Billggski Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Just an update, which should go in hints and tips I know, but if your Fiat x250 fuel filter leaks, as mine has twice. A length of fuel hose and two jubilee clips can by-pass it to get you home. Just pull out the two quick release elbows by pressing the grey surround and push the hose onto each of them. An in-line fuel filter can be added for longer journeys. Changing the housing is just as easy, £61 from eBay buys a factory assembled replacement including the filter and it is the same two pipes plus two electrical connectors and the bottom return pipe. The connector underneath has a clip that pulls out with pliers. The housing just slides upwards to remove. It took less than half an hour to replace, and I now carry a spare housing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanracer Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Any pictures and link to ebay fuel filter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Our 4yo van is due a service in the next month, wondering whether to change the filter, or is more trouble than it's worth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 colin - 2015-01-29 10:47 AM Our 4yo van is due a service in the next month, wondering whether to change the filter, or is more trouble than it's worth? Only if you have done loads of miles or filled up with dodgy fuel, Nick mentioned they are OK for 50,000 miles or at least 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 My experiences of the later ones fitted If yours has the later "plastic" type housing be prepared for a load of hassle, just about the crappiest design known to man....................having said that my van has covered 45000 miles and never had a filter element change, I wasted my time it was all clean as a whistle, and I very nearly had the cost of the stupid housing ( which has an internal filter element ) to add to my woes, that proved almost impossible to hold in a vice to both unscrew and screw up the plastic lid on the outer casing, the tightness of which you wouldn't believe, nothing conventional would shift it, had to take it to an engineering workshop to find something to grip and undo it with, sheer madness, why the hell the metal screw type external filter was dumped is a mystery. If ever there's a next time I'll go the route suggested by the OP and buy the whole housing unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve928 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I read this on the other recent thread but couldn't understand it there either, Joe90.. Are you saying that you removed the filter housing and opened it but then didn't bother changing the paper element because it looked clean to the human eye? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sooty10 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I had my filter changed at a sevice and after that no one was able to stop the thing leaking. I decided to buy a new complete unit and will tell the garage NOT to touch it anymore. My advice would be to leave well alone and if you do manage to reach 100,000 miles just buy a new filter housing. I know of at least 3 others that have had the same problem. Keith (sooty) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 On the Caravan Club’s forum there’s a long thread about Ducato leaking fuel filter problems. The discussion starts in June 2014 and is ongoing with an MP (apparently) now involved. http://tinyurl.com/ljgzfch The special tool that is suggested be used when replacing the filter is as shown here http://www.partinfo.co.uk/files/ADK85502.pdf but this seems to be a less expensive alternative http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-5843-Fuel-Filter-Removal-Kit-Vauxhall-Opel-Citroen-Peugeot-Fiat-Saab-/321298368373 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 Just tried to load a picture, but the file too big. The housing is just a search on eBay for x250 fuel filter, the price ranges from £61 to £150 for the same unit. The fuel hose runs in front of the filter housing if you leave it in, which is best for a roadside repair as you can then see what goes where. The new housing clearly has marks indicating where the lid has been tightened to. Made in Romania, but original equipment. Similar units are fitted to many vans and cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Steve928 - 2015-01-29 12:04 PM I read this on the other recent thread but couldn't understand it there either, Joe90.. Are you saying that you removed the filter housing and opened it but then didn't bother changing the paper element because it looked clean to the human eye? Not at all, having gone to all that trouble obviously not, and no doubt microscopic particles lurking.............but would I attempt it again..no thanks.......even with a "special tool" as highlighted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 There’s a detailed 2-part thread on the Fiat forum that includes photos showing the filter housing and relating to the filter replacement procedure. http://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/357165-x250-ufi-fuel-filter-service-part-i.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 As they say, progress eh, the only thing needed with the old type screw on filter was a blunt screwdriver and some rags............cost zilch. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Brown Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Hi Billggski A good tip, thanks. It is certainly a get you home fix. What I found was that the dry plastic, even though you can never get all the fuel off, was resistent to tightening on the threads. What I did was to put grease on the threads and use the old bicycle chain filter removal tool to tighten the dam thing. It worked and touch wood has not leaked since. That said, I now carry a brand new spare ready to snap on should the problem arise again. Again, thanks for thetip Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ham Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Hope this will help I changed my own filter housing There is a known problem with the filter housing if the filter has been changed. The housing top as to be refitted to a specified torque with a special tool Blueprint Fuel Filter Removal Tool Fiat http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blueprint-Fue ... 1551558400 if not it will leak also the O rings do not sit back correctly, so Fiat on later models changed the design of the filter housing SO BEWARE IF YOU HAVE A FILTER CHANGE.. Check for leaks. There are many documented case of this on the web and most garages fail to stop the leak when the vehicle is returned to them New housing with filter already fitted http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/17155155 ... 0&ff14=108 I was quoted £275 for the replacement of the filter housing by a Fiat dealer the housing they sourced was £175 so I bought one of EBay It took me just over 30mins to change over this morning. It was Easy If you look at the filter housing there are 2 electrical connections both these must be removed the bottom one is held on by a steel clip the top one just unclips, now the fuel lines they are push pull fittings, Just push back the grey surround and pull out the fuel pipe you will get a flow of diesel when pulling off theses pipe connections then there are 2 screws on the bulk head remove these and the filter can be lifted out. You need to take off the steel bracket and push back onto the new filter then, I refitted electric connections and fuel pipes before refixing to the bulk head. You can make it easier by removing the Head lamp this is also easy to do Remove the 2 plastic covers above the and below the Headlamp Look at the headlamp and there are 3 screws holding the headlamp in place top bottom and engine side remove these, Gently ease lamp fixing out of its clip fixings, then turn until you see the electrical connection on this there is what looks like a round grey clip pull it away from the fixing and you can then draw out the connector for the headlamp.. Place somewhere safe as any knocks could prove expensive now you have even more room to remove the filter housing. Don’t forget to place a container of sorts under the area of the filter housing to catch any diesel that will run out as you unplug the fuel line , also as you handle the old housing it is full of Diesel . I turned the new housing on its side and poured the diesel from the old filter housing into the new into the inlet pipe connection. Got Jan to fire up the engine so I could see if any leaks when fuel under pressure all looked ok. It took a couple of turns of the engine before it fired up that was due to no fuel in line as filter was half empty. Don’t throw the old housing away, keep it as a spare . I intend o by a new filter and O ring for around £12. Now I should also say you are advised to disconnect the battery as a safety when working on any electrical connections ,, But I did not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artheytrate Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Great description you've given Ham, Thanks. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Good description, I found the housing just slid up off the metal bracket. Made it even easier, but taking the headlamp off would give better access. I still think I might contact the breakdown service to do it for me, my hands still smell of diesel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ham Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Thanks. Yes even with gloves on my overalls and hands still smelt of diesel. Glad I did the change over as it looks all Ok now Vosa and Fiat have ben in contact with me about the problem so it looks like someone is taking notice .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 It’s odd that there’s such a disparity in the asking-prices for this filiter housing, with the highest price being well over £200 and the lowest I’ve seen (and presumably not a mistake) about £30 from a Turkey-based wholesaler http://www.renaultech.com/product/1368127080-original-fiat-fuel-filter/ As Nick Fisher mentions here http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Recommended-spares-for-X250/36731/ filter housings that have never been disassembled don’t appear to leak. The filter assembly is manufactured by UFI (Universal Filter Italiana) and is used on vehicles other than Ducato. As will be evident from this video-clip it seems to be well-understood that hand-tightening on reassembly won’t be sufficient and, if tightening is insufficient, that fuel leakage will occur. It also appears to be common knowledge (from the video and from other on-line comments) that disassembly/reassembly OUGHT to be carried out using a specialised tool that will prevent the plastic housing being damaged and that allows tightening to the recommended torque-setting. It would be interesting to know what Fiat’s workshop instructions say about fuel-filter changing with this type of plastic housing. There are at least four different designs of specialised tool marketed for working on this type of housing and, if Fiat (or UFI) advises that a ‘proper’ tool be used when replacing the filter-insert and mechanics or DIYers are failing to do this, consequential fuel leakages can hardly be laid at Fiat’s door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted February 1, 2015 Author Share Posted February 1, 2015 I think that sums it up precisely. The filter rarely needs changing, and if you feel you need to, buy a new complete housing from eBay, even at the price I paid, £61, it's economical, and the changeover process is simple. I guess few garages have the proper tool, and pursuing Fiat for incorrect tightening would be futile. Even if you believe it has never been touched, that would be hard to prove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Progess eh...........£61 ( cheapest ) or having to buy a special tool to do the job.............what mugs they must think we all are........ £9 for the previous screw in type filter, and no special tools required either, oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Brown Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Hi The first two times mine leaked I took it to the supplier. They took it off, replaced the 'o' ring and screwed the top on with the special tool together with torque wrench. Result - leaked again. As said above, bit of grease on the threads allows the two bits to be screwed tight and mine is still leak proof. Make of that what you will. Regards, Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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