D-max Fuel Filter Change

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Seeing how I refuse to pay the dealer $80 to change a fuel filter, that leaves me to do it myself. Got me a nice NAPA Gold filter for $40.00 and was going to attempt it last night, then realized that on the drivers side wheel well, the liner is attached via strange looking fasteners. Has anyone had any expierence removing those fasteners and have any tips?

 

Thanks

 

Ryan

[Prokopchuk_9]

isnt the fuel filter on the passenger side on the LMM????? you gotta go from above...my buddies 07 is on the passenger side. right beside turbo down pipe. it was a bitch to do too. diesel all over the place.

[04JJHD]

Even tho I know you prolly don't wanna do it, it might just be easier to have the dealer do it. It sounds like it's gonna be a mess and a pain, if it's on the passenger side. It may be better on the driver's side if thats the case

[r1byker]

I read the owner's manual a couple times on how to change it because I intend to do it myself. Yeah, passenger side. Yeah, messy because it has to be primed until fuel comes out. If I remember correctly, those strange looking fasteners are plastic pop rivets. I think you get behind the flange with something thin and pry.

[markw8]

On my 3500 I found once the inner fender was loose and down to the rear, the filter change wasn't at all difficult. I have the oem mud flaps which also has to come off.

 

Mark

[Prokopchuk_9]

nah its not that bad...its a twist on the LMM. their is no room to pry on it with anything. shouldnt have to anyways. ive done it twice. its not that bad really just gotta have a GO GO gadget arm. the hard part is keeping the o-ring on when you put in the new one and getting the thread started again cuz its a big filter and its not light when its full of fuel. at least his doesnt have a lift. one i did has a 6 inch lift on it with 35's, i was right up sittin inside the hood

[minibike132]

cuz its a big filter and its not light when its full of fuel.

 

 

There is no reason to fill the filter before putting it on.

[Prokopchuk_9]

cuz its a big filter and its not light when its full of fuel.

 

 

There is no reason to fill the filter before putting it on.

 

 

well the one ive worked on has dual cp3's...its a good idea to prime the filter

[Diesail]

Dropping the wheel well liner is a snap. The fasteners you are speaking are two pieces, pull the center piece out about 1/2 - 3/4" then the entire fastener will pull out. You can drain the old filter from the bottom if you would like but if you are careful you should be able to get it out without spilling much. Once you have it out you will need to move the WIF sensor, ideally you should have a WIF wrench but a big pair of channel locks work just fine. Be careful putting it in the new filter as it is plastic and you don’t want to cross thread it.

 

You DO NOT want to pre-fill the filter. You run the risk of pouring junk in the filter along with the fuel. Lube the new o-ring with a little motor oil or diesel. Once installed open the bleeder screw and push the primer until fuel comes out. Shouldn’t take much more than 15 minutes start to finish.

[Prokopchuk_9]

You DO NOT want to pre-fill the filter.

 

ill have to tell my buddy that, for some reason tho we were told to do it. cant remember why tho

[minibike132]

You DO NOT want to pre-fill the filter.

 

ill have to tell my buddy that, for some reason tho we were told to do it. cant remember why tho

 

 

 

The only way filling the filter before install helps is by making it so that you push the primer less times. To me it isn't that big a deal to pump it 20-30 times. I would rather do that then fight a 15 pound filter.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Thanks for all the tips folks, got it done. Took me about 45 min though, but learned a few things that should make it go faster next time. The fasteners suck! they did not want to come out and I broke a few so I'll have to pick me up a couple more. She fired right up and no leaks.

 

[Ron Nielson]

There is a special tool available that looks a lot like pliers that help extract the center portion of those plastic pins and they are available at most large auto parts stores. I use 2 paint can openers , the ones with a loop on one end and a hooked screwdriver other end, one on each side, to remove the center pin. My suggestion is that you purchase a plastic door to install in the plastic wheelhouse. They are available from various people who sell on the internet and specialize in diesels and also on eBay for about $20 or less. LMM Fuel door Get one of these and install it the next time you need to change your fuel filter. At that point, you will just have to pull the plastic pins in the small fuel door to have access to your filter. Also buy a WIF wrench about $8 at NAPA - no need to pay $20 for these.

 

As you've said, you've done it once and learned a lot. Futures will be a piece of cake, especially with that fuel door installed. And be sure to get and use the new Racor PFF50216 filter.

[chrisb1]

I am surpised everyone is going at the filter from the right side wheel well, fender liner. I have a 2008 2500 HD Duramax.

 

Remove the large air filter hose (airbox to air plenum) above the fuel filter area to open up the work area.

 

1) I remove the two electrical connectors from the filter harness.

2) I remove the two black fuel hoses from the filter and cap them for cleanliness.

3) I remove the two bolts holding the aluminum filter mounting fixture.

4) I lift the entire mounting fixture and filter out from the top and work the new filter on the workbench.

5) It takes 5 minutes to remove the water sensor, old filter, and replace the new filter and water sensor.

6) The replaced filter and mounting fixture are reintalled with the previously removed bolts.

7) Reconnect the two hoses, pump the filter, reconnect the two electrical connectors.

 

I have done this 3 times and the entire process can be done in 20 minutes with no filter removal issues. Once the

filter mounting fixture and old filter are removed, I set the mounting fixture into the jaws of a 6 inch vice and do

filter, water sensor removal from the vice.

 

Try it and let me know your thoughts!!

[usarmy63b]

you might what to consider getting an airdog or the likes and just completely remove the stock fuel filter and housing/mount. the airdog has two filters on it, one is a 5 micron filter and the one is a 2 micron filter which both are better than the 8 micron that the stock filter is. plus both of the AD filters are cheaper than the stock single and they're so much easier to replace seeing as they're up under the bed. just my two cents worth