With the transmission out of the car, it is very easy to access the fuel filter from underneath. However, those ____ hoses were absolutely stuck. I tried everything from yanking to tugging to the flat head screwdriver method to the trim panel remover tool trick. No go. I destroyed the tops of the hose I wound up just cutting them off. Now the hoses are a teeny bit snugger but wow theres gotta be a better design. Wait there is- I remember changing my fuel filter on my Toyota and it used 10 mm banjo fittings on hard metal lines which was easy to torque off instead of the rubber hoses with small philps head screwdriver clamps.

 

It was murder for me too. Even my mechanic said it was a bit** when he did it once.

But, you'll find that alot of guys with the same maxima have no trouble. Maybe it's due to the region the car lives in. Maximas that live in dry hot climes like arizona may have it easier with hoses than cars in the northeast, like ours.

Next time you may just want to replace the hoses altogether. Just cut 'em off and be done with it. Make sure you replace it with feul injector hose if you do. Make sure the hose is SAE 30R9. It'll be written somewhere on the hose.

Regular feul line hoses are SAE 30R7. Stay away from that stuff. That's really only good for older cars and heater hoses.


DW

 

i used the din puller and it came of easily just have to work it out cause it is tight.

 

I found that the if you find a really long, skinny and small head flat screwdriver and pry between the hose and the filter, it comes off in a few seconds.

 

Yeah, that method works most of the times, but sometimes the hose won't come off no matter what. Eric knows enough to take apart his trannies. I'm sure he tried every method. Last year I told my friend I'll change his fuel filter on his Altima. I said "You owe me lunch since you're saving $50 bucks". The hose wouldn't come off no matter what. Ended up taking the car to a shop. lol.

 

I live in Massachusetts and I had no major problems getting the hoses off. However I had a harder time getting in there to work on it. This is because Im left handed and I couldnt get my stronger left hand on the filter, I had to remove the whole upper intake from the filter box all the way up to the TB to get full access to the filter.

Did you try the twisty method ? I find this works well for all stuck on hoses. Just make sure you dont crack the hose from twisting it, I made sure to replace the rubber fuel lines with new ones once I got the old filter off; just in case.

 

Those Nissan designers...dummm dumm dumm

Anybody who did the belts or the fuel filter knows.
Nissan made some parts of this car fit like a Ford--without any thought about repair.

Come on. Why do they have to stick the stupid fuel filter at the back of nowhere without any room?

I mean, the bottom hose = KILLER

You'll have a many invectives and beers trying to replace this. It requires *delicate, tiny* hands.

And on to those stupid belt adjuster...even Ford makes a better design. For future info, if you ever decide to adjust your belts, do not use force. This whole metal thing wants to bend really easy, and usually they break ($15 at dealer)

 

Like I've said so many times now fellow org members, twist the rubber hose back and forth while pulling. I too could not remove mine by simply pulling on them. HOWEVER, by twisting them back and forth while pulling, they came off in like 2-3 seconds. Brains over brawn.

 

Hells yeah !!! Damn straight.

FYI I lifted up my car with the scissor jack and took off the driver side front wheel. Dropped the filter down there to get MUCH better access to the lower fuel filter hose (with both hands) and it was easy after that.

One the bad side it took me 3 hours to change the filter. I removed the upper intake, cleaned the TB, removed the upper fuel hose and dropped the filter down, jacked the car up, took off the driver side front wheel, replaced the filter and its hoses, and then I put everything back together.

 

Really? I didn't take off anything, but did have the car up on jack stands (was doing the 96K km / 60K m service). I reached in, pulled the filter from the holder, held the line tight while I rotated the filter back and forth while pulling on the line till it came off. Then I held onto the line and twisted the filter off. With the car jacked up to make the lower line easier, it was a less then 5 minute removal.

 

hmm...mine was difficult, but not impossible.

 

With all the hub-ub about how much of a PITA it is to change the filter, what happens if I leave it in there? I've got about 52k miles on my i30 and imho it runs fine. Thanks for the input guys,
John

 

It could get clogged, and restrict the flow of gasoline to the engine. In short, your car could run like crap. The frequency in which you change it will vary from opinion to opinion. I've heard of people changing theirs every 10-15k. I think that's a little excessive, but to each her own.

I don't find it too difficult to get it out. It's a pain, but not enough of a pain to prevent me from doing it.

-Sryth...
__________________________________________________ ____________________________
'98 SE 5spd, Pebble Beige, PRCAI, Stillen Y, Stillen FSTB, ACT clutch.
Pacesetter STS to be installed this week!

 

I'm changing mine because I got a piece of loose leaf paper stuck in my gas tank once. Just a precaution as theres probably fibers floatin around. The bottom hose is very easy to get to if your transmission is not in the car. I tried the twisty method and it did not work. I've done this job once before but never has it been this stuck. Yea I'll be redoing the rubber fuel lines tomorow as well.

 

O.K., I'll bite. How did you get a piece of loose leaf paper stuck in your gas tank? Is this a new mod I haven't heard of yet? How many horsepower does it add? Probably on the safe side changing the filter, though.

Dave

 

My mechanic came out from a battle with the fuel filter with two bloody hands and a tetanus shot.
Youd think that for engine of the year 95 - 96 in alot of differnt magazines that the cars replacement parts would be easier to replace.

 

i was gonna attempt on changing my filter too , now i have some advice of things to avoid , thanks

 

dam engineers, focused too much on quality of engine and not placement. Dam, i'm getting a new fuel filter in next week and yaw make it sound crazy hard...

and look where the alternator is i bet u its a female dog to get out

 

If you get the SC, it only takes about 15 minutes to change the hose. Nothing in the way

 

CAI = easy FF change

 

Hahaha, yes I did get a piece (not the whole sheet) of loose leaf paper in my gas tank. It had to do with trying to set something on fire trying to get some gas out of the tank. Well hehe it didnt work too well.

If you do not have ABS it would also be easier to do since you dont have the ABS brain in the way. Right now I have no transmission, no intake, no battery so all that stuff is pretty much out of the way. Ontop of that I have small hands (which also means I have small.............. gloves). That thing just wasnt coming off. Oh well today I'll knife the other lines and just replace them all.

 

it is always a PITA. It is in a lot of cars though...depends on what hose material they use, for one. Stupid rubber.

 

Yep;

This fuel filter issue has alway been a pain.

Today, I purchased SAE J30R9 hose and relocated the fuel filter bracket and fuel filter to the strut tower housing to the right of the power brake booster (when looking at the engine bay standing in front of the car).

I attached the additional hose with brass fittings and fuel injection clamps to the existing hoses given me enough hose to relocate this bear.

Now, I can pull the fuel filter out of the fuel filter bracket and lift it up above the engine compartment to disconnect hoses and such.

All of this talk inspired me to perform this project today. No leaks so far.

White96MaxSE

 

Mine was tough to get off the first time, and impossible the second time regardless of the twisting and pulling technique. My solution...1) Remove the air filter box for better access (mine is stock), 2) slice the fuel line off at the filter with a razor knife, and 3) replace the fuel line (make sure it's rated for high pressure). I also wear a long sleeved sweatshirt and gloves to make sure I don't get torn up by all those connectors, etc.

 

Damn, now you give me this idea. I already have the tranny put back on and replaced the lines with fuel injector hose.

 

***

You can still do it. It took longer than I planned to get it done, like several hours due to the close quarters that we are all familiar with down there when working on the hoses where the fuel filter is located stock, but I'm glad it is moved now.

White96MaxSE

 

dreaded fuel filter

 

Hmmmmm...I've replaced my fuel filter three times (no ABS) and I just replaced my buddies 96 I30 (with ABS, 100K miles, filter changed once at 50K). Even with ABS and my relatively big & fat hands (I'm over 6' 2"), I was able to get his filter out in about 10 minutes with a stubby flat head driver and after removing the intake system. The trick is to use a short flat head and undo the bottom line first while keeping the filter relatively upright (pretty much you're doing the job blind). My buddy couldn't believe I would be able to pull out the filter. His lines were suctioned on like a biatch too, but they came off. Once you get the bottom one off, the top one is easy.


Dave

 

*********

Yep, I've replaced my fuel filter probably 10 times in 192,000 miles, and I decided to move my fuel filter bracket because I'm tried of how difficult it is to get to it. I've yanked on the hoses, I've used screwdrivers, I've done it with the intake system removed.

No more of this hassle now. It's on top now where I can pull the filter out with easy access, long hoses can take being cut off if needed, additional hose can be installed if needed, no more close quarters to squeeze my arms into, no more struggling for leverage to get those hoses off.

My life will be better because I like to change my filter more frequently than 30,000 miles or so, and I always "dreaded" the effort before.

White96MaxSE

 

What size was the hose you used? Gonna take some pics and make a write up?

 

I did mine not too long ago at the 96,000km/60,000 mile service interval, and I didn't find it all that difficult. All I did was, instead of simply grabbing at the hoses and pulling with all my strength, only to make small gains, I decided to use brains over brawn. I grabbed the filter in one hand, the upper hose in the other, and I started twisting the filter and hose against each other, back and forth, while also pulling the two together. Within seconds, the two were separated. Using brawn alone, I barely made 2-3mm in a couple minutes of pulling. Using some brains, and much less brawn, I was able to disconnect the filter in less than a minute.

I wonder if more people twisted while pulling, if there would be as many difficulties in removing the fuel filter.

 

i cant believe theres actually a thread on this... pulling on the hose makes the diameter shrink as you pull (chinese finger trap style) next time with any and all hose removal problems grab some wd-40 and a hair dryer. be careful as to not drench the assembly because that will make removal a nightmare. if your still stuck use a screwdriver to pry lightly on the hoses. seriously though if u think thats tough try cutting and welding a whole frame and underbody for a 72 240z -pete

 

I dont know why some of you guys have a hard time removing that fuel filter. Grab the canister and the top hose. With all the Cojones you got grip canister and hose very hard and twist back and forth for the top hose. Now for the bottom hose. Grab the bottom hose firm, grab the fuel filter canister hard once again this time twist and a litle pull and should slide right off. Hope that helps. If your not strong guaranteed you will have a hard time. Just been straight out and honest with everyone.

 

For those of you who can't believe there's a thread on this, I'm willing to bet that your cars don't have ABS

DW

 

Given the FF should be replaced every 10-15k I don't see how you guys/gals are having so much trouble? Sure on my 87 max it was difficult due to space but actually getting it off wasn't hard at all. I guess when you put petrol jelly or grease on the hose barb it makes it easier to take off . Vaseline = lub = during FF install, you might want to consider getting a Z32 FF since it is almost twice the size.

 

Like others have indicated, I don't think there's any real rhyme or reason to this operation. Some things work for some people, some dont. I haven't changed mine in the max yet, but me and my strong roomie had a fun time changing his in his 240. Woulda been OK if we jacked the car up I think, but still, with his strength and me holding/twisting hoses and/or the filter, we just got the top off.
The bottom hose would just roll over as we twisted the filter, even with the use of a pair of pliers (with a rag over the teeth) .

Ended up cutting the bottom, it had enough slack that it still fit fine. I guess this thread is good for showing ALL the options you have in replacing the filter. (What it's not good for is people claiming there's one quick 30-second way to do it on all cars).

 

Just changed plugs and fuel filter today. Second time I've done it, right now at he 91K mark. Fuel filter was tough to change out first time even though I've got small hands. Lots of grunting and groaning and there might even have been heard a four letter word . This time was different. Am I the only one who has taken out the air filter box and MAF? Gives you lots of room to get in there. Wellll, gives you more room anyway. Then a stubby philips and a set of small pliers to twist the hose and it'll just pop right off. Piece of cake. Maybe I'll start changing those pesky fuel filters at the required interval (15K) instead of 30K The only problem with that is that the darn filters are about $14 from Nissan. BTW, saw the new 350Z at the dealer. Very nice BUT can't wait to see the Infiniti G35 Coupe. THAT'S a REAL Beauty Cheers