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Mopar Fuel Filter Defective or Counterfeit?

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This was a first for me. I changed the oil and the fuel filters on my wife's 2013 2500 (it's about the same as mine only with a short bed) this past Saturday. Everything was going smoothly until I tried to start it. The first time I tried, it fired and ran for about two seconds then shut off. So I went through the priming procedure again and tried to start it. This time it wouldn't fire at all. Rinse, repeat several more times with the same result. At this point, I had no idea what was going on. I didn't do anything different this oil change than I had on all the other oil changes on both of our trucks, so I figured that I must have gotten it air locked some how. Got it towed to my local shop (AAA comes in handy sometimes) and they found that the issue was the rear fuel filter. It wasn't engaging the drain back valve properly so no fuel was getting into the filter. They replaced that filter, primed it, and now it runs just fine.

The filter that I put on it was a Mopar filter that I purchased off of Amazon. In fact, both fuel filters I used are Mopar filters I got off of Amazon. This is the first time that I have ever had an issue like this with a filter. I primarily use either Fleetguard or Mopar filters (depending on price/availability). When the shop told me it was the fuel filter, the first thing that I thought of was the thread that someone posted on here a while back about counterfeit Mopar filters being sold on E-Bay and Amazon. It now makes me wonder if I got one of the counterfeit filters or one that just slipped through Q/A. The packaging and everything on these filters looked legit to me, so I used them in good faith. Silly me! All I know is that I am done buying filters off of Amazon. The shop replaced the defective Mopar filter with a Baldwin filter and I have a Wix fuel filter on the rear of my truck because of availability issues with Mopar and Fleetguard filters last summer when I changed my oil.

Anyway, I just wanted to put this out there for you all as a word of caution. This was the most expensive Mopar filter that I never used.

-Tim

2013 Ram 2500 Laramie QC LB 4x4, Thuren Fabrication adjustable track bar, sway bar kit, and 2" leveling kit, Bilstein 5100 shocks, Westin Chrome Ultimate Bull Bar, Weatherguard Saddle Box, Line-X Bed Liner, Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT's LT315/70/R17
 
Plan ahead and order from Genos Garage! This is what I do. At about 3 months out on filter change, get them ordered and set on shelf for the day they're needed. Or order current and following one since you should change out at least once a year. Since you have 2 trucks with same setup, even better as you could buy enough for a discount with a 2 year supply. JM2C.
 
Plan ahead and order from Genos Garage! This is what I do. At about 3 months out on filter change, get them ordered and set on shelf for the day they're needed. Or order current and following one since you should change out at least once a year. Since you have 2 trucks with same setup, even better as you could buy enough for a discount with a 2 year supply. JM2C.

I don't disagree with you on that at all. In fact, I used to do that with our last 2500's (I had a 2003 and she had a 2004). Buying the maintenance kits from Geno's was definitely the way to go. When we first got our 2013's I had two Fleetguard oil filters left over that I was able to use on these trucks. However, the maintenance kits for these trucks are more expensive because of the 2 fuel filters that don't get changed quite as often and now, coupled with inflation and supply chain issues due to COVID and what not (which adds to the inflation), my wife isn't real thrilled with me spending $300 - $400 on those kits (despite me thinking it's the better deal). On the same token, I also have no issue with running 2nd party filters, such as Baldwin and Wix, because they are quality products as well. I'd NEVER buy some off brand that I've never heard of before. This situation is something that took me totally by surprise and I never thought that in a million years I'd ever have an issue like this with a "Mopar" filter (I used the quotes because maybe it was a genuine Mopar filter and maybe it wasn't). Again, silly me!

ETA: From now on, any Mopar filters that I buy will come from either Geno's or another reliable source.
 
I wouldn't run a Wix fuel filter as it doesn't have the filtration that these trucks need. Plenty of information on TDR about their short comings. The fuel system on these trucks is way to expensive to roll the dice on! Baldwin filters make the cut with their filtration ratings. I change oil and fuel filters at the same time, once a year or at 15K, whichever comes first. I run the Stratapore OF with Fleet Guard or Racor FF's. Yes it hurts the wallet, but way cheaper than a fuel issue! Also have a water block filter on my transfer tank. All fuel goes into the transfer tank before going into the truck. It's a bit overkill, but I figure if it can help prevent an issue, it's well worth it! It's your choice on what filters to run on your truck, but you may want to read some of the threads about FF's ratings and the filtration that the OEM filters provide and what matches up. Glad it didn't cause any other issues for you. There was a thread awhile back about this very thing and what to watch out for. If you buy off Amazon, make sure it's a RAM dealer and not just someone claiming to sell OEM!
 
I've read about similar symptoms on other forums, but the OP never came back and updated it. I'm guessing it's the same.
 
I wouldn't run a Wix fuel filter as it doesn't have the filtration that these trucks need. Plenty of information on TDR about their short comings. The fuel system on these trucks is way to expensive to roll the dice on! Baldwin filters make the cut with their filtration ratings. I change oil and fuel filters at the same time, once a year or at 15K, whichever comes first. I run the Stratapore OF with Fleet Guard or Racor FF's. Yes it hurts the wallet, but way cheaper than a fuel issue! Also have a water block filter on my transfer tank. All fuel goes into the transfer tank before going into the truck. It's a bit overkill, but I figure if it can help prevent an issue, it's well worth it! It's your choice on what filters to run on your truck, but you may want to read some of the threads about FF's ratings and the filtration that the OEM filters provide and what matches up. Glad it didn't cause any other issues for you. There was a thread awhile back about this very thing and what to watch out for. If you buy off Amazon, make sure it's a RAM dealer and not just someone claiming to sell OEM!

Thanks for the info on the Wix filters! I'll be taking those off of the list. I change mine and my wife's religiously at 15K. For me that's about every 10 months and for my wife's it's about 12 - 14 months. I've only ever used the Fleetguard Stratapore oil filters and I prefer the Fleetguard FF's as well. The Wix was a one off for me this last time. I was hopping around the web earlier today and I saw somewhere that Racor is who manufactures the Mopar filters (don't know if that's true or not). None the less, I'm not buying filters off of Amazon anymore. I don't know if this has ever happened with any of my filter purchases, but I've had other occasions where I thought I was buying something from a certain vendor listed on the web page only to have my invoice show a completely different vendor. I do appreciate your advice. Thanks!
 
A friend had someone do his filters on his 13. The engine mount I had to pry it out with a small pry bar. It was a WIX.

Wow, that sounded like it was fun... NOT! I've seen the Wix engine mount filters on various auto parts websites and just looking at it I wasn't all that thrilled with the design of it. Something about it just looked like more trouble than it was worth. You've just confirmed that. The Wix filter that I currently have is the spin-on one in the rear, so I shouldn't have to resort to drastic measures to get it off when the time comes (unless they put super glue on the gasket or Loc-Tite on the threads that I don't know about). I use the 1/4 turn past hand tight rule for my spin-on filters and haven't had any issues getting them back off or leaking.
 
However, the maintenance kits for these trucks are more expensive because of the 2 fuel filters that don't get changed quite as often and now, coupled with inflation and supply chain issues due to COVID and what not (which adds to the inflation), my wife isn't real thrilled with me spending $300 - $400 on those kits (despite me thinking it's the better deal).
ETA: From now on, any Mopar filters that I buy will come from either Geno's or another reliable source.
Geno's sells just the filters by themselves so you don't have to buy the kit. But I'm pretty sure the kit is a better buy. To me you will eventually need them anyway weather you purchase all at once or spread them out. You need to reframe the cost/benefit so she knows your saving the money so she has more to spend on herself!
 
Geno's sells just the filters by themselves so you don't have to buy the kit. But I'm pretty sure the kit is a better buy. To me you will eventually need them anyway weather you purchase all at once or spread them out. You need to reframe the cost/benefit so she knows your saving the money so she has more to spend on herself!

Yes, the Maintenace kit is slightly cheaper but big up front cost. Just be aware, if you order the kit with air filter for '13-'18 or '19-'23 you will get the Mopar oil filter, which I am not a fan of. To avoid the Mopar oil filter you need to buy the kit without air filter, then order it separate if you need it.
 
For what it is worth, I have always (past 20 or so years) purchased Fleetguard filters when I can, mostly from Geno"s and have had zero issues! .I have at least 2 sets of oil filters and one set of fuel filters in stock for my MY 1999 CTD 2500 and MY 2016 Ram 2500. Being in {small town Wyoming} I need to be ahead of that curve!!
gtwitch in wyoming
 
I lived in west Laramie for 8 years. Great place Shipping to Alaska is relatively cheap with priority mail but company’s want to use fed x or ups so they don’t have to go to the post office. We have been a state since 1959 not a foreign country
 
How much is good bacon cheeseburger and fry’s no drink not McDonald’s in Tennessee? I had one today $16.50 no tip plus 3.50 tip. $20 Pretty funny

Is someone holding a gun to your head to live up there?

Likely not, so the cost of living in Alaska is your choice and it seems ridiculous to complain about it so much.

Don’t get me wrong, as soon as my path leads that way I’m on it…
 
Been here 33 years. Best thing I ever did You got to love it to live here. First thing you learn is never look at the price just buy it if you want it We also have a Cummins dealership. I just like to complain about shipping to Alaska. It’s a normal thing we do here very much a Alaskan gripe sorry
 
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