Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) First fuel filter change-- another debacle (not short)

[Hohn]

Why can't something simple ever just be simple for me? It's a miracle that this isn't being posted in the 911 forum.



Anyway, I did some maintenance today, and decided to do a fuel filter change. I unscrewed the lid of the canister, lifted it up and eased the filter out with it. Then I unboxed the new fleetguard filter from Geno's, snapped it into the lid, and eased it back down into the housing.



Np problem, right? WRONG! I did the starter bump thing and I had NO fuel pressure. Hmm. . Bumped it a few more times and it would get up to 5psi, but no higher. Eventually FP came up to 15, but when i cranked it, it dove and didn't come back.



So I take out the new filter. Sure enough, it can only go in one way, so it's in right.



Repeat above procedure. 5psi, no more. Still won't start.



AHA, says I. Must crack #1 line, young one. Cranked it until I had fuel. Tightened it back down.



Repeat above procedure. 5psi, still won't start.



Friend says the manual says to bleed the VP at the Schrader, where I happen to have my awesome FP gauge rig tapped. I pull off the fitting at the VP, stripping the soft brass as I did. Cranked it-- fuel all over.



Then i made an ignominious call the wife for her help in making a parts run to NAPA. "Be there in a Jif, Tim Taylor" she laughs.



I get smart and replace the bad fitting with a tee that will let me bleed the line in the future without having to disconnect (the side fitting is capped off).



Then I "bled" the line with the cap off of the tee, and lo and behold, we have enough diesel around to fill a parts washer. Only this is on the floor.



I decided this would be a good time to cap the tee fitting and try to crank it again. Then I gathered all the starter-melting, put-Larry B. -on-speed-dial courage that I had, and cranked it, and cranked it.



My Goat fired right up, and smoothed out in a few seconds. VOILA-- my 15 psi is back.



That, my friends is how to turn a 5-minute filter change into a 3-hour ordeal.



i have NO idea why it didn't fire up the first time, before I had the fitting mess. Should I have just cranked and cranked after i bumped the starter, even though I only had 5psi? I never did really lean on it. A couple times after bumping it I could get it up to 15psi, but when I cranked it 2-3 seconds, it didn't fire. Do you just have to give the starter a little workout, or what?



Is there anyway I can avoid this nightmare when i do this in another 10K miles or so??? I should have read some fuel filter install threads before I dove into this-- my memory wasn't as good as i thought it was.



BTW-- I also did an oil change (Redline 15W-40) and swapped Redline D4 atf into the trans case. That trans case job was a mess too, but not so bad.



The fuel filter i took out looked remarkably clean for 10K miles of around town. i attribute that to always buying fuel from a local high-volume truck stop thats about 6 miles from me on I-75.



I am open to fuel filter pointers from the experts. I also have to say how thankful i am for the setup on the 02 trucks. It's a BUNCH easier than on previous designs.



HOHN

 

[OL RATLR]

fuel filter change

HOHN! On my 01- I bump the starter 4-5 times to fill up

fuel canister and it starts every time.

 

[Big P]

It's not the cleanest way but probably the easiest way. Leave the fuel filter housing a bit loose so the o-ring won't seal and then bump the starter. All the air and only some diesel, if you're quick , will get pushed out instead of going through the vp-44.

 

[MPatrick]

Fuel Filter change

Hohn,



I have changed mine 4 times so far. When I bump the starter after everything else is done, I do not screw the filter cap all of the way on. I bump it and turn it off. The lift pump will run a few seconds and quit. By that time, just about all of the air will be gone in the canister. I then tighten the filter cap and proceed to bump and let the lift pump finish pumping.

 

[Sticks]

Re: fuel filter change

Originally posted by OL Ratlr

HOHN! On my 01- I bump the starter 4-5 times to fill up

fuel canister and it starts every time.

Me too on my '02. Of course now that I have said something, I'm screwed on the next change. :{

 

[JWhitcomb]

Anybody tried this. Loosen the core from the VP44 schrader valve. Push on a hose running into a container with some fuel in it. Keep bumping till all the air is out and tighten the core. Just like bleeding brakes. Just thinking out loud.

 

[jmeehan]

I had problems on my first fuel filter change too.

These engines have us spoiled, they start so quick that when you need to you're afraid to lean on the starter. You can crank on the starter for up to 30 sec. before overheating it is a problem. After I bump my starter a few times to get my canister filled she'll start in about 20 sec. or less.

 

[24V-DSL]

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



I've done ~8 changes and no problems, however, when I bump the starter it will run the full 30 seconds, but if I try for another cycle, it won't do it. First time I was nervous because other's have said they do it multiple times. I quit trying, and the truck fires first time, every time.



I do empty the canister and re-fill with fresh fuel..... I know, it's not filtered, but the we're only talking ~8oz. to fill almost to the top and then slowly push the new filter down and replace the lid.



My electric FP guage numbers are irratic for a little while, but soon return to normal.



Hohn... . sorry you had problems.

 

[JCyrbok]

I bump the starter 4-5 times too. Then crank for 10 seconds. If it doesnt fire, I bump acouple of more times and it will fire the next time I crank for 10 seconds. Runs rough for about 30 seconds and then purrrrrrs.



Might try running longer hose from fuel filter drain and leave it open the first couple of bumps to purge air. U would have to be Johnny on the spot to close it when LP stops though.



J-

 

[ACoyle]

This works for me.

Mine is a '99, but, since I don't have to bleed anything, there should not be a difference.



I changed mine yesterday. Can't vouch for proper, but it worked great!



Prior to start get yourself about a quart and a half of fresh diesel, check your new filter and make sure that it is complete with a new small "O" ring.



1) Take 1 gallon zip lock bag.

2) Disconnect WIF (Water in Fuel) sensor front lower of canister.

3) Put zip lock over canister, pull it up as hich as you can.

4) Unscrew nut in the center top of the canister.

5) Keep your hand under canister so that it dosen't fall away.

6) When canister is disconnected, make sure that filter comes off with it. I am told that getting the filter off before any siphon action occurrs is good.

7) Close zip lock, take the whole thing out. Won't spill much diesel ths way.

8) Take the smaoo "O" ring off the center post.

9) Take the filter out.

10) I dumped the diesel in a 1 Quart empty oil bottle and sealed it up.

11) Clean out the canister very well.

12) Fill the canister about 3/4 full of clean fresh diesel.

13) Gently insert the new filter. Hopefully you won't overflow.

14) Put a new small "O" ring on the center post.

15) It helps here to put the canister inanother zip lock.

16) Gently put the canister in place and tighten. (10 Ftlb)

17) Remove the ziplock, reconnect the WIF sensor.

18) Turn the key on, wait till "Wait to Start" goes out.

19) Gently "Bump" the starter. At this poing mine actually started up and ran like it should.

20) You can repeat steps 18 & 19 as needed.

21) Check for leaks.



The 24V should be self purging. Mine always has.



Disclaimer below.

From my own experience. Sanctioned only by me.

 

[Rambunctious]

fuel pressure

As far as your fuel pressure question goes, the E. C. M. cuts back the pressure to 5psi while cranking. This provides for easy hot starts because believe or not the VP44 does not really like annything over 15psi when starting.





Chuck

 

[krs]

Hohn,



I think most mechanics will agree that on some vehicles nothing seems to go the easy way for no identifiable reason. And then there's Murphy's first law - "If something can go wrong, it will".



You've got the pressure measured after the filter, so get your gauge to switch to a prefilter reading too. Then you won't need to change your filter until it shows a substantial drop across it. It works for me and I've yet to see a full pound difference in pressure. If it gets to about 3psi difference I'll change the filter.

 

[Hohn]

Re: Fuel Filter change

Originally posted by MPatrick

Hohn,



I have changed mine 4 times so far. When I bump the starter after everything else is done, I do not screw the filter cap all of the way on. I bump it and turn it off. The lift pump will run a few seconds and quit. By that time, just about all of the air will be gone in the canister. I then tighten the filter cap and proceed to bump and let the lift pump finish pumping.

Sounds like you and BigP have the right idea. I should have thought of that! Anyway, my fuel problems are over (or seem to be). My truck is running better than ever!



HOHN