Fuel Filter Replacement: Fuel Line Seperator Tool
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood MO
Fuel Filter Replacement: Fuel Line Seperator Tool
I bought a fuel line seperator tool to change my fuel filter. However, when I trying to use the tool I was unable to get the filter to move at all. I have the rear wheels on ramps so I am only able to lie under the car to remove this filter. I spent a couple of hours last night using this tool and some pointers from a thread I found. However, I am having no luck prying the line that runs back into the engine compartment from the filter. Any pointers? I think there are couple of things that are causing this problem: No leverage from lying on my back and 2 small metal pipes that I am afraid that when I apply enough force I am going to slip and break them. From the threads I found on this subject people make it sound that using this tool and removing the engine compartment line is a snap. But I can't seem to find the trick.
Here are the threads and links I have been referring to:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=Fuel+Filter
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=Fuel+Filter
http://www.cajundude.com/fuelfilter.htm
Thanks,
Steve
Here are the threads and links I have been referring to:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=Fuel+Filter
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=Fuel+Filter
http://www.cajundude.com/fuelfilter.htm
Thanks,
Steve
Last edited by Clamshell; May 8, 2007 at 10:13 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Boise Idaho
Fuel filter
There is two tools and I have used them both the first one was a piece of junk it was metal and looked like a weird pair of pilers toss this one .The second one I found worked great it took about 5 sec I got it at schuck's and its called a GM fuel line seperators and they are plastic and there is about four of them in a package all diffrent color and sizes just pick one that is the size of your fuel line and they just snap over the line and then you slide them down towards the filler and pull on the filter a little you will get some gas dumping on you so don't have your face down there and disconect your battery before you start just to be safe.You are releaceing these little plastic clips on your fuel filter you may have to take these clips out and out them on your new filter so don't break them and if you do you will have to buy them from a dealer and they never have anything in stock for a Corvette.
Good luck you will kick yourself when you use these plastic fuel line seperators.It is so much better.
Johnny
Good luck you will kick yourself when you use these plastic fuel line seperators.It is so much better.
Johnny
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood MO
There is two tools and I have used them both the first one was a piece of junk it was metal and looked like a weird pair of pilers toss this one .The second one I found worked great it took about 5 sec I got it at schuck's and its called a GM fuel line seperators and they are plastic and there is about four of them in a package all diffrent color and sizes just pick one that is the size of your fuel line and they just snap over the line and then you slide them down towards the filler and pull on the filter a little you will get some gas dumping on you so don't have your face down there and disconect your battery before you start just to be safe.You are releaceing these little plastic clips on your fuel filter you may have to take these clips out and out them on your new filter so don't break them and if you do you will have to buy them from a dealer and they never have anything in stock for a Corvette.
Good luck you will kick yourself when you use these plastic fuel line seperators.It is so much better.
Johnny
Good luck you will kick yourself when you use these plastic fuel line seperators.It is so much better.
Johnny
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 8
From: Southwest Virginia
Sounds like you have the right tool, could be the wrong size though.
The key to those connections is you have to push the line on all the way and hold it there, then put your tool on the line and pull back the tool in the off direction, then while pulling on the tool allow the line to slide back off the other. Takes less than a second normally.
The key to those connections is you have to push the line on all the way and hold it there, then put your tool on the line and pull back the tool in the off direction, then while pulling on the tool allow the line to slide back off the other. Takes less than a second normally.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
There is two tools and I have used them both the first one was a piece of junk it was metal and looked like a weird pair of pilers toss this one .The second one I found worked great it took about 5 sec I got it at schuck's and its called a GM fuel line seperators and they are plastic and there is about four of them in a package all diffrent color and sizes just pick one that is the size of your fuel line and they just snap over the line and then you slide them down towards the filler and pull on the filter a little you will get some gas dumping on you so don't have your face down there and disconect your battery before you start just to be safe.You are releaceing these little plastic clips on your fuel filter you may have to take these clips out and out them on your new filter so don't break them and if you do you will have to buy them from a dealer and they never have anything in stock for a Corvette.
Good luck you will kick yourself when you use these plastic fuel line seperators.It is so much better.
Johnny
Good luck you will kick yourself when you use these plastic fuel line seperators.It is so much better.
Johnny
I had the exact OPPOSITE experience this winter when I did my H/C swap and had to remove the fuel line - I bought the plastic fuel line tool (4 different sizes, about $12.00), and while I could get the tool to engage, I couldn't get the line off at all - I went and borrowed the metal scissor/plier removal tool from the local GM dealership, and Presto, the line came off, no problem -
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Sounds like you have the right tool, could be the wrong size though.
The key to those connections is you have to push the line on all the way and hold it there, then put your tool on the line and pull back the tool in the off direction, then while pulling on the tool allow the line to slide back off the other. Takes less than a second normally.
The key to those connections is you have to push the line on all the way and hold it there, then put your tool on the line and pull back the tool in the off direction, then while pulling on the tool allow the line to slide back off the other. Takes less than a second normally.
That was going to be my suggestion as well. Push the line into the filter more and then hit it with the tool. There is normally a build up of pressure on the system that makes just pushing the tool in hard to do. With a push of the line and the tool it normally pops off real easy.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood MO
It worked!!!
Using the metal plier version of the fuel line seperator finally worked after I pushed the line further into the filter with the seperator tool on it. This is no where on the packaging of how to actually use this tool. Thanks for the advice guys!!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
The rinky dink cheap plastic donuts work fine for the fuel line to the rails. You don't even need a tool for the ones by the fuel filter. They are very simple.
If you do it a bunch, pick up the tool, if you are doing it once, don't worry about it.
If you do it a bunch, pick up the tool, if you are doing it once, don't worry about it.
Last edited by Cajundude; May 10, 2007 at 01:12 PM.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The rear connection doesn't need a tool. On my 02 the front fitting DOES need a tool!
We had a MOD Party and one of my mod goals was a fuel filter change. Well,,,,,,wouldn't you know it, 
I forgot the tool. Noooo problem!
I just used the little red plastic protector cap of the new filter, cut the solid end off of it, slit it in a spiral shape, slipped it around the line and into the retainer housing on the old filter. You have to push the OLD filter forward and then press in on the removal tool. The small fingers inside the old filter will release and you will have to pull rearward on the old filter while pressing in on the tool. and PRESTO, the old filter is off!
We had a MOD Party and one of my mod goals was a fuel filter change. Well,,,,,,wouldn't you know it, I forgot the tool. Noooo problem! I just used the little red plastic protector cap of the new filter, cut the solid end off of it, slit it in a spiral shape, slipped it around the line and into the retainer housing on the old filter. You have to push the OLD filter forward and then press in on the removal tool. The small fingers inside the old filter will release and you will have to pull rearward on the old filter while pressing in on the tool. and PRESTO, the old filter is off!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I am a very mechanically capable guy, but I had problems with both these tools. I tried 3 times to change filter, no luck. Then it started leaking, I finally used my fingers to change it.
Relieve pressure at the fuel rail, using valve and rag, before taking off filter. There will still be some fuel leaking, but not as much.
Relieve pressure at the fuel rail, using valve and rag, before taking off filter. There will still be some fuel leaking, but not as much.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 630
Likes: 157
Make sure you hear it click into the main line when you install the new filter or else it will pop out.Ask me how I know? Drove to a car show,hit a few bumps,she wouldn't start afterwards,line walked its way off of filter from those bumps.MAKE SURE IT CLICKS WHEN YOU INSTALL THE NEW FILTER!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
fuel filter clips
My filter was leaking at the entrance to the filter because the clips had deteriorated. Got a new WIX filter which exectly replaces the original and had to use a small screwdriver to release one of the deteriorated clips. MAKE SURE you replace the nylon clips on BOTH sides of the new filter or you are ASKING FOR FUTURE TROUBLE.
BIGHANK
BIGHANK
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Whiteville NC
