I came to the conclusion that on the day my truck was built the factory was employing an 800 pound gorilla and his job was to install fuel filters.
Tried to follow the instructions on the new one placed the ½ drive into the bottom of the old filter and turned after popping a couple of veins and much cussing I managed to strip the square drive out . One hour latter and by using an oil filter wrench and pry bar , I was able to remove the old filter.
The install of the new filter was uneventful.
What moron came up with the idea to put the fuel filter in an inaccessible location in the first place?
The old 12 valves changing filter was a snap.
Even on the 02, while I did not really like the drop in filters it was not hard to get at.
But this just plain sucks

 

Me thinks with a name like you have, changing the scrawny lil fuel filter would be no troubles.

I have had to do the screwdriver removal method before on oil filters....

Some people have no common sense and think the tighter it is the better.

Im in a debate right now on where to go aftermarket fuel filtration, or just hold off until I put in an AirDog.

 

Before the engines are installed in the trucks they are sprayed with a clear lacquer of some kind and it pretty well seals the filters, oil and fuel, in place. The first time I've changed them on a new truck it was very hard to break loose. Won't be nearly as bad the next time.

 

I guess the biggest problem was the fact that some bright (or insert the word of your choosing) engineer whom had never worked on a truck a day in his/her life. Decided that the best place to install a fuel filter was low on the engine block and then cover it up with other components.
By the way I got my name from and old CB handle and the size boot I wear. My dads friends would always tell me that normally it takes three feet to make a yard and I had two feet that could not fit in anybody’s yard.

 

I changed my fuel filter for the first time this weekend. Similar experience as yours. I ended up using a strap wrench to get it turning. The first problem was how to get both my arms down into that area around the filter. Once I finally got the filter turning, I then bathed myself in diesel as I maneuvered the filter back and down from the underside of the truck. Replacing was simple.

NOTE: The fuel drain screw is designed to unscrew fully and drop about a half inch. The drain screw has little ears that hold it about a half inch below the filter so that it acts like a little funnel to direct the draining fuel into the drain hose. I did not unscrew mine that far as I didn't think it should disengage from the threads. I only got a trickle of fuel and did not come close to draining it fully before removal.

 

My experience is that you have to break the filter loose so that air can enter before you'll be able to drain more than a trickle of fuel out of the drain valve.
I've found that I can access the filter...to disconnect the water sensor/break the filter loose/access the drain...by coming in through the space below the wheel well liner. I jack the truck chassis up with a floor jack placed under my plow bracket, which gives me room to reach in over the tire and under the wheel well liner.

 

^^^ Let me put in my 2 cents about the little ears that drop down and act as a funnel. On my filter, they were non existent. I read the instructions, spun it to drain the filter and the stupid thing comes right off. Its truly impressive how fast the fuel will come out of the drain. It took MANY rags to sop up all that fuel... not a fun time and there were MANY colourful meta-fores mentioned .

 

After my first oil change fiasco, I now do my oil/filter and fuel filter changes out in my shale driveway, where spillage and slop isn't a major issue. If the changes come due in the wintertime, the truck goes to the garage and I pay them to do the changes.

 

I did 1 oil change on the 6.7 and now I have the EZ change oil plug. MUCH cleaner....

 

Did they change the 2010 design? I have not changed mine yet, my 2007 5.9 was a snap. Just like the old 12 valves.

Looking at my 2010 it doesn't look hard to get at from the top at all.

 

2010 is a different design, I believe they went back to a drop in style.

 

They did - my 2010 looks just like my 2005 - top socket drive fitting and what I would assume is a drop in filter. Looks to be easy to get at.

 

I wish they had done this type of retrofit to the earlier models in stead of just replacing the housing/filter combo with a replaceable filter...

 

Hmm..

Wonder if it would retrofit the older ones...

 

Didn't read about this anywhere else so here goes it. When changing the fuel filter, remember to open the fuel filler cap. I drained almost 1 gallon before I realized the overpressure of the fuel tank. Once it was drained, I was able to remove the cannister from the top/side without any tools and replace the filter. Long arms aided in this process. Still a PITA, long for the old style top loader.