Ok I finally got around to changing my fuel filter today, and man that was a pain. I did happen to find a unusual tool that some of you may be able to use.

When removing the hoses you can not pull to get them off. They act exactly like a chinese finger trap, so the more you pull the more they tighten. The best way to remove the hose is to push up from the bottom, this can be acomplished using a flat blade screwdriver, or my awesome tool. You know the two prong fork you can use when grilling? It works perfect! You put the nozzel of the fuel filter in between the two prongs, push the fork down till contact is made on about 180 degrees of the hose and wiggle, push and take the hose off. This tool made the job sooo much easier. I hope this makes sense and helps some of you guys out their!

 

Good idea. I used a flat head....

 

I used brute force *Tim Allen Growl* lol

 

it is alot easier to just twist them back and forth. they come right off

 

so what are the exact tools that i will need to change my fuel filter?

 

1. Philips screwdriver to undo clamps
2. Flathead screwdriver to help pry hose off

 

Getting to that thing is just such a pain in the ***! I gave up on it, there's just not enough room to work.

 

Take off your intake - makes it much easier.

 

That sounds like a lot of trouble too

 

Are you kidding me? The intake takes 2 minutes to take off - one screw - 4 clips (for a stock intake), 2-3 hoses and 2 electrical connectors later, its off.... if you change your air-filter, you've already done 1/2 the work to take it off.

 

Right on - just never tried it before.

 

As a warning - getting to the filter is EASY part ... getting the hoses off (which is the point of this thread) is the FUN part. If you're thinking if becoming a DIY'er - I don't know if the fuel filter is a good first-project - its really easy, but can be extremely frustrating...

 

putting in my new fuel filter was so damn agravating. i ended up just cutting the hoses off the old one. no matter what i tried i could not get them off.

 

I find with those hoses in the engine bay that they get stuck on if they haven't been touched for a while. If you can break the seal they will come off very easily. I have found the best way is by using a flathead all around the base of the hose, then twisting and pulling once it is loose.

 

any idea how much a fuel filter cost? my car is 104K mile. is it time to change?

 

i bought mine from the dealership today for $13 after tax....u can buy a generic one for about 11....spend the extra $2 and get OEM....install took me about an hour.....it was a pain in the *** to disconnect the hoses.....overall not too bad of an install....just make u have a flat blade and a phillips.....

 

easiest way possible

 

get the 300zx filter, its twice the size, twice the interval...the prong method is a good one, you can release the air pressure built up inside those lines, its like opening a glass bottom.

 

I replace mine a few months ago and was a pain, took me about an hour and got many scratches bleeding all over my hands; felt really good after done because don't know anything about mechanic and saved at least $20 from labor.
Next time will put the 300z, seems to be bigger, lasts longer, filters better and fits ok, what year is it for the 300z? turbo or regular?

 

i thik it was the same for both turbo or regular. they never asked, and whatever it was fit fine.

 

You guys are removing the fuel from the fuel line right? I had the same problem with this and gave up the first time I tried it. I came back to it a while later and asked a few questions - here is what I learned from that experience;

Remove the fuel pump fuse (drivers side under console near hood release)
Start the car and let it idle until the engine dies (doesn't take long)
Start the car again, and again, and again, and again..

And again..

And for good measure, start the car again, twice.

Now try taking off the fuel filter. All that cranking removed the vacume in the line - the filter twists right off. Remember to put the fuse back in when your done.

 

bahaha i remember when i first did it... I didnt let out the pressure(dumb me, I was a noob)..

anyways I pulled and pulled for like 15minutes.. Finally it popped out when I did that.. I almost hit my head on the hood pulling then it popped out.. It was great..

 

I used a robogrip to twist them off. I struggled with pulling at first. I love my tools.