How To: Change your fuel filter

[ALL4GLH]

Taken from another forum. Please feel free to add your own experiences.

How to change the LSJ Fuel Filter


Parts Needed:

- New Fuel Filter (AC Delco Part Number GF824)

- 3/8" Fuel Line Quick Disconnect Tool

- 10mm socket & Ratchet
- A drain pan of some sort
- Safety Glasses


NOTE: A little bit of gas will get on you! It won't spray (after you depressurize the fuel system), but it'll trickle out from the filter & the gas lines. It's important to wear safety glasses (who wants gas in their eyes?) & also try and catch the gas in a drain pan of some sort. If you want....wear some rubber gloves if you don't wanna smell like gas all day.




1. First off, if you don't know where the fuel filter is....it's the small round canister under the rear suspension of the car towards the passenger rear wheel:



2. To release the fuel pressure, remove the kick panel & gain access to the fuse box.


3. Remove the Fuel Pump fuse



4. Start the car & let it run until it dies.

5. Undo the gas cap


6. Jack up the passenger side of the car to gain access under the rear of the passenger side & support it with a jack stand.

7. Locate the fuel filter


8. Undo the 10mm bolt holding the fuel filter bracket


9. There are two Quick Disconnect plugs on one end of the fuel filter....one is light blue & one is dark blue. Unlpug them both by squeezing (with your fingers) the colored sides & pulling off of the fuel filter & then aim them down towards the ground to drain into the drain pan you have.



10. Take the 3/8" Fuel Line quick disconnect tool & slide it onto the fuel line on the other side of the fuel filter


11. Then insert it towards the filter to break the prongs free that are holding the filter onto the fuel line


12. Give a nice, aggressive pull on the fuel filter for it to come freely off of the fuel line.....(it takes a good amount of force). Then remove the quick disconnect tool after the filter is off.


13. Take your new fuel filter & slide it onto the fuel line....it'll snap/click when it's all the way on


14. Attach the two light blue/dark blue quick connect lines onto the fuel filter....they slide & snap right on! They are different sizes (shown below), so you can't screw them up. But in case you forgot, the dark blue goes towards the body of the car & the light blue goes towards the ground.



15. Attach the 10mm bolt back into the frame that holds the fuel filter in


16. You're all done with the fuel filter install


17. Put the Fuel Pump fuse back in the fuse box & put the cover back on.


18. Let the fuel pump prime itself & start the car & it'll be good to go!!!



The reason why you should change your fuel filter (this is after 15 months & 19,300 miles):


My new fuel filter was $10 on ebay...I got lucky & that's what motivated me to change it ($16 SHIPPED)....one time deal

BUT the AC Delco (GF824) fuel filter is $34.99 from Crateenginedepot.com:
http://www.crateenginedepot.com/stor...P1675C193.aspx

My local auto parts store (Murray's) didn't stock it & wanted $44.99 and said they could have it the next day....so it's kind of pricey actually.

The little tools are $5-10 at ANY major auto parts store (but I already had them)....if you tell them you need the 3/8" fuel line tool....they'll know what you're talking about!

And that's all you need to change it


As for brand...I would stick with the AC Delco as I think that might be the only one available (according to Murray's Auto).
Fram (which I personally hate & wouldn't recommend) doesn't even offer one for our car and they usually have everything...so AC Delco FTW

[WickedSS]

There are a couple small chains that have a store brand filter. AutoZone and O'Reilly both do. They are <$20. Also, for a cobalt, the fuse is in the engine bay fuse box.

Nice Write up

[Philzoot007]

ThANKS ALL4GLH. did this today and it was simple as anyhting. the write up was perfect. there was no guess work at all. great write up...

[Farmer]

Damn, I'm at 40k and haven't done this.

[TTMR]

66k here, and it probably hasn't been done (I haven't in the 6k I've owned it)

But I should change the oil too after that LONG track day...

I need to take better care of my stuff.

[USMCFieldMP]

78k... and I've never done it.

[05Redline]

64k never done it, it's on the to do list , good write up.

[ION/GONE]

Saw this how-to today so I went to autozone & bought a filter, only $14.99 & a quick diconnect kit & changed it. I'm prolly the winner(weiner) for miles, i/m at 90,000mi. & never changed it, but emptied the fuel out into a cup & it was pretty clean, don't know why. But I know it needed to be done. & i'm sure it'll idle/run smoother. Wasn't to hard to change, I guess, getting that steel line out w/ the quick disconnect wasn't too quick as the tool implied in the name Oh & definately wear safety glasses & when you pull the 1st line off, point it away from you because the fuel does spray. great write up. & mods this how-to isn't in the how-to section for some reason, I had to do a search. Maybe someone can check that.

[Steddy]

I need to do this

[Maven]

Oh & definately wear safety glasses & when you pull the 1st line off, point it away from you because the fuel does spray. great write up. & mods this how-to isn't in the how-to section for some reason, I had to do a search. Maybe someone can check that.

Personal protection is always important. But if you got sprayed its because you didnt run the car with the fuel pump disabled to bleed the system of pressure.

[ION/GONE]

I took the fuse out & kept starting the car, but it wouldn't run at all, so I just started it about 10 times. Is there a better way to do it?

[Philzoot007]

theres a few ways to do it. but did u take the big square fuse out or the reg 15 amp fuse on top of it. it supposed to be the 15 amp fuse. my car started and ran for about 15 sec then stumbled and stalled also make sure u open the gas cap other wise ur still under pressure. deff wear the glasses. i didnt and got gas right in my eye. wasnt expecting the hose on the side with 2 to come off that easy. also, with he disconnect tool. all u really gotta do is just get it in there a lil bit, push back on the filter then give a good pull away from the gas line and it came right off for me. very easy. be carful of gas again. all in all a very easy job. also i got my disconnect tool from autozone with the filter also. my tool wasnt 3/8 exactly so i grabbed a drill bit and bored it out. i clammed one side of the tool with vice grips and drilled it out. worked on the first shot after that. my tool wasnt plastci like the ones in the how to. mine was more like a scissor type of metal thing.

[twzted]

I wanted to do this...then I spent 20-30 min trying to pull the filter off...and it wouldn't come off, I had 2 other people try and they couldn't get it off either, after feeling like my hands were broken I gave up and just put it back together

[ION/GONE]

I did take out the 15 amp fuse, but right off the bat it wouldn't run at all to burn the ramaining gas off, for some reason. But the metal fuel line wasn't easy for me to get off, but I got it after 5 min. of messing. But I didn't take the gas cap off (I forgot that) That Was part of the problem. All & all it wasn't too bad. I drove it after the change & it definately idle's smoother.

[Maven]

Gas in the eye is nothing, gas in the ear? thatll ruin your entire f*cking day my friend. I dont recommend it.

[TTMR]

Try swallowing 100LL aviation gas, that will ruin a day or two!

[slowswap]

Gas in the eye is nothing, gas in the ear? thatll ruin your entire f*cking day my friend. I dont recommend it.

Sounds like you speak from experience.

[Maven]

Sounds like you speak from experience.

indeed.

[Philzoot007]

gas in the ear. that sucks. i got 2 big gulps of gas and oil mix for my banshee. what ******* friend puts spare gas mixed with oil in a pepsi bottle. we were onthe beach riding and i was dieing of thrist. u guys can figure out the rest.. lmao. not good... that will ruin the week let alone the day lol....

[RooTBeeR]

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