Leadership Team Midas Posted November 29, 2015 Leadership Team Share Posted November 29, 2015 Posting in desperation.The fuel filter on my 15 year old car is the original one. I did try and take it off last year but it was seized solid.I'm determined this winter to change it (for piece of mind), but none of the joints top or bottom of the filter will budge no matter how much release fluid I use. It doesn't help that all the components are easily damaged if too much pressure is used.before I butcher it off and resign myself to replacing all the hoses as well - any good ideas.I'm told not to damage the top brass fuel rail as it is a nightmare to replace.Oh, and how much fuel comes out when you remove it - does it drain the tank through gravity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted November 29, 2015 Member Share Posted November 29, 2015 Could you add photos of the fittings?Which "release fluid" are you using?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 No .... it doesn't drain the tank. You just lose the fuel in the hose above the filter. You try PlusGas on the fittings ? ..... not WD40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Midas Posted November 29, 2015 Author Leadership Team Share Posted November 29, 2015 I've tried Plusgas, WD 40 (sorry) and Rustfree, but to no avail.The fittings are those shown on the Alcester racing website - I was following their removal techniquehttp://www.alcester-racing-sevens.com/fuel_filter.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Don't use heat !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted November 29, 2015 Member Share Posted November 29, 2015 Previous saga.Please could one of the experts advise if judicious use of plumbers' freezing fluid might unstick the joints?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim 123 Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 The very sensible comment about do not use heat brings a suggestion to mind.What about trying to create some expansion in the couplings by carefully pouring boiling water from a kettle over the joints? It may need quite a soaking to allow heat to permeate into the threaded areas.From memory (best check this out) the auto-ignition temperature of gasoline is above the boiling point of water, and is above 200 degrees C.Re Jonathan's pipe freezing idea. Freezing is primarily used by plumbers to create an ice plug inside a pipe whilst a connector is speedily undone and replaced. It is a technique sometimes used to negate draining down a whole heating system if a simple valve needs changing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Are you sure you are turning the union the correct way? It's eaypay to get them the wrong way round when looking at them upside down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Midas Posted November 29, 2015 Author Leadership Team Share Posted November 29, 2015 Thanks for the help. I was not going to try heat, but thanks for letting me know. I might have to go the full replacement route at this rate. Hope the parts are in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 what sort of unions are you trying to undo? Is this a K series with the in-tank pump and rear end mounted fuel filter?Can you provide a photo as these things are rarely impossible to undo. They're unlikely to be corroded but could be cross-threaded although, again, unlikely. Jonathan's freezer idea is well worth trying on the inner part. Wickes plumbers freezer in a spray can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian H Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Don't use heat !!!Spoilsport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Würth (and probably others) do a freezer spray to help free corrosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonpa Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Where are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 They can be very tight, make sure your key is a tight fit, use a adjustable on the alloy filter side as it will fit better. And were gloves it will safe you some skin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Midas Posted November 30, 2015 Author Leadership Team Share Posted November 30, 2015 It is a k series with the in tank pump. I've tried all of above but not the freezing method yet. Still not budging, at either end of the filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Geoff Brown Posted December 1, 2015 Area Representative Share Posted December 1, 2015 That will teach you not to change it at the recommended service period! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted December 1, 2015 Member Share Posted December 1, 2015 Could you add some photos of your current lines of attack... with tools and hands in place?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesG Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 When I converted my car from XFlow to K series, I swapped to an injection fuel tank with pump inside it, but rather than use the CC fuel filter with the screwed fittings (because it is ridiculously expensive) I used a VW Polo fuel filter with push-on fittings. My advice would be to just butcher the filter out, then replace the pipes either side with push-on versions, and use a similar VW filter which will never give you this much grief ever again, and is much cheaper to replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Midas Posted December 10, 2015 Author Leadership Team Share Posted December 10, 2015 Thank you to everyone for their helpful hints. In the end I had to use brute force and as such all the components from the top of the filter back to the fuel tank will need to be replaced. Every single joint was seized solidThankfully the parts are on order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted December 10, 2015 Member Share Posted December 10, 2015 Wow! Well (un)done. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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