Fuel filter saga.

[Cameron1590]

Not having much luck here.

Removed plastic filter housing with oil ratchet. Broke the seal and undid the rest of it by hand. New filter and o ring on/in.

Trying to do back up. Plastic housing just seems like it wants to cross thread all the time. Have checked both threads visually and seem fine.

Any ideas? Is it possible to remove the entire unit and inspect. Really stuck.

Thanks

[Dancake]

Assuming it's a D5, the filter housing always feels like it wants to cross thread. Put some diesel around the rubber seal and around the threads, and don't be afraid to tighten it. The job is far easier with the correct tool.

[Joe Harding]

Perennial problem. I cross threaded one and it burst off in the middle of Bristol. The next car had the same issue even though I hadn’t touched the filter. I had to have another filter base fitted as whoever had done it had ripped the threads and cracked it.
Advise you get right under there with good lighting and make sure it seats squarely.

[Cameron1590]

Originally Posted by Dancake

Assuming it's a D5, the filter housing always feels like it wants to cross thread. Put some diesel around the rubber seal and around the threads, and don't be afraid to tighten it. The job is far easier with the correct tool.

You my friend are a life saver! I just gave it another shot and thought I will ignore the fact it feels like it’s cross threading. Stuck with it and with the aid of a tea towel for grip (it was covered in diesel). It did up a treat. Thankfully the wife has already divorced me, otherwise the use of the tea towel would of given her another reason to!

The sad thing is, I have spent two hours thinking it was cross threading when it wasn’t.....idiot! Time for a pint I think.

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by Cameron1590

You my friend are a life saver! I just gave it another shot and thought I will ignore the fact it feels like it’s cross threading. Stuck with it and with the aid of a tea towel for grip (it was covered in diesel). It did up a treat. Thankfully the wife has already divorced me, otherwise the use of the tea towel would of given her another reason to!

The sad thing is, I have spent two hours thinking it was cross threading when it wasn’t.....idiot! Time for a pint I think.

So cross threading then, but do make sure you at least partially fill the housing with oil to minimise start up friction - "which is an advisory" - "cross threading" sounds like you have eyebrow issues

IMHO keep on trying by hand + a quarter of a turn.................on that note I'll leave any humorous asides as a moderator issue!


Might be getting into the area of stones un-terned - let's keep the flats down
!

[sv70]

You aren't the first and won't be the last that has this problem with the filter removal/installation,you would think an ordinary filter wrench would do but they are tight as hell,and you do think you are going to snap something,for next time consider a specific tool from laser -etc for around 15 quid and used with a 1/2'' ratchet so good torque possible,and yes plenty of lube as well.

[simonwedge]

Originally Posted by Dancake

Assuming it's a D5, the filter housing always feels like it wants to cross thread. Put some diesel around the rubber seal and around the threads, and don't be afraid to tighten it. The job is far easier with the correct tool.

Agree 100% on all counts

[Swede Steed]

I've only done mine once, same experience. Finally went on, all appeared well, gaps were equal when done up etc. 2.5 years later the bowl fell off whilst driving, engine died instantly. The top housing had cracked. How it waited that long and 25k to go I'm not sure. Will be acquiring the special tool next time.


Swede

[ukvolvo]

To resurrect this thread i had a absolute nightmare doing my D5 Filter. Yes we got a v70 at last whooo

It was so frustrated and the car was off the road overnight. I assumed it had been threaded on badly by a previous nugget but the reality was different.

The O rings on the non oe filter kit i had were not really suitable for the housing recess. After numerous attempts tearing my hair out wondering why it would not go together without excessive force i started testing.

Screwing the housing together like a breeze with the o ring removed i realised they are oversize! A o ring should sit tightly in its recess and this is clearly a ring they spec for a few filters that is really not suitable for a d5. It leaves its recess as its squashed and rides up the area above thus making housing's cross and seem rediculosly tight.

I ended up shaving my o ring down with a surgical blade untill i achieved a outside diameter size the filter housing prefered.Far far from ideal.

I even ran the o ring above the car housing end. screwed the bottom housing on, added the o ring into the thread gap,wound the thread's back until i could get the o ring in location and re tightened......Each time you added it, the thread's ran wonky for the re tighten.

This could be accounting for issues people have.

Time served engineer here so im no dope with a hammer and spanner's to validate this haha.

I am going to try a Oe O ring next time and see if it seats properly.

If it feels too tight to screw on, take the o ring off and check the thread condition first.It could be the o ring.

Mick

[Millie20]

Congrats on your v70. I'm only 4 days into ownership myself.

I did my first fuel filter earlier this evening. It was a pain, but I was expecting it after reading a few threads. I thought for sure the housing was going to break when removing the old one.

Used a Mann filter and made sure to cover the oring in diesel before putting it on. Haynes said to give it a 1/2 to 3/4 turn after the housing engages the oring.

For future reader, which filter did you use?