It's a pretty easy job. If you can change the oil, you can change the fuel filter.
Fuel Filter
- Thread starter parnoren
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I've never done either.
perrobravo
SILVER Star
Decided based on the pictures here to change the filter on my '03. I didn't rip apart the old filter to see if I had the muck in there others have posted, but am surely about to enjoy at least a 10% horsepower increase and what, 25 MPG?
The FSM says to unplug the harness that gives power to the fuel pump. It is located somewhere under your driver's side doors...
Unclip this thing, start the engine, and within a few seconds, it'll stall and you'll be ready to go at the filter with a few wrenches.
Part number: 23300-50090
Out of box, ready to be installed.
Had to use WD40 to help loosen the lines on the right. Not pictured: The small plastic bag used to catch the bit of gas that dripped out of the lines and the old filter.
A few minutes later, et voilà!
The FSM says to unplug the harness that gives power to the fuel pump. It is located somewhere under your driver's side doors...
Unclip this thing, start the engine, and within a few seconds, it'll stall and you'll be ready to go at the filter with a few wrenches.
Part number: 23300-50090
Out of box, ready to be installed.
Had to use WD40 to help loosen the lines on the right. Not pictured: The small plastic bag used to catch the bit of gas that dripped out of the lines and the old filter.
A few minutes later, et voilà!
What's that thing on top of your engine? 
re_guderian
SILVER Star
There was no way that wire clip was coming undone in mine. And supposedly per FSM, the green thing isn't supposed to be reused. But I didn't see that until I had it all apart. 
Is everyone just reusing, or ordering new with the filter? I reused, and have no leaks, so assume all is well...
Is everyone just reusing, or ordering new with the filter? I reused, and have no leaks, so assume all is well...
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Replaced mine today too. I reused the green clip and didn't unplug the harness first.
perrobravo
SILVER Star
There was no way that wire clip was coming undone in mine. And supposedly per FSM, the green thing isn't supposed to be reused. But I didn't see that until I had it all apart.
The clip on the wire harness required some gentle coercing (prying) but came loose eventually. Sounds like that step may not be "necessary". I reused the green thing too...so far so good.
I stuck a green cable-tie around it.There was no way that wire clip was coming undone in mine. And supposedly per FSM, the green thing isn't supposed to be reused. But I didn't see that until I had it all apart.
Steve
Dumb question but what benefit has anyone seen from changing the furl filter? Don't get me wrong I had my T's changed, so I'm not against preventative maintance. But has anyone seen better performance or MPG? Mine has 120k miles on it. Just asking? Also what would a dealer charge for a new fuel filter install?
Replacing it will just mean that it will continue to filter fuel.
Over ten years old means it's done a lot of work. It's just a piece of mind thing really, I don't think I'd expect a performance boost, though my acceleration felt more smooth. That could be in my head though..
If it's over ten years old, it probably needs to be replaced just for safety sake. I was surprised at how soggy and rotted the inside of my fuel filter appeared and I as glad i changed it.
Over ten years old means it's done a lot of work. It's just a piece of mind thing really, I don't think I'd expect a performance boost, though my acceleration felt more smooth. That could be in my head though..
If it's over ten years old, it probably needs to be replaced just for safety sake. I was surprised at how soggy and rotted the inside of my fuel filter appeared and I as glad i changed it.
Women now find me more attractive. And I encounter 28.7% fewer red lights.
Damn, now that's a testimonial
Thanks I will get mine changed next service.
I just ordered a fuel filter from C-Dan. He said he has never sold one of those green clips, so I doubt many people break them...
jemsec
Mach lll Club
Remembered I had bought a filter sometime back. Changed and reused the green clip. Had to tighten the line more than expected as it leaked a little at first. Imagination tells me it runs a lot better. Just like it does when you wash and wax it. Keeping it waxed adds at least 2 mpg.
Pulling back an old thread to show what a 16 yr old 240k mile fuel filter looks like on the inside. Decided to change as just part of getting mpg up as high as possible without major expense (think changing out all the injectors). Now that I have it open - glad I changed it. Looks like someone just poured mud into the fuel tank at some point. LC wasn't exhibiting any fuel issues and as dirty as the in side was the out side of the filter looked fine. Will see if makes any difference in mpg - though I doubt it will.
Closeup:
In (dirty) side:
Out (clean) side:
Closeup:
In (dirty) side:
Out (clean) side:
Changed mine at around 110K miles as preventative maintance, but I'm kind of anal about that stuff. Looks like 240k miles is a little to long
Unless it was causing a misfire (which would likely express itself as a CEL) you won't see any fuel economy impact. The system is designed to provide more fuel then required and allow some to return via a back-pressure regulating valve. The injectors are blind to the condition of the filter as long as the rail stays pressurized. It's probably oversized knowing Toyota, that said that's a surprising amount of gunk! I'm with SWUtah... prophylactic maintenance es muy beuno.
