I'm installing the new filter head on my 05 CRD ... so far, easier than I thought. Other than one question: The head and filter came together, with the filter already screwed on. Tight. I know when you install a new filter, you should lubricate the o-rings. Do I have to separate the filter and do that, or not since it's already assembled? Can I just put the whole head/filter in as it came from the dealer and prime? The issue I'm having is I don't have the right filter wrench to do it, and it isn't budging with a strap wrench. So I can't get it apart. Would be easy to just button it all up as is, but I don't want it to leak, that'd kind of defeat the purpose of this repair.

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2005 Liberty CRD Limited, Light Khaki on Slate - 142,000 miles
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300D - 314,000 miles
1978 Mercedes-Benz 240D 4spd manual - 371,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze 1.6L turbodiesel, 6spd manual - 58,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4spd manual - 132,000 miles
1994 Mercedes-Benz SL500 - 94,000 miles

I've done two now and just slapped them on after checking they were tight. That's it. If you can't budge it though you might want to think about how you'll get it off a year from now.

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05CRD: GDE Hot ECU & TCM tunes, Provent, Cat filter, Facet lift pump, TransGo kit, Florida TC, Samcos, stainless brake lines, HDS thermostat, Renegade light bar,
RL super sliders, Bilstein adjustables, Al's Gen 4.5 Arms, 235/85-16 Duratracs, DTT rear, Elocker front, EVIC+TPMS, Turbo timer, McNally pillar gauges, Weeks Stage II kit.

Great, thanks. I'm not too worried about getting it off later because I can get the appropriate wrench by then. If I get one of those big sockets that goes over the end I can probably get it from below. Or take it off and put it in a vice. I just have neither the right tools nor a vice at the time and not much chance to access them in the next two days.

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2005 Liberty CRD Limited, Light Khaki on Slate - 142,000 miles
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300D - 314,000 miles
1978 Mercedes-Benz 240D 4spd manual - 371,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze 1.6L turbodiesel, 6spd manual - 58,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4spd manual - 132,000 miles
1994 Mercedes-Benz SL500 - 94,000 miles

If you have a lift pump, it does not matter. Just open the air bleed, turn the key on and wait until fuel comes out. However, without a lift pump, you are going to have to pump forever to get it to start without filling the filter with fuel. BTW, I would use a strap wrench. I would be afraid of damaging the filter if it is really tight and you put a socket on it.

DOC

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2005 KJ CRD Ltd Detroit TrueTrac Bilsteins G2 GDE "HOT" ECU GDE TCM "Tow Tune" "euro" TC SEGR Weeks Elbow New HG at 130K ARPs Clean CAT aFe Filter Magnaflow Exhaust EHM Cumminos In-Tank Lift Pump Hayden Fan Clutch Nylon Fan VH Enabled with GDE lower shutoff point Recalibrated Temp Gauge Tekonsha Prodigy Sears P-1 ZDDP

Yea, not worth taking it apart unless you need to prime it. Doc and CATCRD are right on. If you have a vice handy, or another pair of strong hands, you may try un squeeze it.

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2005 kj CRD, samco, suncoast tc, provent, Kennedy lift pump, GDE ECO full torque, 2nd gen filter head, 245/70/16 a/t tires, mopar light bar, fumoto oil valve, OEM Skid Plates, ARB Front bumper and HD OME, tru cool LPD47391 40k GVW tranny cooler (stock cooler delete), FF Dynamics e-fan and shroud, rocker arms replaced, HDS2 190F thermostat.

I didn't have too much trouble priming it from empty ... took a while but eventually got to solid fuel and started right up. I'll check again for air after driving a while. Drove to work without issue, seems a little peppier and idles smoother.
In the meantime I will get the right strap wrench for whenever I have to change the filter again.

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2005 Liberty CRD Limited, Light Khaki on Slate - 142,000 miles
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300D - 314,000 miles
1978 Mercedes-Benz 240D 4spd manual - 371,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze 1.6L turbodiesel, 6spd manual - 58,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4spd manual - 132,000 miles
1994 Mercedes-Benz SL500 - 94,000 miles

I wasn't able to use a strap wrench for the fuel filter (maybe I didn't have the right one...), I had to take the whole assembly and fix it in the vice first time. From then, I hand tie the filter till I feel can untie it by hqnd, never had an issue since. Pain in the butt to remove the unit from the firewall...

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2005 kj CRD, samco, suncoast tc, provent, Kennedy lift pump, GDE ECO full torque, 2nd gen filter head, 245/70/16 a/t tires, mopar light bar, fumoto oil valve, OEM Skid Plates, ARB Front bumper and HD OME, tru cool LPD47391 40k GVW tranny cooler (stock cooler delete), FF Dynamics e-fan and shroud, rocker arms replaced, HDS2 190F thermostat.