I just replaced my fuel filter for the second time. It was more of a PITA than the first time, because the first time I started rounding the nut on the lower fitting when I tightened it back up. This time I had to use 8" vise grips (in an 8-1/2" space) on the nut and all my strength to get the stupid thing to stop leaking. Next time I think I might need a new hard line when I replace the filter, or else it's going to be vise grips from the outset. The top fitting was a hassle but (once I put a drop of oil on the o-ring) it was less bad. That lower fitting is a HUGE pain to get off, even worse to get back tight.



The first time I checked for leaks I thought it might be okay . . . but when I shut off the car, it was RUNNING gas down the hard line!



If you are going to have your transaxle out, that's a good time to change the fuel filter. Otherwise, it pretty much is a huge hassle to get changed. I took a couple of pictures intending to make a DIY for this job, but . . . if you can't figure it out, this is one that might really be worth having a mechanic do for you.



I'm tempted to just say 'screw it' next time, and get a flaring kit and make a custom set of lines . . . and replace the fuel filter with a universal one with joints that are EASY to open. Computer-aided design: good for small engine bays, bad for maintenance with full-sized American Male hands.

 

Update: The o-ring on the top fitting had been shaved all the way around by shoving it back where it is supposed to go, but maybe at an angle or something. Maybe it was just too old. Either way, it seeped gas and that's not my idea of a good idea to be driving around. I was very VERY happy to find a replacement O-ring the right size in a Parker seal kit at work.



For some maintenance stuff, this car is great. For this fuel filter

 

Ouch. Thanks for the heads-up on that, since I think I have the same filter arangement in my Tibs...

 

DIY with photos coming soon. The location is pretty much totally hidden, so it would be nice to see what you're getting into, and the pictures came out halfway acceptable so I might as well write it up.

 

Just to confirm Stocker, where is your fuel filter? Firewall? In tank? Next-to-tank?



It was a big ole PITA to replace the filter on my X3, and that wasn't even especially badly placed.

 

Location photos and lots of other photos, plus text, in the DIY REDZMAN did many moons ago on RDTiburon.com, later folded into the HyundaiAftermarket database . . .



https://www.hyundaiaftermarket.org/f...g-fuel-filter/

 

I have a similar issue with the bottom nut almost rounded off on mine. What I found out that helps is to tighten the bottom nut first then the top one and after that I would check for leaks then mount the strap to the firewall. If you mount the strap first then it makes it really hard to get the fuel lines lined up properly.

 

Since you are going through all the trouble/hassle, just cut/remove the hard lines and install a normal inline fuel filter. You'll spend about the same amount of time and money as an OEM fuel filter for all the parts/hoses/clamps etc that you'll need, but it will be 1000% easier from then on out, and cheaper because you can use off the shelf fuel filters or cheap units from summit racing or similar online stores.

 

Mi amigo, that is on the list for next time. Now we have proved that great minds think alike . . . as do ours.



If I'd remembered how much of a hassle this is beforehand, I would have got a universal filter bodged in place this time. I left a note in my maintenance log for next time.

 

FWIW this is the exact setup location and everything that my 1973 Festiva had. I decided to change the filter after 150k miles and proceeded to mangle it up to the point I had to add rubber hose and fittings. Good place to measure pump flow though.