After 4 years of ownership, I have eventually got round to changing fuel filter as there was no previous history and with ~80k on the clock it was probably time. Correct - not before time it was the original ! How many more of these are still about - probably quite a few? Petrol and tank quality has come a long way over the years. I remember when fuel filters had glass domed tops so you could see what was going on and easily unscrew and clean filter!
If you weigh a new filter and compare with the weight of the one being replaced you might be surprised at how much "crap" the filter has taken out of the fuel, especially if previous owners have been prone to running the tank to nearly empty regularly and many do.
T-tony, isn't that called keeping the tank clean? Easier changing fuel filters than cleaning gas tanks. lol JIM
Didn't think of that one at the time Tony - new one is fitted now. My intention is to cut the old one open and have a look what's inside - will post pic of findings.
Old Filter cut open - pics below (note to self - buy some new hacksaw blades). Inlet end slightly fouled at bottom but otherwise looks ok. Flow path is diverted to outside of cartridge at inlet end using a deflector plate - clearances are very tight.Then flows through filter to centre cage and then straight out.
Many years ago, I worked for a landscaping company that grew their own sod. They would prepare the yards of new houses in a new housing project. One of the pieces of equipment they used was a Cat D8: I was sitting on a plate next to the operator as we were driving down a new street that was still dirt as it had just been cut out. At that time, the dozer used to have a glass sediment cup the fuel ran through to trap particles and what ever. As we were driving down the dirt street, a small boy, about 6 or 7 years of age was on the side of the street throwing stones at the dozer as we passed. The operator and I couldn't help laughing at this boy who was throwing stones at this huge monster of a machine with all its power. As luck would have it, one of his stones hit the glass sediment cup, breaking it and interrupting the flow of diesel fuel shutting the tractor completely down. It took most of the day to find and install a replacement. We didn't laugh at little boys throwing stones anymore.
Sound's like `sod's law' Frankie. I remember working on a car once - Ford Cortina I think - and dropping a spanner - yup that's right it hit the glass dome and shattered it
Straightforward on mine Brian but I think in different position on your model. On the 4 pot it's under the passenger door sill. The TIS says to remove pump fuses and then run engine to empty fuel lines - I did this but I'm not sure how much use it did. Jack up front wheel and place on stand - Remove heat shield - 4 x 10mm hex caps -. remove clamp bolt and disengage clamp. Loosen hose jubilee clips and then just slide out. I won't insult a man of your ability by saying make sure you put new one in right direction. A few pics followbut as I say yours may be different. Sorry tried to include moer pics but am getting error message on file sze - help @GazHyde
Yeah, sorry Jonco. There is an issue which means initial file size needs to be under 2MB at the moment. This will be fixed when the new server comes online.
JONCO quote: " I won't insult a man of your ability by saying make sure you put new one in right direction.". I once had a Honda 750 that needed a new rear tire. I didn't have much money at the time so I ordered one from a mail catalogue. I did this around November of that particular year. It arrived about 2 weeks later, but I didn't have the time to mount it. Sometime in the dead of winter, I removed the rear tire from the bike and brought it into the house. I wanted to work indoors to keep warm so I placed an old blanket on the living room carpet and proceeded to remove the old tire from the rim and install the new one. This had to be one of the most difficult things I have ever done from a physical standpoint. Stretching the tire off the rim and doing the same to get the new one on took every bit of strength I had as I had no one to hold down the rim as I used the tire irons to work the tires off and then on. Then, for what seemed to be an eternity, I tried to inflate the new tire. I didn't have a compressor at that time, only a hand pump. Finally the tire caught the rim enough to inflate. I pumped it up to the correct pressure and sat back to look at my accomplishment. I was insufferably pleased with myself. Just as it became impossible to be more content I happened to notice an arrow on the sidewall of the tire with the words "direction of rotation". Need I tell you the rest?
People who don't work on cars would say "now, what's the chance of that happening" believing the chances to be very small. But you and I know differently. The chances of that spanner hitting the glass dome weren't 100%, they were one million percent. Once you dropped that, it was destined to hit it, even if it had to bounce off 3 or 4 other things to get to it. But we know these things happen constantly because we work on cars.
Thanks Gaz - I saw the start of the thread on the problem the other day but obviously didn't follow it through Additional pics cropped and added.
