How do you relieve the fuel pressure to change the fuel filter? My haynes manual said to unplug the fuel pump fuse and run the car till it dies. Then crank it a few times and then your fuel pressure should be relieved. But when I look at my fuse box I only see fuses for the 1 and 2 injectors and no FP (fuel pump) one. I posted this on the tech/general engine board and I got one guy telling me to take off the gas cap and that will relieve the pressure, then this other guy said that that won't work. And the fuse is next to the battery, but he isn't sure because he hasn't messed with 6 cylinders too much. So how do you do it? Any help is greatly appreciated!

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1992 Polo Green RS 3.1L K&N conical and working on the ram air....

"Yeah, it's a V6 SO WHAT!?"

 

Just crack the lines loose and then slowly unscrew the fitting with a rag. No need to relieve the pressure.

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-Dan
-1990 3.1L RS
-Mods? no
-Slow? yes
-Currently collecting parts for T5 swap

 

What do you mean, crack the lines? I couldn't even unscrew the lines from the filter. Any particular tool to grip it better? The wrenches I tried to use felt like they were stripping the thing! Pissed me off, guess I will try again tomorrow.

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1992 Polo Green RS 3.1L K&N conical and working on the ram air....

"Yeah, it's a V6 SO WHAT!?"

 

I mean crack the lines by just loosening them so you can do the rest by hand.

Hold the filter with a 20mm wrench and loosen the fitting with a 5/8ths wrench.

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-Dan
-1990 3.1L RS
-Mods? no
-Slow? yes
-Currently collecting parts for T5 swap

 

If you don't have the special flare-nut wrenches, you might want to try a LARGE adjustable wrench. My flare nut wrenches were stripping out the nuts on a donor car's master cylinder; I finally tried our LARGE adjustable wrench, and it broke 'em free, no problem.

Try soaking the fittings a bit with Liquid Wrench before working on 'em again. If all else fails, have a shop do it- if they botch the fittings, it'll be their headache


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

By large adjustable wrench, do you mean a crescent wrench? Because I tried one and it just seems to strip it. And the wrench stuff you were talking about, do you buy that at like an auto zone or something?

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1992 Polo Green RS 3.1L K&N conical and working on the ram air....

"Yeah, it's a V6 SO WHAT!?"

 

get yourself some splash gogulators & somee gloves & depress the fuel pressure test port.

or just hook up a fuel press. reg. & keep testing & purging.

[This message has been edited by Project: 85 2.8 bird (edited October 29, 2001).]

 

Yep; but by large, I mean big; like a 15 or 20" one, not a little 8" or 12". The jaws on mine (I think 15") are almost twice as thick as the fittings.

And I know for sure you can find the flare nut wrenches at Sears. They look like a normal open-ended box wrench, but instead of the wrench holding the nut on three sides (like a "C"), it holds it on 5 sides (like a "G").

Also, when you use a wrench, try not to "pullll" or "pushhhh" on it. That kind of movement "side-loads" the fastener, and can also strip the nut. You want to use hard, fast movements on the wrench- that not only keeps the wrench straight, but it has an effect similar to a tire shop's impact gun- it "bangs" the fitting loose.

I'd say to tap a hammer against the wrench, but that'll make tiny sparks and could cause an explosion for you by the fuel lines!

Hey, I just dug up a picture of a Craftsman set, from Sears... they only want $24 for it. Here's the pic: http://www.sears.com/data/product_im...195000-dlv.jpg

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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

[This message has been edited by TomP (edited October 30, 2001).]

 

That's exactly what I need! Then I wouldn't strip them, at least not as easily. So you said quick movements and not pushing or pulling. I will have to try that! Thanks a lot TomP and everyone else who helped. I'll let you know how it goes...

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1992 Polo Green RS 3.1L K&N conical and working on the ram air....

"Yeah, it's a V6 SO WHAT!?"

 

A flarenut wrench isn't neccesary....


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-Dan
-1990 3.1L RS
-Mods? no
-Slow? yes
-*Slowly* collecting parts for T5 swap


[This message has been edited by CaliCamaroRS (edited October 30, 2001).]

 

Well, I'm gonna have to get a 20mm wrench then, because the crescent wrenchs only seem to slip and strip. This fuel filter is pissing me off. Thanks calicamaro!

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1992 Polo Green RS 3.1L K&N conical and working on the ram air....

"Yeah, it's a V6 SO WHAT!?"

 

How big is your crescent wrench?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)