Fuel Filter Cannister Leak

[WWalters]

I have 3,200 miles on the truck and I've had a fuel leak from the cannister for a couple of weeks. The leak appears to be coming from around the cap. The cap was loose, so I torqued it to 25 ft lbs per specs. This did not stop the leak. I've cleaned the cannister several times and after driving the truck for a while, fuel residue appears on top of the cap on one side and along one side of the cannister and , of course, the bottom. The backside of the cannister is dry. I'm thinking about replacing the cap and o ring myself. I have two Dodge dealers reasonably close but each time I call, it's drop the truck off and leave it all day and/or drop it off the night before. I've called the parts department of the biggest dealer and they don't even carry the cannister cap as a normal stocking item. They were also out of the o rings. Does anyone have any thoughts? I guess that I should let the dealer mess with it. Who knows it may be something else. Thanks.

 

[Mopar-muscle]

find a fleetgard dealer , or cummins , buy a filter , about 12 bucks , you could probably buy just the o ring , remove the top and replace it your self , about 12 bucks . be careful it is possible to crossthread the cap , if you suspect the cap is crossthreaded , put it back on , take it to the dealer and let them fix it , do not offer any info , don't ask don't tell works well here ... lol ...

 

[TxDieselKid]

what he said....

Try changing the filter like Mopar said. I had the same problem and changed the filter, and the ring, and I don't think it has leaked since (last week).



Just a wondering question, did your truck come from Mexico? If the V. I. N. starts with a 3 then it is a Mexico truck.



Anybody else have this problem? If so where was your truck made? Just trying to get a problem solved for future referance.



AJB

 

[Thomas]

I have a model year 2000 so we're talking the same setup on the fuel filter. I too had a slight leak with my first fuel filter change. I had torqued the fuel filter housing cover to 25 foot-pounds. The solution was to loosen the cover and re-torque to about 15 foot-pounds.



See TSB 14-02-00 for information on torque and O-ring.

 

[WWalters]

Thanks guys for the responses. I will go ahead and replace the o ring and cap, if I can get one. I don't have a Cummins and/or Fleet Guard store close so if I buy a fuel filter it'll be from the dealer. Yes, my truck was made in Mexico.



Thomas - I checked the TSB you gave. It said 25 ft lbs as per the spec shown on the cap itself. You did not have a leak using only 15 ft lbs? By the way, my truck was made June 2001.

 

[Thomas]

Here it is from TSB 14-02-00:



The maximum installation torque for both style fuel filter housing covers is 25 ft-lbs.



The key word is "maximum"—less works for me. Also, the cover on my model year 2000 and my son's 2001. 5 both have the torque specification molded into the lid as 25 ft-lbs. max.



The first Fleetguard Fuel Filter specified for model year 2000 and newer Rams was FS 1268. The current Fleetguard Fuel Filter specified for model year 2000 and newer Rams is FS 19579.



The Fleetguard website shows that Fleetguard Fuel Filter FS19579 supersedes Fleetguard Fuel Filter FS1268—the difference in these two filters being the O-ring packaged with the filter and not the filter itself.



Sealing of the housing cover does not seem to be a new issue.

 

[WWalters]

Thomas - thanks for the information. Sorry I missed the " maximum" part. When I install the new cap & o ring I will try the 15 ft lbs and see if that works.

 

[BarryG]

caution

I went to the dealer to pick up some paint for my a pillar mount and thought I would get a fuel filter while I was there. The guy rang it up and said that will be sixty some dollars please. I asked how much was the paint and he said $9 the filter was $55. Almost loaded my pants. Said thanks but no thanks called Genos and if I recall it was about $15 dollars for the fleetgaurd filter and o-ring. When I asked Genos if 15 was the right price they said yes did you try to get one at the dealer and laughed. I received it within a few days.

 

[Thomas]

Try here for Fleetguard Filters in the Fort Worth area.



ANY of the Cummins Southern Plains locations will have Fleetguard!