Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel filter change intervals NOT set in stone

[Big White Beast]

Good thread...

On my 01 I went pre and post filter. Rarely saw a pound of difference. And after metering my sending units there could be that much play there. Either way I'm covered.



On the 02 I got lazy and just monitored from the VP port. Not happy that it's only showing 12 PSI at idle and drops to 4 PSI under load. I'm going to change the fuel filter and verify the pressure with my mechanical gauge, this should give me a good base reading.



If it gets any lower it's new pump time.



Garrett

 

[merryman]

You only need to change your fuel filter when, ... . well, when you need to change it.

If you just happened to get clobbered with a real bad load of fuel that might be a hundred miles or less, and like we have heard some times with luck you can go 50K+

Some years ago getting ready for a trip to Yellowstone and that area, I did a service including changing the fuel filter. Withing 1200 miles, while driving in Yellowstone, things went sour! By the time I limped into Billings Mt. I had a filter pretty much full of water and crud and ended up buying a new injector pump.

When traveling, you sometimes don't have a lot of choice where you buy your fuel, or anyway to tell whether its a good place or not. In my case, I suspect the bad load of fuel was within a couple hundred miles of where the trouble started. So, I guess in that case my proper filter change interval was about a hundred miles :0)



I now run a pressure guage and try to keep an eye on it. BUT, I am uncertain how much protection that gives one against water.



Vaughn

 

[Big White Beast]

Vaughn.......

Isn't there supposed to be a water in fuel sensor built into the filter housing?? I would assume this didn't work.



When you changed the injection pump did you drain that tank of fuel? Seems if it had that much water in it you'd almost have to drop the tank to get it all out.



Just curious,



Garrett

 

[merryman]

I really can't recall whether the Ford I was driving at the time had a water in fuel sensor... ... . when the engine started acting funny, I looked at gauges and there was nothing unusual such as a water in fuel sensor. We were only about 60 miles from Bozeman (I was in error when I earlier said Billings), so decided to limp on in. Maybe had I called for a tow, I would have saved the pump, but a tow in those circumstances (we were towing a trailer) might have rivaled the cost of the pump.

When they changed the injector pump, they did something regarding the fuel, but this was in 1986, so my half-himer (half way to Alzheimer's) is affecting the details.



Vaughn

 

[R D Brown]

LSmith, Good post. Thank you. After I read yours and all the other replies I ordered a second sender and plan on doing the install with a switch so I won't have to find a place for another gage.



Robert

 

[illflem]

Good web page about diesel fuel filters and what plugs them http://www.baldwinfilter.com/engineer/94_14.html

 

[tarussell]

illflem - Good reading !

Thomas

 

[lsenus]

If you change your filter and the very next tank is full of junk than you will go a long time on a clogged filter. By monitoring the fuel pressure drop you can tell imediatley when the clogging starts.

TARUSSELL



I agree with that. After the LP and injector pump replacement this past fall, gauges went in. I noticed on the pressure drop post filter at the end of the last tank. I normally don't let it run down past 1/4 tank in the cold weather. Well I guess I sucked up some "stuff" and clogged the filter. I'm still seeing 9 psi if I'm careful, and I am waiting for the filters to get here on Thurs. from Geno's.