Joshka89

Hey H-T.
Doing a tune-up today and part of that will be a new fuel filter.
Last time I replaced a filter on a 98 EX it was a massive pain. I ended up bending the fuel lines and had to rebend them into place. Whole thing took a while because it was just ridiculously tight.

Anyone got any tricks to making this thing easier to take off? I used some WD-40 last time and that really didn't help much.

Just some product/trick suggestions is all i'm looking for, thanks

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Not really. Just two wrenches for teh bottom bolts. One on the flare nut and the other on the fuel filter itself.

Joshka89

That's what I did last time.
Guess I'll just have to muscle this one too. Thanks though

jbpnoman

Use a breaker bar on your wrenches, or use a third wrench to extend your torque range. Brace one of them against the sheet metal, so you can concentrate on just moving one wrench.

nealnanoHX

Wrench and a 3/8 drive impact gun to get the top banjo nut off and a good line wrench for the bottom fuel line, works every time.

Joshka89

Ah great idea thanks.
While i'm at it i want to get rid of all the road salt buildup. I've never dealt with road salt before as I lived in Texas. Think just a blast of water in the engine bay is fine?

sleepyaccord96

^ post pics of the said salt build up/debris

while your at it post pics of the del sol

Joshka89

Will do. There are some in my garage but I'll post up new ones once I get off work.
The salt is just a fine white crust all over everything. Never had to deal with this stuff till I drove around in NY winter.
That said, the car does awesome in the snow

fragmare

I'm pretty sure when I did this last summer I simply used a little Aero Kroil and and a breaker bar on the top bolt. WD40 is basically useless for breaking corroded bolts loose. Try something a little more aggressive like Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster or ATF+Acetone. If I remember, I think my main worry wasn't necessarily breaking the bolt loose, but bending the flimsy little bracket the filter sits in while I was trying to do so.

Joshka89

Yeah when I did this on my 99 EX I bent the bracket and the fuel lines. Actually I bent the fuel filter itself.
This one is a little worse because it's definitely got some corrosion on it.

fragmare

Have some used ATF sitting around? Mix it 50/50 with pure acetone and spray it on and around the bolt. Take a wrench or something and tap the bolt a few times like you're doing a drum roll. Go back in the house and let it sit for like 20 or 30 minutes. The bolt should come loose quite a bit easier then.

The acetone will dissolve some of the corrosion and also has a tendency to creep into microscopic crevices (like the threads). When it does so, it'll pull the ATF along with it. Best penetrating lubricant that money CAN'T buy.

sleepyaccord96

^ thats a new solution to me! sounds good i will give it a try next time i have a lower strut bolt that has seized.

fragmare

Yea, just don't get it on plastic/rubber. If you do, wipe it off fairly quickly. Acetone and plastic go together about as well as **** and strawberry shortcake.