Fuel Filter Replacement: Compression Fitting Problems
 

Well, the rear compression fitting loosened without issue, but after more than 200,000 miles the front fitting will not budge. I am using a 14mm open-end wrench on the fitting, and a 19mm open-end wrench on the filter housing itself for leverage. Even two applications of PB Blaster have not helped. I have a few questions out there for the experienced as I watch the sides of my fitting begin to round off:

• First, will a crow's foot wrench be that much better at loosening this fitting?
• Second, if the fitting loosens, but becomes rounded off in the process, can it be replaced? I have some experience with compression fittings in around-the-house plumbing projects - is this similar?
• Third, since I have to buy a set of crow's foot wrenches, should I buy the open-end type, or the type that attach to a socket drive?
• Lastly, should I just drive it to the dealership and let them deal with it?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Brian

You might try a pair of flare wrenches. They are like a 6-sided box end wrench but have a cut in one side to slip over the line and grip the compression nuts better. Or you can get crowfoot flares as well.

Thanks Roger. Has anyone had to replace the compression fittings? Can they be replaced independent from the fuel line?

I was thinking a torch to heat up the fitting might loosen it up but then I realized how friggin stoopid that thought was. Doh!

Would recommend the flare nut wrenches also...

As Forana noted, a torch would be a BAD idea.

The two wrenches is a great idea.

You could get a flare kit from NAPA or Harbor Freight to fix the actual fuel line.

Yeah, use line wrenches. If you round off the nut too much try filing down the sides of the nut until you can get a nice tight fit with the next smaller wrench size. Other wise yeah you have to replace the whole hard line back to to next fitting or rig up some kind of replacement fuel line.

that happened to me, had to replace a lot of the fuel line, the fittings were all rusted