Fuel Filter top on a 97PSD

[Diesel Kinevel]

I am having a bit of trouble getting off the fuel filter cap to get to the filter. It looks like the mechanic who changed out the filter tightened it so much it broke some of the plastic tabs off. Now I cant take the cap off to change the filter Has anyone had anything like happen to them?

 

[bbressler]

Are there enough tabs left you can get a long handled screwdriver across them to get some leverage? Those caps are pretty tough, it hard to imagine what he did to break those things...

 

[Tx_Atty]

also, see if there is a 1/2" square hole on top. You can stick a socket wrench in there to break it free if it does.

 

[Dieselpwrdredneck]

Ya had it happen to me once, i actually had to bust the cap off b/c all the tabs busted off, and i didnt tighten it that bad when i installed it!!! Now i just buy the filter with the cap attached with the hole for the 1/2 inch drive ratchet

 

[addicted]

Yeah I wouldn't worry to much if you break anymore. It seems the price with the cap is about the same as the filter....at least so it seems at rip off Autozone back home. They make different kinds but if you are in chage you will not over tighten it and can get it off by hand in the future no problems.

I used a small piece of wood to slip in those groves and that applied pretty even pressure without breaking those tabs.

 

[hheynow]

I used a small piece of wood to slip in those groves and that applied pretty even pressure without breaking those tabs.

I either use a flat wrench across the top in the grooves -or- a snub nose flat screwdriver and hammer. Still on the original cap.

 

[Patrick Feeley]

For those that would ever want one: http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kdt3526.html

There are other sources out there for it as well. Cheers!

 

[happeetxn]

I used the handle of a set of channel locks when that happened to me. Spread them apart so that each contacts a plastic tab (assuming you still have some tabs left) slide a screw driver between them for leverage and apply pressure until it opens.
Craig

 

[jvencius]

I made a couple of fuel filter cap tools for our VFD stations out of PVC pipe (2" or 2 1/2", IIRC). The pipe was ~12" long and into one end, I cut a series of slots that would fit over the tabs of the aftermarket (filter and cap all-in-one) filter cap and the other end had slots to fit the OEM cap. Right in the middle, I drilled a ~3/8" hole crosswise through the pipe so that you could stick a screwdriver through for leverage and so far they work just as slick as could be. Our Dept. Chief of Engineering thought it was a silly, unprofessional thing to have in the mech. bay, but when he had to use it, his opinion changed.

 

[Diesel Kinevel]

thanks for the help Im gonna try em all. if it dont work Ill just break it off and get another-mad
thanks for the help though