I drive a 1999 F250 Super Duty with a 5.4L engine. Recently it has started to misfire under moderate to heavy load and I suspect a weak or damaged COP. When I look in my repair manual it doesn't say anything about removing the fuel rails to remove the COPs but the rails sure are right over the top of them. I haven't tried it yet but is it possible to unbolt the COPs and work them loose without removing the fuel rail? And if so, is it possible to then access the plugs? I'm trying to avoid the cost of buying the special tool required to bleed off the fuel line pressure.

 

Yes you can remove the COP without removing the fuel rail. You will notice when you take the small bolt holding them in with a 7mm socket, they are very easy to remove.
You will have a heck of a time with cylinder number 4 because of the hoses.

 

I just ripped the fuel rail off on the driver side especially. Not a big deal. I never bothered bleeding off the pressure and it was no problem. Some people have said they did it without removing the fuel rail but I didnt do it that way. On the drivers side its really tight..

 

jethat,

How do you pull the fuel rails. I just bought a 2001 F150 w/ 4.6 V8 that is misfiring (no codes). The #7 COP screw is under a fuel rail sensor. How does the fuel rail attach to the injectors? Does it just "snap" on?

Eugene B

 

If you feel the need to bleed the rail, wrap a rag around the shrader valve and bleed.

It's like a bicycle tire stem, - push the needle in. You won't get much pressure at all after the engine cools - practically O. That's why most don't bother with it.