2004 5.3 Fuel Filter

[KYBullet]

Dang it-I've searched and searched below the drivers door on the frame, infront of the fuel tank-everywhere- where has GM moved, or am I overlooking, the fuel filters on the 2004 5.3's? Anyone know and thanks in advance!

[BlueTahoe]

Mine is a 2003 so I don't know if it has changed. I just seen mine a couple days ago. On the drivers side just inside the frame rail behind one of the cross members. I wasn't looking for mine and noticed it so it isn't hidden at all. About same diameter as a soda can and about 1/2 the height.

 

Actually just had the dealer change mine today. I have the flex-fuel 5.3 so the filter was a dealer only part. I was in for steering shaft replacement anyway so I went ahead and gave them $65 to do the fuel filter.

[Shawn T]

In the gas tank.

[jwhjr]

In the gas tank.

 

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[wkdivr]

 

The Dealer says the fuel filter on 04 and up is a non servicable item. It's all in the tank, in the fuel pump module, whuch contains the pump, filter, and regulator. If their diagnostics come up that the filter is bad, they change the whole module, at about $500 a clip.

[Green04]

The Dealer says the fuel filter on 04 and up is a non servicable item. It's all in the tank, in the fuel pump module, whuch contains the pump, filter, and regulator. If their diagnostics come up that the filter is bad, they change the whole module, at about $500 a clip.

 

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Dealer told me the same thing; but $500 for a filter?! How long is it supposed to last?

[jemurray]

I can't believe they would do this....I thought Ford was bad with my old Escape when they put the alternator at the bottom of the engine where you would have to take the passenger side drive-shaft out to remove it. Gas here varies greatly, and I had to change my filter every 30k miles in the Escape. There is no way I would drop my own tank...too many chances to go "boom"

 

Looks like I will be plunking down $500 in 3 years!

[sjspor]

Nice huh... This has come up here before about the fuel filter being part of the fuel pump/sender unit. This is a prime of example of GM design, they have saved a step on thier line, and pushed it to vendor. Now what is a maintence item becomes a repair, and someone who has a truck with 50 or 70,000 miles will remember the $700 bill for a filter while he/she is looking at a ridgeline or a Titan.

 

I'm sure they have thought this out, and looked at fuel filter life, but this just stinks of GM still designing cars to last 75,000 miles. I think it's a poor design.

[MS3DALE]

The only ones that have a servicable fuel filter in '04-'05 are diesels and the "flex-fuel" 5.3.

I thought it was a pretty stupid idea myself also,Had I known that before-hand I probably would have bought a truck with the "flex-fuel" option.

[Shawn T]

The reasoning behind this change was more of an emissions control regulation than value engineering. The new law states that there needs to be a cut-back in fuel vapors. They went from a closed loop fuel system back to a once through like the old style. The filter is supposed to be good for a substantial amount of mileage. I would guess the sending unit for the fuel gauge would hit the frits before the filter will clog. That has seemed to be my luck with GM fuel guages, anyways.

In-tank filter

[sledr]

My dealer also told me the fuel filter is a non serviceable item. The filter is "supposed" to last the useful life of the truck. Time will tell.

[jemurray]

Well, if I do have to ever change it, I think I will have it removed and put a regular filter in-line instead. I don't see a reason why they couldn't have put it outside the tank, even with the new requirements.

[BRUTONMOTORSPORTZ]

It is all part of the returnless fuel system that started in 2004.

[firefighteremt3100]

Dumb question, but is it just that easy if it does go out in the tank, to put an inline one say on the frame rail where it used to be? I have a 2004 also with the 5.3L.

 

 

 

On another note, what exactly is that flex-fuel option?

[lrymal]

My understanding is that the method of filtering does not use the old filter-and-hold-the-junk type filter that we all are so used to. Same amount of filtering is done, just that the filter is self-cleaning with a fuel wash. No holding "cup" or trap like a regular filter is. The junk and debris goes to the tank's bottom. Recall the intake is above the debris area, as it has been for decades.

 

In short, you get the same amount of filtering, it is just isn't trapped inside a filter body-cup where it can clog.