trip average

Coming back was 330.8 miles (no side trip) and 17.7 mpg @55mph trip average(lots more traffic)

Total including about 1.5 hours idling for the AC (it was 93 deg) plus town traffic was 16.6 for the overall trip mileage.

Anyone "honestly" getting much better then that with a 5.4 SCab with 4x4 and the 17" rubber and including a 700 to 800# bed load is, IMHO, very lucky

Expensive trip!! Gas was $165.50 plus 1 ea 265/70x17 tire @$150.00 more or less.

So with that said, the fuel filter change was worth about 2 mpg on the overall mileage as my last identical trip was about 14.5 mpg overall. Keeping this in mind, that ten buck part was well worth the change and should have been done AT LEAST 25K earlier - live and learn

Instead of bustin' my butt to change the plugs, this truck is about due for replacement anyhow since it doesn't pull my 7000+pound camper worth beans.

 

dont be surprised if your fuel pump craps out shortly after you change that clogged fuel filter.

 

I change mine every other oil change … cheap insurance ( 95,000)

 

That doesn't make any sense