Avants - changing the fuel filter?

[Martynf]

Er.... can any avant owner tell me how the hell I remove the fuel filter? becuase it beats the hell out of me how to get to the one allen head pinch bolt ops:

[Audi Parts Guru]

Re: Avants - changing the fuel filter?

Originally posted by Martynf
Er.... can any avant owner tell me how the hell I remove the fuel filter? becuase it beats the hell out of me how to get to the one allen head pinch bolt ops:

What a man with your knowledge............shame on you

[Lee]

I just changed mine. The stealers gave me the wrong one which was about half inch longer and a quater inch greater diameter. Not sure what it was meant for, ABY Coupe? I couldn't get my pinch bolt out as it was heavily corroded. I figured the new filter was too large for the existing bracket, and faced with an imposiible to access pinch bolt, I decided to cut it off to free the old filter. This plastic bracket is welded to the plastic tank. This means the bracket cannot be replaced without replacing the tank at the same time. Maybe, you have to remove the tank to get proper access to the filter. Only Audi could come up with that one. Our tanks are a wierd shape on the Avant too aren't they? The new filter fits VERY snuggly with all pipes attached and it had to be pressed home with quite a bit of force being careful with the position of hoses since the filter is vertically mounted. Since I used quite a bit of force to push the filter home, I didn't do anything more to retain it when I reconnected the hoses. It was getting dark on Christmas eve and I had to travel about 270 miles that night. Even today it is still tightly in position. I will do something about securing it better but haven't figured anything out yet.

Lee

[Doug_RS2]

Is this the correct part no. for the aby coupe? 893 133 511

[Audi Parts Guru]

Originally posted by Doug_RS2
Is this the correct part no. for the aby coupe? 893 133 511

Aye

[Martynf]

Cheers Lee,

It is a JOKE!!! I've got a LOT of tools here but NOTHING can reach the pinch bolt what a complete and utter joke of a position for the pinch bolt, it's just imposibble to get to the filter pinch bolt without.... removing the FUEL TANK!!!

Fourprung Pork crap!

:-(

[Lee]

Originally posted by Martynf
Cheers Lee,

It is a JOKE!!! I've got a LOT of tools here but NOTHING can reach the pinch bolt what a complete and utter joke of a position for the pinch bolt, it's just imposibble to get to the filter pinch bolt without.... removing the FUEL TANK!!!

Fourprung Pork crap!

:-(

Yep. Nice innit! I even tried cutting down allen keys but that didn't help at all.

Martyn, would it be easier to cut the old bracket away and relocate the filter in the engine bay somewhere? Not sure where the hoses join en route to the engine bay but it may save some headaches. Might need a couple of new hoses though. If evidence suggests that we change this item more regularly then there may be an advantage to relocation. That Pinch bolt wil always be impossible on the Avant.

[Martynf]

cuting down an allen tool, that is EXACTLY what I was going to do next, but thought I'd ask first!!

Relocating the filter to the engine bay is a superb idea, are there any technical reason why the filter is located cloest to the pump? if not, then I'm sure we could do this!

Think I'll ask one of the tech's at a dealership how they change the filter, to see how they do it. The workshop manual doesn't cover changing the ABY filter

Martyn

[Lee]

Originally posted by Martynf
cuting down an allen tool, that is EXACTLY what I was going to do next, but thought I'd ask first!!

Relocating the filter to the engine bay is a superb idea, are there any technical reason why the filter is located cloest to the pump? if not, then I'm sure we could do this!

Think I'll ask one of the tech's at a dealership how they change the filter, to see how they do it. The workshop manual doesn't cover changing the ABY filter

Martyn

My dad's old '83 Volvo V6 2.8i had a filter very similar to ours mounted to the bulkhead. Have been thinking of a reason why not on ours too. I might do this if people agree that it won't cause problems. If we can do it, I know of a good donor for a bracket that is about the same size. Scrapyard visit anyone?

Martyn, didn't you say that Audi don't recomend changing the fuel filter as a service item? Can't remember who said that now. I wonder how many dealerships have changed one. Has Siena ever changed one?

I tried to cut the pinch bolt in half but there wasn't enough room without damaging the bracket. Just to make you feel even better about this Martyn, I can't even remove the bolt with the bracket pieces in my hand! Totally corroded into place.

:eek2: :eek2:

[Martynf]

it gets better....

By the book, Audi say the filter is not changed, but that is mad! how can a filter last forever? I'll ask Siena if he has a magic means!

You have the bracket in your hand and you still cannot remove the pinch bolt :eek2: I officially give up right now!

ok, all of a sudden I am prepared to accept Audi's never change it, I think they say that because some young Herman screwed up on the design of the filter position and then realised after the car was built it couldn not be changed, so invented the never change anymore rule
Martyn

[s2avant]

Petrol Fuel filters are not a servicable item (i.e. they don't get changed on service.) I was going to have mine changed when I had the new fuel pump but Jason could get to it for love nor money. He's sure the only way is to remove the tank:eek2: (which I might need to replace anyway as my fuel gauge sender appears to be floating around the the tank as the bracket is borken)

Moving it the front would be a good idea especially on cars like mine and Lees were trhe A/C is gone so there is a bit more room.

As I see it we would need a pipe to bridge the gap where the fuel filter was, and then the best place to jon the filter in would be where the fuel line from the tank joins the fuel line the to FPR.

Ben

[Mihnea]

I can't see any reason this couldn't be done (moving the fuel filter under the bonnet), the Audi S4 with the AAN engine, as well as the 200q20v had the fuel filter under the bonnet too.


Cheers all,


mihnea

[Martynf]

sounds good to me, at least I'm not alone in not being able to change the damn thing!

Ben, you said join the pipe where the fuel filter is now, have you ever seen a suitable staight coupling piece that we can use to join the two banjo's together?

Mihnea, thanks for the thumbs up on moving it to the engine bay

Martyn

[Mihnea]

cheers Martyn


I guess you should use a solid straight piece of pipe on which you'd bolt the banjos... just like the fuel filter but shorter so access is less of an issue... sorry if this doesn't make any sense, never seen an avant fuel filter yet....

mihnea

[Lee]

All we need is length and thread type at both ends to replace the filter. Are they M12? Thrown my old filter away now. Doh! I need to sort mine out properly, NOW. What are the sizes for the couplings in the engine bay to allow for a new hose or two, or even adaptors to be procured for it to be relocated. I need ETKA!