How in the hell...

[stickgoat]

So today I made a second attempt at changing out the fuel filter on my '96. My first try was averted by the fact that I couldn't find a small enough screwdriver to fit in the limited space I had to work with to loosen that damn screw clamp.

I finally found an appropriate screwdriver so I gave it another go today. I got both the top and bottom clamps loosened with relative ease, but my problem came in removing the hoses themselves.

Those things are on that filter TIGHT. I tried forceful pulling, prying with a large flathead, and trying to twist it around with a pair of pilers. I just couldn't get the hoses off, so I put the clamps back on and called it a day as I have some things to do later.

But damn. Anyone have a good method for removing really stubborn hoses? I'm guessing this filter hasn't been changed all that frequently. Usually once you take stuff apart, it's never quite that difficult to get it back on/off later.

Any help is appreciated.

[96_S14_SE]

What I do is loosen the top and bottom clamp, and go at it with a pair of pliers with a rag around then and twist, forcefully hehe. If its still stuck or sliding I get a large flat head screwdriver, and start prying the edge of the hose upwards (in relation to the end of the FF barb) with it.

If you can break some of the hoses grip free in a few areas the pliers may work after that. Then there is always just cutting the hose off of the barbs on the intake and at the frame and just getting new hose.

You could try heating it with a tourch hehehe j/k j/k

Also dont forget to release the fuel pressure....

[SPIRO]

heh i had the same problem last time i was changin my fuel filter, all i did was cut the fuel line right before it connected to the filter at the bottom and made sure i had enough line to reach the new filter. The old filter should easily yank off the top fuel line now (try to cut the least amount of hose as possible hahah). Its always fun when fuel sprays everywhere haha. Simple and ghetto enough but you can't do it every time you change your filter obviously :rolleyes

[bluedrift]

Also dont forget to release the fuel pressure....

how is this done? by removing the gas cap in the rear?i plan to replace my FF too. however, i juss bought the 240 one and not the 300z one. oh well.-r

[stickgoat]

I'm just replacing mine with a standard 240 filter as well. I think just having a new one will provide sufficient flow...maybe next time I'll upgrade to a 300zx filter.

Anyway, I was debating on just cutting the hose as close as I could, but was hoping I could just pop it off. Maybe I'll go ahead and cut anyway.

[96_S14_SE]

Go into the cabin fusebox and remove the fuel pump fuse. Crank er over a few times and it will release most of the pressure.

If it is to difficult to remove just go to discount auto or autozone and get some new fuel line hose, like 2 or 3 feet. Its really cheap. Match and cut the same size as on both the lower and upper lines. Then just take a razor and make a slice along the barb to the line at the intake manifold connection and the frame mounted barb as well. Reuse the hose clamps and your good to go.

[stickgoat]

Thanks for the input y'all. I've decided to just go ahead and cut it. I'll buy some fuel line hose tomorrow and go at it.

[96_S14_SE]

Yeah sometimes hoses just dont want to come off. I would rather spend 3$ and get some new hose and cut the old off, rather then bend a new hardline after you kink or crush it

[red240ne]

i was at school when i recently changed my fuel filter and got fuel alllll over me, and they sent me home a couple periods later because the smell of me was making people sick.

[96_S14_SE]

Thats not why man...... You know it was making them high hehe.

[Xaev]

A good pair of vice grips are your friend. Set the tension so that it is somewhat difficult to get them closed around the end of the top side's hose and clamp em on there with a rag between them and the hose. They're nice because then you can concentrate on using your muscles to twist the hose rather than having to keep a tight grip with pliars while trying it.

They work good for those pinch-type hose clamps, that are sometimes a *****, on your vacuum lines too

-Xaev

[sultan]

fuel lines came right off when i did mine, took less than 5 mins to do, and old filter dripped gas for like 20 mins before i threw it away. when i changed my thermostat the hose wouldn't come off the housing so i took the whole thing off and worked at it for 30 mins with screwdrivers trying to get it off without breaking it, and then i dropped a bolt into the V part of the engine and took 20 mins to get that out, because i couldn't get my hand in there.