How to Change the Gas Filter on a Mercury Sable
by Allen Moore
Ford Motor Company recommends replacing a Mercury Sable's fuel filter every 15,000 miles. However, it can take just one tank of bad gasoline to plug your filter. Once the filter is plugged, it begins to allow contaminates to pass down the line and into your fuel injectors. Running a vehicle without a fuel filter is foolhardy; running it with a plugged one even more so. In the event you have not changed your car's fuel filter in the last 15,000 miles, now it the time to get a new one installed.
Step 1
Set the Mercury Sable's parking brake, put on your safety glasses and place wheel chocks in front of and behind the driver's side rear tire.
Step 2
Disconnect the negative battery cable with the battery terminal wrench.
Step 3
Jack up the passenger side of the Sable until you can safely place a jack stand under the frame as far forward as possible. Lower the Sable onto the jack stand.
Step 4
Slide the drain pan under the area directly below the passenger side rear door and climb under the car in the same area. Bring the fuel filter removal tool and the new filter with you.
Step 5
Insert the end of the filter removal tool into the plastic clip at the end of the fuel line and unseat the clip. You can use two pocket screwdrivers for this, but it is much harder. Also, be careful with the plastic clip. If you break it, you will need to replace the entire fuel line. Make sure the drain pan is under the filter before removing the line.
Step 6
Slide the old filter out of its holder and set it in the drain pan.
Step 7
Slide the new filter in place with the arrows on the filter pointing toward the engine, and reattach the fuel lines.
Step 8
Slide back out from under the car and bring your tools, the drain pan and the old filter.
Step 9
Jack the Sable back up enough to remove the jack stand and then lower the car back to the ground.
Step 10
Reattach the negative battery cable.
Step 11
Turn the key to the run position until you hear the fuel pump finish cycling. Turn the key back to the off position. Repeat this four times, and then start the Sable.
References
Tips
- When all steps are finished, take a peek below the car to make sure there are no fuel leaks.
Things You'll Need
- Safety glasses
- 2 wheel chocks
- Battery terminal wrench
- Jack
- Jack stand
- Drain pan
- Fuel filter removal tool (or two pocket screwdrivers)
- New fuel filter
Warnings
- Never work on a fuel system near open flames or while smoking.
Writer Bio
Allen Moore's career includes awards in poetry and creative fiction, published lyrics, fiction books and nonfiction articles as well as a master certification in automotive service from the Ford Motor Company. Moore is a contributing writer for RF365.com and various other websites, a ghostwriter for Rainbow Writing and has over a dozen works of fiction currently in print.
