Its cold today in CO, (it is about 6 degrees). I started the YJ, drove about 2 miles and started smelling fuel. I found the fuel filter cover, hose, and driver side spring soaked in gasoline. Has my fuel filter given up? Could the connections be loose because of the cold? Or is it something else?

Mine did this same thing about a year ago (last winter). It's not nearly as cold here in Texas, but when it got cold in January it happened. I changed out my filter. It still leaked. I found that the little rubber extensions off of the fuel lines were cracked. I think the cold, in combination with age, made the cracks worse and it leaked like hell.

The Haynes manual says to remove the backpressure before removing the filter. How is this done?

This depends on your engine and fuel system. Your Haynes manual should tell you how to relieve the pressure based on your system. Mine does anyway. Regardless, I just took the gas cap off and went to work. I didn't get completely douched with gas, but there was quite a bit of run off fuel in the filter and lines. Have a pan or shop towels ready.

 

I just changed mine on the weekend.
All I did was remove the gas cap that relieved most of the pressure.
Just have a towel handy as some spills out.

 

Yeah, more than likely it's the short rubber hose that connects the filter to the hard lines. Just replace them with the filter and you should be ok. Shouldn't cost more than about $12 for the filter and lines if i remember correctly...

 

Worn out high pressure hose

I had the same problem yesterday. Changed fuel filter as long as I was in there. I found the incoming high pressure rubber hose from the fuel tank was the issue. Easy fix. Keep in mind that on the inlet side of the fuel filter is a different size the the outgoing side of the filter.

 

To the OP, you've got some pretty good answers here since the exact same thing happened to me last month...filter needed replacing anyway but that lil rubber line from the tank had seen better days. Easy & cheap fix.:thumbsup:

 

It has finally happened! One of my threads has joined the undead. I sincerely hope I solved this fuel issue about 3 years ago

It is amazing to see some old threads and wonder, "Did I really ask that?"

 

Go to your closest dealer and buy the curved hose or you'll be sorry!!!

 

I got this on Monday. $25 and change for it! Filter wasn't half that much. The problem is no one other than the dealer sells them. I looked all over. Different size on each end of this hose. There was no way around it and this is where my leak was so I could not use the old hose.

 

If it's leaking, its not holding any pressure! (but that was years ago by now, right?)