Replacing fuel filter

[Antonvs]

This afternoon i tried to change my fuel filter and ended up making a bit of a mess!! mainly due to my noviceness.
I tightened up the new filter as much as i could with a spanner before semi rounding off the bolts on the filter body.
then since there were still leaks coming through after this i used vice grips to get a good grip on it to tighten it further..... this punctured a hole in the filter body and now fuel is slowly leaking out......
I dont really know what else i will have to do the second time round to avoid this situation happening again????(except not use vice grips) but what do you do if you cant get the bolts tight enough and it doesnt seal?
Do i need to replace the copper washers each time?
any help would be appreciated!!!
Any directions to a thread outlining this install would be good also sincei searched and couldnt find any.

[Antonvs]

I know that the joint on the left there doesnt look like has gone in straight, but it is the only way it wanted to go!
and the Fuel was leaking out between the bolt/copper/filter interface.
that washer in the second pic is new and it was leaking!

[RedMk2Gti]

Anton, before you replace something, you should ask me first
The fuel filter is brand new, done last year

[Antonvs]

Thanks Eric but.... I wouldnt be replacing it if i didnt need to for the inspection to get it registered!
I need to get it secured on a bracket so i got a bracket from Roccodingo and a standard fuel filter that would fit on this bracket so that i could bolt it in.
If it wasnt for this i wouldnt be changing it!!!
Roccodingo helped me look through it and he has some experience with registering these cars in WA so he knows what i ll need to do.
But thanks anyway i will keep in mind anything else im changing to ask you about it.
Cheers

[paulie71]

Perhaps the face of the fuel line against the filter/bolt or the washers themselves may have some gouge, imperfection or similar. The washers are available and can be replaced alone, this might fix the problem by just replacing the washers (I paid $2.00 for 3 at Volkswagen about 2 years ago).

[h100vw]

You just can't beat a pair of well fitting spanners for that job. I am surprised that you didn't strip the thread from the filter.

Makes you have to use new washers each time with these fittings, second hand ones never seal in my experience.

Gavin

[Jace]

All the oil and fuel filter's I've ever bought have come with new copper crush washers.

[paulie71]

Antonvs-don't get too bummed, we all make mistakes in our exuberance to get our hands dirty. As long as it is a learning experience and no one gets hurt

[Antonvs]

You just can't beat a pair of well fitting spanners for that job. I am surprised that you didn't strip the thread from the filter.

Makes you have to use new washers each time with these fittings, second hand ones never seal in my experience.

Gavin

Ha ha yes, tried a 19mm spanner which was the largest i could find and it just didnt fit.... so off to bunnings and i bought the special 20mm spanner and 21mm just incase for 33 dollars each.
came home and they were also too small, then back to bunnings to get these massively expensive spanners credited and swapped it for a whole spanner set.
The size was 22mm.

[Antonvs]

Thanks guys, yeah i bought some copper washers today from repco but they dont look quite the right size! unfortunately i need the OEM or replica ones.

[RedMk2Gti]

I wouldnt be replacing it if i didnt need to for the inspection to get it registered!

Everybody say NSW RTA suck, now I know WA is even worst