Easy fuel filter changes gone

[EB]

The easy fuel filter changes of the 3rd gen trucks are no more. The new one on the 6. 7 engine is in a canister like the older model trucks. After looking at it for a while I went to the dealer and looked on their computer at the way they say to change it. Ready for this? Take the left wheel off and the inter fender out, drain the fuel, disconnect the wires at the bottom of the canister, I guess they are for water in fuel or something, take a filter wrench and remove the canister. That wouldn't be to bad, it could be done from the bottom if you had 4 ft arms, but there is a screen than has to be removed and cleaned that is in the "head", the part that the canister is screwed into. I don't see how that can be done from either the top or bottom. Probably through the wheel well would be the easiest, if not the quickest.



I believe Prime-Loc had a filter relocation kit for the mid 90's model trucks, so I'm sure someone will come up with a way to relocate the fuel filters on these trucks, but until then, it will not be nearly as easy to change the fuel filters as it was. Oh well, what is it, one step forward, two steps backwards.

 

[trucknut]

Pull the tire and inner fender to change the fuel filter?

No I'am not ready for that. It doesn't make sense to desgin it that backwards. It is looking like my 03 is going to have to last a lot longer. EB your 03 had a lot of miles on when it was sold, I'am curious if you had any fuel related problems (injectors-mileage).

 

[EB]

No I'am not ready for that. It doesn't make sense to desgin it that backwards. It is looking like my 03 is going to have to last a lot longer. EB your 03 had a lot of miles on when it was sold, I'am curious if you had any fuel related problems (injectors-mileage).

I went through two CP3 pumps, four pressure relief valves, and one lift pump. I changed all six injectors at 392k miles. I believe that was due to a bad bach of pressure relief valves, I changed three in less than 25k miles. I was running the Edge on level 3 until I lost the first CP3 at 149k then dropped it back to level 1.



This truck I plan on leaving bone stock. It pulls anything I need to pull with no problems.

 

[HBarlow]

This tread is old now and becoming inactive so I hope no one will mind if I change the subject a little and continue. EB's comments raised my curiosity.



EB, what were the symptoms produced by a bad pressure relief valve? My engine has always been noisier than other Gen III HPCR engines. It runs fine and fuel mileage is in a normal range but standing outside at the front of the truck when the engine is running is worrisome due to the clatter. I think it is caused by one or more noisy injectors.



I didn't realize it was noisier than other '06s until near the end of the warranty period. Then, the combined factors of always being on the road, having bought the truck out of town, and trying to get a lousy local Dodge dealer who knows I won't buy from them to work on it under warranty kept me from having a skilled diesel mechanic examine it before the warranty expired. The truck has 105k miles on it now. It starts fine when hot or cold, idles normally, produces good power, doesn't smoke, it just clatters.



Any thoughts?



Harvey

 

[EB]

My symptoms were hard starting. Took a long time to start. The rail was unable to hold the pressure high enough to make the injectors fire correctly. (I guess it just was squirting out, not spraying) There is a way to test for it at the dealer, and I'm sure someone will pipe up here and tell you how you can do it yourself. The valve itself won't cause noisy injectors I don't think, don't know that for a fact, but don't think it will. I didn't have any trouble with the HPRV until I had almost 300k on the truck. Also unless you are running a pressure box, Edge or something like it, I doubt you are having any relief valve problems at this point.

 

[HBarlow]

EB



Thanks for the helpful response. Your reply makes sense with what little I know about the engine.



A young friend who was a mechanic at the local (lousy) Dodge dealer when I met him does all my work privately. He said that before he left the dealer they had replaced a few HPCR injection pumps, relief valves, and injectors and he thought some were due to noisy operation. He said STAR had directed them to replace entire injection pumps due to suspected bad relief valves rather than repair or replace the pressure valve. Replies I got from service managers/service writers at several area dealers I called and some posts I have read indicate STAR may have tightened up on warranty replacements of injection pumps and injectors for noisy operation.



I guess I'll just ignore the noise as long as the truck continues to start and run okay. I don't hear the clatter from behind the wheel anyway.



Harvey