Hi all,

 

I just changed the fuel filter on my 90 legacy sedan (177k). I always had the dealer change it before. I followed the manual word for word. Removing the rear seat was a bear to depressurize the fuel system. When I got to the fuel pump it looked like the plate had never been opened before.

I was wondering if the dealer was just clamping the fuel lines up by the filter instead. Has anyone had success doing it that way?

When I changed mine I just opened the gas cap (probablly not even needed) Then held a rag near the hoses when I took the filter out...no pressure and hardly any fuel seepage. At least now you're more familiar with rear seat removal.

The fuel filter is in your engine bay, right next to the driver's strut tower.

Legacy777-

 

tha's what I thought he meant too. But I think he was just asking about depressurizing the fuel system.

I change the fuel filter on my Forester first thing in the morning, after the car has sat all night. It could just be my car, but after letting the car sit all night I never have had pressure in the fuel line. I always have a rag and safety glasses ready, just in case.

In the Haynes manual, it suggests depressurizing the fuel system by accessing the fuel pump through the back seat or trunk area access door, disconnecting the electrical connector, then starting the car and running it until it dies from fuel exhaustion.

 

The last time I changed the fuel filter, I did that and it seemed like a lot of extra work. Others say to leave the fuel system pressurized and just disconnect the hoses from the filter, there isn't that much pressure in them anyway.

 

A better idea may be to pull the fuse for the fuel pump and run the engine to depressurize?

 

matt

In the Haynes manual, it suggests depressurizing the fuel system by accessing the fuel pump through the back seat or trunk area access door, disconnecting the electrical connector, then starting the car and running it until it dies from fuel exhaustion.

 

 

The last time I changed the fuel filter, I did that and it seemed like a lot of extra work. Others say to leave the fuel system pressurized and just disconnect the hoses from the filter, there isn't that much pressure in them anyway.

 

A better idea may be to pull the fuse for the fuel pump and run the engine to depressurize?

 

matt

 

That is exactly what I was asking about. I was afraid to just pull the lines off the filter because I thought I would have fuel everywhere. Once I got to the fuel pump in back though, it was obvious that the dealer never went through this time consuming step. They just charged me as if they had.

I have a fuel pressure gauge on my car.

The line pressure goes down to zero in less than 3 hours.

So if you change it in the morning like The Dude wrote, you will have no problem.

the fuel pump connector is under the rear seat. If you disconnect it, and then start/crank the motor, it will help eliminate pressure.