Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 1st fuel filter change!!!

[slavallee]

I'm pushing the 10k mile mark and have been noticing some mileage loss so I figured that I was due for a filter change. Went to my buddy's house with the filter from Geno's and it was on! BTW a 16oz plastic coke bottle fits nicely at the end of the fuel bowl drain tube and wedges in between the front diff and the oil pan for a no mess drain. Anyways, old filter out, drained the bowl, looked good, and on with the new filter and o ring. Bumped the starter to let the lift pump do its thing. Then cranked... rumbled, then quit:{ . Tried this 5 or more times to no end. The bowl was full o' fuel but the old boy wouldn't fire up. Ended up having to crack #1 injector line to bleed off the air. Two 10 second cranks later WE HAVE FUEL! Good to go from there.



Is this common, or did I do something bone headed to lose prime?

Shoul I pretty much count on doing this every time? If so, no biggie but wanted to know what the common experience was.



Thanks,

Scott

 

[24V-DSL]

From your post it appears you didn't pour fuel into the canister before putting the new filter in? If you "bumped" the starter with an empty canister, maybe that's why you ended up with air in the lines?



If I mis-read, sorry.

 

[keimmmo]

When I change the filter I put everything together and bump the starter like you did. I then loosen the filter lid to let it burp out any trapped air before starting the motor. When it is leaking fuel only without air bubbles I tighten the lid and start the motor. I have had very little trouble using this method.



Steve

 

[24V-DSL]

Scott....

Don't know if you've seen this.



http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/filter/00fuel_filter.htm



Lots of other great info on this site.

 

[slavallee]

yeah i did

thanks 24v- dsl, I did read that link prior to the change. Right in the post it tells of how it can be done without manually re-filling the canister by bumping the starter instead. I guess I know my truck is partial to being re-filled prior to new filter installation. Thanks for the reply.



-scott

 

[duaneparks]

There has been a lot of debate on this subject. I've done my filter change twice now with this procedure:



Open the fuel filter canister, remove the filter, drain the canister into a plastic Coke bottle (as mentioned earlier).



Examine fuel in bottle. Both times it's been clean. Wipe down inside of filter canister and inspect for debris. Pour fuel back into canister, replace O-ring on canister lid, mount filter on lid, tighten lid and bump starter once.



Both times mine has cranked right up. To clarify, at no point did I turn the engine over with air in the filter canister (that I know of).



Anyway, hope this helps.



Duane

 

[Sky]

I have done mine about 7 times now and have never had a problem. Instead of fuel I put in Additive back in the canister.



Mike

 

[cmckinney]

I did my fuel filter change at 12,000 miles. I opened the canister took the fuel filter out put the new one on and put it back in the canister.



I then turned the ignition on 2x to let the Lift Pump fill the canister back up. I did not bump the starter. Engine started first time.



-CM

 

[andrewkoperdak]

When I change my filter I don't empty the bowl. Once the filter is out I inspect for foriegn material and water. I have yet to see anything in my bowl. I change my filters regularly at 5K mile intervals maybe that is why I never get any crud in my filter bowl. My two cents worth.

The only time I had trouble getting her going was when I swapped out injectors. That took an unbelievable amount of time to purge the air.

R,

Andy

 

[Behr]

Ok... I will be attempting my first fuel filter change in a couple of days.

I have been reading some of the posts on here... and some say they refill the fuel canister prior to installing the new filter... . others say they install the filter dry and then bump the starter to let the lift pump fill the canister. I assume then either method is acceptable and its a owners choice to which he/she prefers.

When you bump the starter and filling with the lift pump... . should the filter cap be loose to let air out or should it be snug tight?

Next question is... Cummins say only put cap on hand tight... but others say use torque wrench to 25ft lb. Looking for any feedback on these questions.

 

[slavallee]

You'd be better off.....

If I were to do my first change all over again, I would fill up the canister with fresh diesel right before putting the new filter in. I hear about a little more than half way is necessary before the excess starts spilling over the side with the new filter in place. After this, I would bump the starter to run the LP, then bump it again to make sure. Losing prime on these things can be a bear to fix, not to mention daunting if you've never do this on a diesel before. JMHO



-Scott

 

[schu777]

This last weekend I also just did my fuel filter change @ 8K miles - low, I know, but I'm wanting to be safe than sorry sitting on the side of the road fighting the cold wind. Anyway, the ape that put on the oil filter must have had his hand on the top of the fuel filter cap too... quite tight. Everything went very well and I did the "pop bottle" trick with the Rotella quart bottle. I cycled the pump 4 times and started the truck, died, cycled another 3-4 times and then cranked 2 times about 10 seconds - the third time it started up and ran fine. Must say that seeing this engine just crank and crank just isn't normal, it's so use to starting right away that it doesn't know what to do.



Michael

 

[cmckinney]

Behr



When I think about it the fuel canister was half full of fuel when I took out the old filter so I would make sure that you had some fuel in there before I put in the new filter. I tighted the canister cap down with a large socket and then turned the ignition on 2x. No problems at all. Fired right up.



-CM