Fuel Line Disconnect Tool

[Bob Ayers]

Who makes the best tool for disconnecting the fuel lines into the fuel filter on a Ranger 3.0L FFV?

 

[James86]

Honestly, the cheap multi-size plastic ones work fine. Just pray that nobody put the wrong filter in your truck like the previous owner did with mine. Our 99's have an oddball setup and there are two filters that look nearly identical but the FFV has a slightly larger diameter inlet and outlet than a standard ranger would. I bought both these:

and these:

The incorrect filter was jammed in hard enough and left in there long enough I fought for 2 days before taking it to the mechanic down the street in defeat. He stated that the plastic set (which he showed me he himself had) worked better than the metal tool I had purchased, but he also said that had the correct filter been installed, the metal one probably would have worked too. The plastic ones are widely available, but I had to hit a Napa to get the metal ones. Others here have recommended the metal set, but I'd say shoot for what you can afford. That's all the help I can give. BTW there are 3 clips in the collar (one of mine is mangled now.....) that hold the filter in place so don't be abusive when taking it apart. Some WD-40 or PB Blaster may be necessary since its under your truck, and I know it helped me get one end unclipped.

Good Luck

 

[ufgators68]

I couldn't get the plastic ones to work on my Ranger. Wouldn't slip over one of the lines.

 

[Bob Ayers]

Honestly, the cheap multi-size plastic ones work fine. Just pray that nobody put the wrong filter in your truck like the previous owner did with mine. Our 99's have an oddball setup and there are two filters that look nearly identical but the FFV has a slightly larger diameter inlet and outlet than a standard ranger would. I bought both these:

and these:

The incorrect filter was jammed in hard enough and left in there long enough I fought for 2 days before taking it to the mechanic down the street in defeat. He stated that the plastic set (which he showed me he himself had) worked better than the metal tool I had purchased, but he also said that had the correct filter been installed, the metal one probably would have worked too. The plastic ones are widely available, but I had to hit a Napa to get the metal ones. Others here have recommended the metal set, but I'd say shoot for what you can afford. That's all the help I can give. BTW there are 3 clips in the collar (one of mine is mangled now.....) that hold the filter in place so don't be abusive when taking it apart. Some WD-40 or PB Blaster may be necessary since its under your truck, and I know it helped me get one end unclipped.

Good Luck

Thanks for all the good information James!

I know it has the correct filter now, it's a Motorcraft, which I had a rough time finding it for a FFV at a Ford dealer in Wv.

 

[James86]

huzzah for FFV's eh? I didn't even know there were different sizes until the guy at napa casually mentioned it when I got the disconnect tool. here I'd just gotten the generic reference in the FRAM book at Walmart. Go figure...