6.7 Cummins fuel filter issue

skyhighZJ

skyhighZJ

Gov retirement < needs to live
Joined
May 31, 2012
Location
Aberdeen, NC.
I have a 2011 3500 6.7 Cummins. I can’t get the fuel filter cap off to save my life short of stripping the stupid hex but on the top. Yes I have the 28mm socket. I have also tried using a strap wrench but the room is limited. I always torque it to spec cause I was warned when I bought my first 6.7 to be careful with them cause they freeze up if overtightened. Anyone else have this problem? Solutions? I’m due for a filter change and I can’t get the damn lid off. I never had this issue on my last one. I am about to pull the trigger on a FASS/Air Dog and get rid of the factory filter setup but not for a bit yet so I need to change it out. Any help would be great.
 
Put a breaker bar on it and put steady pressure on it for a while; it should eventually ease over. The breaker bar is really to help you from getting fatigued after holding for a while, not to put shitloads of torque on a plastic cap obviously. Sounds like you haven't rounded or broke the hex yet, so that's good...

Might want to invest in a billet cap.

I've never owned a Cummins truck but I've helped someone do this, twice. It wore out two people by the time we got it off the first time.
Ialways get the weird phone calls after people fail at what they're doing, thinking that I have some magical ability to do things that they've already tried. I'm just more patient probably.
 
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Fabrik8 said:
Put a breaker bar on it and put steady pressure on it for a while; it should eventually ease over. The breaker bar is really to help you from getting fatigued after holding for a while, not to put shitloads of torque on a plastic cap obviously. Sounds like you haven't rounded or broke the hex yet, so that's good...

Might want to invest in a billet cap.

I've never owned a Cummins truck but I've helped someone do this, twice. It wore out two people by the time we got it off the first time.
Ialways get the weird phone calls after people fail at what they're doing, thinking that I have some magical ability to do things that they've already tried. I'm just more patient probably.
Click to expand...

Would it be better to have the engine “cold” not that it’s really an option when it’s been averaging 105 plus outside the last couple weeks here....
 
I’m just worried cause I’m right at the edge of stripping the hex. I can see the cap not move and the wrench starting to move. I just wish they could have put it in a less convenient spot and made it out of something easier to fuck up.:rolleyes:
 
Never had any trouble getting any off, but if you look at the cap there are slots around the outside perimeter of the cap. Make a big socket out of thin scrap to index into the slots and break it loose.

You can also use the 2 screwdriver method kind of like getting the cap off a 55 gal drum.
 
Or order a new cap m, and proceed to remove the old one. If it breaks, drill two holes in it and use a spanner wrench. I've not really had any issues with those, but certainly with the plastic oil filter caps on GM (practically the same).
 
Stopped by the local diesel shop that I’ve had dealings with before. He had a new one in the shelf. I’ve bought parts from him before so I got the “at cost” price. Came home and Fidel-Dee-fucked with it trying every known extension/ujoint combo I had with the socket on top. Finally had the wife come out and while I was pulling on the 1/2” ratchet she reached in a tapped the lid ever so lightly with a small rubber mallet. Boom. Started to turn immediately. Whew! Glad I got it off. Filter is swapped and I put the new cap on and it was way smoother. Looked ander the old cap and it shows signs of being cross threaded at some point in time. I haven’t had it that long and it’s only my second filter change (first one when I first got it home). Either way I’ll be swapping out the whole system before it’s due again so hopefully it won’t be an issue.
 
Will Carter said:
I just had this fight today. Finally barely hit it with a swivel on the impact and it popped loose.
Click to expand...
This had to do it on my new truck swivel + 20v dewalt impact on low whammied it right off
 
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