Fuel filter change

newnamlawn · February 17, 2004

I was wondering if anyone knew how hard it was to change the fuel filter on my Duramax? I am just going out of warrenty and need a oil change and fuel filter change. I have evrything in my shop i need to do it with including a lift i was just wondering how difficult it was. Thanks guys

Josh

LARSONEM · February 17, 2004

Check out this site on the Diesel Place.

The Diesel Place

A technician at a GMC garage in Grand Rapids, MI wrote up these instructions. It is really very simple to do. There is one missed part in them. He indicated unplugging both the Water In Fuel sensor and the Fuel Heater. The Fuel Heater is incorporated in the filter head and does not need to be unplugged. You can see the wire on the top of the filter head; just follow it along under the filter and unplug only the other wire.

I am mechanically inclined, but patience, time and tools handicapped. I change my own oil and filters and rotate my own tires and that's it. Mr. Goodwrench at the Chevy garage handles the rest. I just changed my fuel filter about 2 weeks ago in about 25 minutes. That included the air condition line adjustment and running between two garages to round up the necessary tools. I'm sure I will be able to do it in less than 10 minutes next time.

BTW, the owners manual suggests changing the fuel filter at 15K miles, but dmaxalliTech recommends doing it at 10K mile intervals. It's an expensive engine and well worth making sure it is done in a timely manner.

Eric Larson

conradv · February 18, 2004

There's no way I can pull my filter up through the top (without removing the battery & moving the cooling lines), so I just put the filter in a plastic baggie after removing, set it on the frame rail, bend the wheel liner a bit and pull it right out. Doesn't leak or spill fuel.

Then I put the new one in the same way. Quick & easy.

Just be sure not to get diesel fuel on ANYTHING.

MCourson · February 18, 2004

LASONEM apparently the diesel place doesnt like me. Im registered and logged in and all but I still get access denied to that artcle. Do you know how I could fix this?

conradv · February 18, 2004

strange - i click on the link and it comes right up.

on edit - are you on AOL? the diesel place has been having trouble with AOL users.

MCourson · February 18, 2004

Nope, Im on Bellsouth. I'll try and PM someone there. thanks.

Edit. apparently my membership is not active. Thats great since I did not get any kind of email when I registerd. Oh well.

bluenote · February 18, 2004

I feel it's easiest on my '01 to just remove the 2nd battery. It only takes a couple of minutes and then it's very easy to get to everything on and around the fuel filter. Even with taking out the battery, the whole job only takes about 10-15 minutes.

LARSONEM · February 18, 2004

MCourson - did you get to the Diesel Place link on the filter change? I sent it from work today at lunch. It seems to work here at home on my own computer too.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to fool around with removing a battery or a wheel liner. I admit, I was leary about adjusting the air conditioning line from the condensor, but it took quite a shove to get it to move about 3/8 of an inch, which was what I needed to get the filter between it (the a/c line) and the turbo intercooler line. This is a one time adjustment and is very easy to do.

XTOAK · February 18, 2004

I owned a 2002 Duramax and have helped my buddy change his fuel filter on his 2003 Duramax, and on both the best way I've found to remove the fuel filter was to pull the front right fender liner down. Simply pull out the plastic tabs that hold the liner in place, pull it down and you can see and have easy access to the fuel filter. It's a pain any way you do it but this seems to work the best....a major design flaw in my opinion as they could have place it in an easier spot.

Machine · February 18, 2004

Dmax Fuel Filter change from the Diesel Place

I'm a registered member so it took me straight to it. Includes pictures.

newnamlawn · February 18, 2004

thanks guys, i am registered also but could not get the page to come either. I cahnged it last night. Took about 35 minutes cause i dropped the o ring down into the engine compartment. Other than that i just removed the second battery and it was simple. Would have taken about 15 min if i would have not had to crawl up under and fish around foe the seal. Later yall

spacebuzzard · February 19, 2004

Do it like conrav. out the bottom in a ziplock. Its really easy that way. Took me about 10 min. that way. I was looking for a way to do it easy by the side of the road just in case of a bad load of fuel. I put the new filter in a ziplock till it gets screwed on to keep the dirt out.