[golfinator]

What dyslexic engineer designed the mounting for this filter? I've only changed it 3x on my '97 XLS with 157k mi, and now I remember why. What should be 30 min turns into 1hr. The clamp bolt head is on the wrong side. My Haynes manual even suggests taking off the charcoal canister, in addition to the mandatory air filter box, to get at it. A very small ratchet can get in there, but geez, how simple would it have been to reverse the direction of the way the bolt goes in.

 

[The Digital MagE]

yeah, well, how simple is it to take the mount off with it, THEN undo that bolt?

 

[Jigg007]

I purchased a fuel filter for mine with 240,000 miles, removed the air box, found the filter 5 minutes later.

"effff that"

Put the airbox back on

 

[golfinator]

No problem taking mount off as per Digital Mag, but don't you still need to tighten the bracket bolt after it's been remounted and the fuel lines have been reconnected?

 

[The Digital MagE]

noooo... the bolt is tightened while the mount is off the car.

 

[golfinator]

The Puralator filter I used has one bracket on the out end (top) that the fuel line has to line up with, so you need to be sure its lined up before the bracket is tightened. All this could have been eliminated by reversing the side the bracket bolt goes into vs taking off the mount.

 

[mmejia]

If I remember correctly, on my 98 Avalon, I took off the front left wheel and removed some bolts to pull back the shield and got to it from there...

 

[truthnexile]

I pulled it with relative ease on mine, and it was a very good thing I did. Obviously the service mechanics thought it was too much of a PITA b/c it hadn't been changed. You need 2 wrenches to loosen the flare fitting on the bottom of the filter, forget the wrench size, I had to just "see" with my hands. Then loosen the top with a suitable ratchet or wrench- THEN loosen the clamp. Pull the old filter, tap it on the ground a couple times, and pour the gas into a suitable waste container. If it's anything like mine, what comes out of the filter will be liquid mud. Trust me- it's better than changing the fuel pump.

 

[golfinator]

Fuel Filter

I ususally fill up at local QuikTrip gas pumps. Since it was 40k mi since my last fill-up. I tore the filter apart and it was clean, as it was at the last change.
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm415/golfinator3/Avy fuel filter/avyfuelfilter2.jpg

 

[csaxon]

Now you know why Toyota doesn't have a replacement service interval for that filter.

 

[golfinator]

Fuel filter

Recommended 30K mi interval changes- overkill by Haynes? Climate you live in, how low you let your tank get before you stop for gas, might warrant filter change? Think I'm done with fuel filter changes for a long time.

 

[TedL]

I have trouble letting it go more than 60k. I tend to go for shorter maintenance intervals, rather than longer.

On the other hand, I remember GM V-8's with the tiny inlet filters on the Rochester carbs, and they'd last 15k while filtering the volume of gas for 10 mpg...without the first stage filter in the fuel tank.

 

[csaxon]

102000 miles and still doing its job.

 

[csaxon]

If you're worried about the crud in the fuel tank then you should inspect or replace the main fuel filters on the fuel pump.

 

[Jigg007]

I had the TB removed, so I thought to myself, why not tackle the fuel filter seeing how I already have the airbox out.

Remove Air box.

Top union bolt is 17mm.

Bottom nut is 14mm

Fuel filter bottom brace is 19mm

Filter strap bolts are all 10mm

Sure seemed like a lot of work for changing a filter..

Removing wheel not necessary, but gives a good visual of what you're trying to do if its your frist time. Also useful for using a rust penetrant on the bottom bolts.

Even with many applications of PB blaster, that bottom nut refused to give. Its best to position the wrenches as shown and with one fist, squeeze them together. EVENTUALLY, after several colorful words it broke free.

Easily fixed with a drill and new nut/bolt though. You can even choose what side you want to unbolt! Not like I ever plan replacing this again in my lifetime!

 

[mbsavalon]

PITA is right!

Just to vent and share a bit- did wife's 97 Avvy fuel filter today. Did have to pull the airbox, wheel and the little 2 bolt skirt, all for much easier access. Not too bad so far- about 15 minutes total. Everyone says the bottom fitting is the bitch, but mine came off pretty easily- even used a 9/16" open end 'cause I couldn't find the 14 mm. The top fitting was the pain- twisted the bracket before it finally popped loose, but it bent back easy enough. Get it all back together, then can't get the banjo to quit leaking. Torqued it to spec on initial assembly, but got the wrenches and went as far as I could- no luck. New copper washers w/ filter from the Zone, but seemed too narrow compared to original aluminum ones. (BTW- AZ only has one no name brand filter- go to Advance for Fram next time) Tried putting old washers back on- better, but still leaking. Back to AZ- explained prob- guy found pack of copper brake fitting washers in help aisle. Had a couple in it that almost matched, just had to file the ID a tiny bit, leaving it ever so slightly undersized so the bolt had to force its way through. (They were also a bit wider as well on the OD, which I was glad of too.) Torqued it down again, still slight leak! Got the wrenches out again and cranked it as tight as I could, and finally got it to seal. Maybe the aluminum washers are the key- who knows. Total time- 5 hours including 45 min trip back to AZ. Grrrr.