change out my fuel filter on my 97 F150 4x4 w/ ORP?? I am having a 100k mile service done soon and want my fuel filter changed. Should I buy a manual and do it myself or just pay the ford boys to do it while they have it in the garage??

Any tips, tricks, hints, or opinions??

I just had mine changed while I was getting the Oil changed at the local L owning quick change oil stop.

Save your money. It's a pretty simple job if you are mechanically inclined. Here is an article on how to do it:

www.fordf150.net/howto/fuelfilter.htm

Since it's already in for service, spring for the extra few coins and have them do it. yes it is relatively simple, but if the internal springs don't want to release very easy then your in for some serious frustration.

You are the man, Navi

Rugby3,

Unless you have a tight personal relationship with a garage and they are willing to do it really cheap, most shops will charge you the book rate for changing the fuel filter regardless of what other services are being performed. I've heard prices anywhere from $65.00 to over $100.00 just for the filter installation. That to me is well worth a tool investment and a half hour of my time. To each his own though, but you are not going to save any money just because it's already in for some other service. They might cut a little break on the labor, but they will probably charge $20.00+ for the filter alone.

You'll be glad you did

Definitely do it yourself. Easier than changing a tire, if you have the tool. Paid about $5.00 for the tool at Checker Auto parts. It was one of those genreic red package parts in the section where they sell replacement drain plugs, window cranks, hood latches, etc. Considering what it is, a small round piece of plastic it is way over priced. But, forget doing the change without it, very risky. With the tool, piece of cake. The fram filter costs abotu $8.00 at Wal-mart.

Luck

I agree with Navi Man, well only for the next time I have mine changed. I was going to do it until I looked under the truck. When I bought it I had it undercoated, well the guy that did it went undercoat happy. The fuel filter as well as the fittings have undercoat all over them. It is going to cost me $29.95 to have it done when I bring it in for service. I figure I will spend the $29.95 so if they break something or have a hell of a time doing it then it's there problem. If they break anything they will have to fix it since they put the undercoat all over it. So rather then try it myself and break something then have to argue with them about why it broke I'll let them do it.

The next time I will do it like Navi Man said.

OH, and get this. They want $28.97 for a motorcraft air filter, but it will cost me $24.95 to have them do it. I checked on that twice and the numbers are right, go figure.

my oil change and filter change was only $40.00 so not to bad.

I don't know if anyone asked the question or mentioned a brand. What do any of you recommend for a fuel filter as far as brand? What brands should one stay away from or does it really matter?

Navi Man,

Wow, thats some steep prices. I guess I am very lucky, I have an awesome service manager that I deal with and get treated incredibly well. He charged me $15 to change it once. I did it as well to start getting into my own maint as my extended warranty runs out here very soon. I lucked out with the service guy with all the posts I see on here about there service depts not taking care of problems.

If you own the fuel filter tool, you can do it yourself. However, if you have the ORP you will have to remove one of the skid plates to get at the filter. Be prepared to use some muscle...it takes some strength to get the fuel filter out of the holder. If you have never used the the tool to remove the fuel lines from the filter and don't know how to use it, I'd consider letting the gargage do the job. I change my fuel filter every 15,000 miles and have been using the fuel filters available at Auto Zone. OK price and quality seems to be fine.

while it was in for the 100k miles service...cost was $34.90. Not bad considering I would have had to buy a tool and the filter if I chose to do it.