timn29 Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 Hey guys, I have a '98 OBW 2.5 and want to replace the fuel filter. Got 128,000 mi. on it and have no idea when the last time, or if, the fuel filter has ever been replaced. I'm trying to get the best possible mpg out of it. So, is there anything I need to know to do this right? thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawksoob Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 http://www.ravensblade-impreza.com/modifications/index1.html Click on "Drivetrain." Second tip down. Pretty simple write up for a fairly simple job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenSisters Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 My hoses were stuck on like glue. Finaly managed to get them off, but you may want to do the change when the Auto parts stores are open in case you need to cut off the hoses and buy new ones. Easy job but can be a PITA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timn29 Posted July 9, 2004 Author Share Posted July 9, 2004 thanks! you rock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaltree Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 I'll second that one. I had to cut my fuel hoses off. Tried everything to ease them off, but no luck. Thinking I was prepared I bought some extra fuel hose to have around before starting the job. Two problems with it. It was too large of an inner dimension and it wasn't designed for fuel injection . I ended up walking 4 miles to the nearest auto shop and bought some real fuel line. The dealer felt so bad they gave it to me for free. I would also recommed doing the job while it's cool outside and the engine is cold. I tried it in the afternoon with a hot engine and I disconnected the tank fuel pump. Started the engine, and it wouldn't die. It just kept running. I'm sure it would've been fine to work on, but the idea is to run the engine with the fuel pump disconnected and wait for the engine to die. Disconnect the hoses to the filter, replace the filter, reconnect hoses, reconnect fuel pump, start car, check for leaks. Very easy job. Just too a minute to find out where to disconnect the fuel pump... Good luck. I hear they recommend that job every 30k... Kevin Altree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawksoob Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 Yeah...the hoses were a bear when I did mine. I used a pair of pliers with a rag wrapped around the hose so as not to cut or tear it and just pulled and turned and pulled and turned until it eventually came loose. The other tricky thing for me was the little rubber gasket that goes around the outside of the filter. If you don't get that back on just right, the clip that holds the filter in place won't clip firmly enough and the filter won't stay put as it should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinsUBARU Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 I squirt the hose connections with WD40, wait 10 minutes, then twist them off with a rag/plyers slowly! Ever open a bottle of champagine? Use the same method of easing off the "cork" very slowly. Some gas will come out (drip drip, not squirt squirt) and it will not geyser and blind you as some will lead you to believe (yes, I DON'T disconnect the fuel pump). Reuse the rubber ring around the outside of the fuel filter to secure it in the bracket, reconnect lines to the new filter, bing bam you're done It will take a little more to crank it when you first try to start it, but it will turn over once the fuel goes through the other side of the filter...probably like 6-7 cranks is what mine does. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pulloff Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 First few times I changed mine (99 Obw) the hose slid off with ease. This time it was a different story, I put a new one on last week and the hoses were on as tight as could be. I pulled, pried, pushed and nothing. They were set up tight. After a few rain drops hit my neck under my shirt collar it came to me: I went to my tool box and got my dull “awl” I gently pressed the awl into the end of the hose to loosen it from the filter. 2 drops of “all purpose oil” into the crack and I repeated this process a few more times around the fuel line - fuel filter junction. A quick twist and everything broke loose, another twist to work the oil in and everything slide off with ease. No broken fuel lines. I repeated the same process for the outlet side of the filter and it only took about a minute and a half to get it unstuck. Just be careful to use a thin dull awl so you don’t rupture the line, Help this helps out, Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy2.5 Posted July 10, 2004 Share Posted July 10, 2004 its pretty simple the hardest part lke eveyone else saysis removing the hoses. from years of experience has been to first spray some rust penatrant on the hose clamps, and the screw for the fuel filter securing bracket, this will remove any corrossion and lubed the threads, making it easier to remove them. then take a pocket screwdriver and pry the end of the hose(s) up a little bit just so you can spray a little carb cleaner on the end of the hoses, this will make it a liitle more plyable to remove it off the nipple of the filter. now with a pair of pliers wrapped with electrical tape one time around the jaws gently start twisting the hose. it should remove easy. upon reassemblly spray a little silicone on the nipples to ease putting the hoses back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosDiosDeVerde86 Posted July 10, 2004 Share Posted July 10, 2004 Hey guys,I have a '98 OBW 2.5 and want to replace the fuel filter. Got 128,000 mi. on it and have no idea when the last time, or if, the fuel filter has ever been replaced. I'm trying to get the best possible mpg out of it. So, is there anything I need to know to do this right? thanks in advance don't smoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THAWA Posted July 10, 2004 Share Posted July 10, 2004 I guess I got off easy . My hoses came off pretty quickly, just twist the filter around until it's spinning rather easily, then start slowly pulling hoses away while working the filter back and forth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted July 12, 2004 Share Posted July 12, 2004 Haven't changed mine yet, 96 Legacy with 96k miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerFahrer Posted July 12, 2004 Share Posted July 12, 2004 Clark, yours has been replaced at some point. Any of you who have cars with more than 50k miles have had filters replaced. Your fuel pump would be a worthless piece of shrapnel if you were still using the orig. filter... I've done this 4 times on my Legacy now, had it for 4 years, and I think the best way to go is to get some rags handy coz you're going to spill fuel and lots of it. Unscrew the hose clamps and slide them off the filter nipples, then take the filter out of the bracket with the hoses still on. This way you can grab the filter with one hand and the hoses with the other. Then just pull em off. It will be hard, and you'll make a mess, but the last time I change mine it took me 10 mins tops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy2.5 Posted July 12, 2004 Share Posted July 12, 2004 i dont agree with the above thread. i am a technician and i dont know how many cars with over 100,000 miles that still have the original fuel filter. the only wat you can tell if its been changed is by having the maintance history, or have changed it yourself or watched someone change it for you. your fuel pump with not be shrapnel if you filter was never changed, the filter has only to do with filtering the fuel to the injectors. it is after the pump, and does not filter fuel going into the pump, a clogged fuel filter would put strain on the pump, and restrict he fuel going to the injector rail. as far as changing the fuel filter, first remove the gas cap to relieve pressure in the fuel system. this will help keep fuel from sprayin all over and making a mess. next lossen the clamps, take a pocket srewdriver and lift up the edge of the rubber hose going on to the filter, spray a little carb. cleaner on the hose ends, this will make it easier to remove the hose off the old filter. grab the hose end with pliers ant twist back and forth until they come loose. lossen the clamp screw for the fuel filter hold down and remove the hoses. spray a little silcone on the hose ends to make it easy to slide the hoses on the new filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy2.5 Posted July 12, 2004 Share Posted July 12, 2004 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Clark, yours has been replaced at some point. Any of you who have cars with more than 50k miles have had filters replaced. Your fuel pump would be a worthless piece of shrapnel if you were still using the orig. filter... Riggghhhhttttt, please pass that bone and let everyone else take a toke... Sorry, but I have never changed a fuel filter on any car I have owned, except for the gold metallic ones in old chevy carbs. Many had over 100k on them. I've had this Legacy since it had 30,000 miles on it, and I know for damn sure it hasn't had a new one installed on it since then, and there weren't any repair receipts for that work being done. My coworker put over 220k on his Chrysler minivan and never put a fuel filter on it. Many people change them for problems that they don't fix. Just going with basic mechanics, if you can cruise down the highway at 90+ and don't get that "bogging down" sitch going on, your fuel filter is working fine. Tiny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawksoob Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Volkswagen doesn't even include fuel filters on their maintenance schedule. They refer to them as "lifetime" items, as in "Most people don't keep their cars anywhere near 100K, so why should they bother replacing such a thing? They'll think the car is really low maintenance and cheap to own." So, there are many VWs out there with many thousands of miles on them with cruddy old fuel filters that have never been changed, and likely never will be. Shame. Such a cheap and easy part to replace to regain power and fuel economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtoyou7747 Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 I had the same problem removing the hoses at the second filter change. I recommend that you put a little silicone lube on the filter's nipple when you install it. Should make it easier to remove them the next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Shame. Such a cheap and easy part to replace to regain power and fuel economy. Hmmm, how does changing a fuel filter that is allowing less gas to pass, if it is clogged, going to increase your fuel economy? Never mind. I thought I was getting a little weird since it seemed I was delving into the world of Sadism, Necrophilia and Beastiality... But I soon realized I was just beating a dead horse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Yes, TinyClark, that doesn't make sense to me either! Still, I change fuel filter around 60k. It's a good precaution, since a breakdown in the filter material might let larger particles through and into the injectors. It must be considered that some us like to floor the long pedal on a regular basis and that means a little preventative maintenance provides some added peace of mind. When my rev needle is bouncing off the red I like to know for sure that my oil, coolant, and such things are in good order ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawksoob Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Wouldn't a clogged filter lead to dirty injectors, which would be a cause for poor economy? Found many quotes like these on the web: Fuel filters become clogged with dirt and debris during normal operation and should be replaced to increase performance, extend fuel pump life, and aid in fuel economy To ensure an fuel efficient engine, “be sure the air and fuel filter are clean” Dirt, sand and other impurities can clog your fuel filter and starve your fuel injectors. Starved or clogged fuel injectors can impede engine performance and reduce fuel efficiency. One step to ensure optimum fuel econmony, “Change fuel filter per manufacturers recommendation” Replacing your fuel filter, PCV valve and breather element every 12 months or 12,000 miles could help eliminate problems like poor performance, poor fuel economy and excessive oil consumption A clogged fuel filter will strain your fuel pump and interrupt the smooth flow of fuel into your fuel injectors, causing them to perform less efficiently ... But while the car might run only slightly rougher, all-out performance and efficiency of your car will suffer greatly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blitz Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 I second the idea of using a lube to help with getting the hoses off and on, but I'd stick to something petroleum based. Errant silicone finding it's way into the combustion stream is the number one failure/contamination mechanism of 02 sensors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frag Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 On my Legacy, and probably on most, the working fuel rail pressure is around 30 psi. The pump can provide 60 psi. So a clogged filter could put undue strain on the pump and shorten its life and not give a hint of what's going on. The pump could still provide 30 psi at the rail - downstream from the filter - even if it has to crank up 60 psi upstream. The other thing is removing the gas cap does not relieve pressure in the fuel system. Only waiting (a couple of hours) or disconnecting the pump will do that. Just a few thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 I'll keep my present fuel filter and try to keep the "dirt and sand" out of the tank while I'm refueling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy2.5 Posted July 16, 2004 Share Posted July 16, 2004 i work on cars every day and removing the gas cap relieves most of the pressure. try it yourself undo the hoses on the fuel filter on a vehicle without removing the gas cap first and you will spray fuel all over when you do so. now try the same vehicle after you reconnected the hose, start the vehicle up, let it run, turn it off and remove the gas cap and then try to remove the hoses and i bet hardly any fuel will spray out, also if you remove the fuel pump fuse, try starting the car, it will peurge the line, then remove gas cap and all the pressuer will be relieved and no fuel will sprurt out.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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