BLOODY mechanics!

Ahhhh...fuel filters. I reckon they seize on as opposed to being overtightened. I've did my changes on the GQ and did the 2 1/2 turns etc, and each time I went back to change, it'd be toight!

A trick I was taught in the GQ was to undo the entire cast bracket and flip upside down, tighten again and use a smaller oil filter remover as the fuel filter was slightly smaller than the oil filters. Perform the opposite when putting back on, write date of change and kilometers when change required in nikko and refit.

At least you can do your own from now on and save some $$$!

Cheers

Chris.

Better than what we had on our work utes. One of the F-250s was parked in my driveway and I noticed oil on the driveway when I moved it. So I look underneath and the whole under of the motor and front suspension stuff was covered in oil. So I had a poke around and found that it came from the oil filter area. I grabbed the filter itself and found it so loose I could easily spin it by hand. It was on its way to spewing all 15 litres of oil out. Gotta love that Ford service.

Hi all
As a workshop owner I come across this all the time especially when vehicles have been back to the dealer(thats the dealers that actually check/replace filters)
Wheel nuts are another good example. We are always machining disc rotors after vehicles have been for tyres.
We use a torque extension bar on our rattle guns so you can't tighten them past 110nm or about 80 ft/lb. Never had a problem since I bought these about 5 years ago.
Nearly all diesel fuel filters end up tight. Maybe because moisture can sit on top of the filter and dry out the outside of the seal or maybe the fuel shrinks the seal a bit and binds it up. Who knows. I take all filters off with the bracket and put them in the vice and Yes we swing off them as well. We mainly use an oil filter rench which adapts to a ratchet or a strap that adapts to a breaker bar.

Can sympathise.
Could be worse. Try doing a V6 4Runner fuel filter. Now they are fun and games.

Cheers

Jeff,

I'd recommend doing the same as you would with an oil filter - run a film of engine oil over the rubber gasket befroe doing it up by hand. I've never had a drama - but I know what you mean. I went to take the wheels off a new second hand vehicle I bought years ago to check the brakes and 3 mates and 2 tyre shops later I finally had all the wheel nuts loose. Would not have been good in the middle of whoop whoop!!

Cheers,
Hughesy

Jeff,

Have you tried the Lucas CAV filter system. About $100 - $140 inittially and about $8 - $10 for replacement filters after that and a hell of a lot easier to remove.

Karl

Jeff M,

Maybe an apology to your mechanic now you understand what happened

Regards

Greg

I know it doesn't help now but the best filter spanner i have ever used is a piece of old seat belt.

Wrap it around the body of the filter at least 3 times, more if the thing is really tight, making sure that when you pull on the tail it spins the filter off not on. Never had a filter I couldn't move.

Having said that the lucas is the go.

Duncs