Fuel Filter confusion

I think you need the special tool because I needed mine on my 99 SOHC.

On the "classic" Explorers (91-94) you need a special tool but I don't know if it's the same for your car. I was under the impression that my fuel filters (got 2 Explorers) were supposed to last 100K miles. I think they cost more like $30. I only changed one of them once so far. Ford may think that 100K is the life of the car ;-)

On my 200 Exp Sport, I needed the tool. should be cheaper than the filter. I bought one of the $2 variety and made it work fine. Don't yank. Use the tool and do it slowly. I didn't release any fuel pressure but it still came out with minimal mess. Thanks for reminding me, now at 75k miles I think I will do mine again.

I have already done two tranny fluid changes also. I think I will start doing these at the same time. If I have it another 30k miles. but I doubt it.

It is after all the life of any and all extended warranties ;-)

My own fuel filters get changed once per year..... our winters are too nasty and our area too remote to trust to such a simple maintenance item. I certainly wouldn't go beyond 30K miles (50K kms).... if the filter becomes restricted, the extra oad can take out the fuel pump..... considerably more in cost and effort than the filter.

Worse is the way the events usually unfold.... once the badly restricted filter is changed the car *usually* runs pretty good... until we get far enough away from home for the pump failure to be an extreme PITA. This is a scene I've seen played out time and again...

HTH.

I looked at the maintenance schedule for both by 1997 and my

Regards,

Ed White

I think I'll go buy a couple of fuel filters next week...

Dang, me too...I have 125K and have never changed it. Duh!!!

"tfandango" wrotenews:1109863276.224440.161400 @z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

Fuel filters last practically forever if:

You buy fuel in America or Canada and not Mexico. you don't let your gas tank get down to the bitter end and stall and have to put a gallon in it to get to the gas station.

All gas stations have filters on their gas pumps and the chances of getting "bad gas" like in the old days at some Arkansas tobacco/gas/moonshine + Moonpie station is remote.

the tool I bought was a scissors type of thing. ALSO :, There's allot of pressure in that system so be very careful when changing it.

What I did is I pulled the fuel pump relay under the hood while the truck was running. This causes the truck to stall and the fuel lines now have no pressure in it, making it a little easier for changing the filter.