fuel filter replacement????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
The owner's manual says never, unless there is a problem.
The later years (yours included), have the fuel filter integrated with a fuel pressure regulator (thus they have only one fuel line (no return) going to the fuel rail). These replacement filters are pretty expensive.
Early years (with 2 fuel lines running to the fuel rail) have just a replacable filter, some of these eventually leak. I would recommend using GM's filter, as some off-brands don't fit as well or aren't the correct part.
2004's are even worse, the fuel filter is a screen in the fuel tank.
Generally our gas is pretty clean and filtered already, so not too much trouble. I would say 50,000 miles is good maintenance.
The later years (yours included), have the fuel filter integrated with a fuel pressure regulator (thus they have only one fuel line (no return) going to the fuel rail). These replacement filters are pretty expensive.
Early years (with 2 fuel lines running to the fuel rail) have just a replacable filter, some of these eventually leak. I would recommend using GM's filter, as some off-brands don't fit as well or aren't the correct part.
2004's are even worse, the fuel filter is a screen in the fuel tank.
Generally our gas is pretty clean and filtered already, so not too much trouble. I would say 50,000 miles is good maintenance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,654
Likes: 3
From: Florida
From "Corvette C5 Performance Projects 1997-2004" by Richard Newton. A book I highly recommend for you shade tree mechainics like myslef.
"...in the middle of the 2003 production run, General Motors declared the fuel filter to be a lifetime component. Your Corvette has one of three different fuel filters depending on what type of fuel system you have. If you have a single stainless-steel braided fuel line going to the engine then you have the GM 10299146 fuel filter which has a pressure regulator built inside of it. If you have two stainless-steel braided fuel lines then GM 10287788 is your filter. This filter doesn't have a pressure regulator built in. The third type - instlled in the middle of the production run for 2003 is called the FFS fuel system and has the fuel filter in the tank. It's not necessary to change this filter."
I have a 97 and changed mine last year. The hardest part was finding it. There is a clip on each end that you must depress to slide the fuel tubing off. Release the pressure on the fuel rail before you do this.
"...in the middle of the 2003 production run, General Motors declared the fuel filter to be a lifetime component. Your Corvette has one of three different fuel filters depending on what type of fuel system you have. If you have a single stainless-steel braided fuel line going to the engine then you have the GM 10299146 fuel filter which has a pressure regulator built inside of it. If you have two stainless-steel braided fuel lines then GM 10287788 is your filter. This filter doesn't have a pressure regulator built in. The third type - instlled in the middle of the production run for 2003 is called the FFS fuel system and has the fuel filter in the tank. It's not necessary to change this filter."
I have a 97 and changed mine last year. The hardest part was finding it. There is a clip on each end that you must depress to slide the fuel tubing off. Release the pressure on the fuel rail before you do this.
