Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel filter change... need some help...

[Fireman Dave]

Not to be a gloom and doom guy here, BUT - think about this in regard to checking pressure periodically rather than a fulltime gauge. My pump has been dying for months. The pressure is all over the place - from 12 to zero. The needle on the gauge will be bouncing all over the place sometimes. It has just recently been consistently at zero enough for me to take it in. On my way to work, I'll see 12 at times, 6 at times, and zero at times - all in the same trip. So, be careful - it can go that way - and it may be running the same the whole time - like mine is. If not for my gauge, I wouldn't have a clue that the pump is bad. The dealer says it won't run on zero pressure, but that's not true - as we have seen from other members here. So if you check it periodically (which is better than not checking it at all), keep in mind that you're just getting a partial picture of what it may be doing. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

 

[DarrellB]

That's an excellent point Fireman Dave. But everytime I start to think about putting another gauge in the truck I get this picture in my mind of a big goddy cluster of gauges on the dash and I brake out in a cold swet. :-laf



A few months ago I left mine on for the whole day while I was running arands and did notice a difference in pressure after I filled the tank up with fuel. It was 2psi better I couldn't drag it below 10psi after I had a full tank.



There is many ways to go and the test gauge is probeble the cheapest and easiest way out.



DB

 

[Shovelhead]

Glad to hear you were able to get it restarted Gordon.

 

[Tom W]

Darrell:



I put my pressure gauge in the ashtray and have a switch to change from prefilter to post filter. Works real good for me.



Tom

 

[Behr]

Well... . I like the idea of having the pump close to the (source) tank.



It makes sense to push the fuel up..... than for it to draw it up.



Also... if there is any kind of leak on the line or joint ... . the conventional lift pump will just draw air and finding that air leak will be difficult.



If on the other hand the pump is pushing ..... it will be far easier to find the leak by just searching for diesel fuel.



As for the actual change of the fuel filter... I will admitt it was a fairly simple task. I guess the most attention needed was the screwing on of the plastic filter cap. I can see how easy it would be cross thread it.



My observation of the fuel that I pre-drained looked really good... . but was just wondering if changing the fuel filter every other time I do my oil change was necessary or is it just a bit of an over kill... looking to hear comments (good or bad) on this post... .

 

[EricBu12]

A rule of thumb is 10,000 miles for the filter. I have a second filter so I go like 20,000 on the front and 20,000 on the pre filter.



Fuel is oily so you wont be able to "see" how dirty the filter is just by looking at it like gas filters.



I also just went to the valvoine premium blue extreme 5W/40 synhetic oil for the engine. I plan on going 10,000 miles on 2 oil filters on that oil change.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Originally posted by DarrellB

That's an excellent point Fireman Dave. But everytime I start to think about putting another gauge in the truck I get this picture in my mind of a big goddy cluster of gauges on the dash and I brake out in a cold swet. :-laf

DB

I hear ya, Darrrell. I already had 3 gauges on my A-pillar, so I mounted my F. P. gauge on the side of that little plastic piece on the transmission tunnel - just in front of the 4x4 shifter.

 

[Behr]

Fireman Dave... .



Re: the lift pump... . if the lift pump is not working properly ... . would it affect the fuel economy... ??



What I have noticed with my truck... during the summer... is that she gets great mileage on the highway..... but once I start drving in town traffic... she sucks up the fuel twice as fast...



Note... I am not going to refer to winter driving because we are on #2 Diesel here for the winter... .



I have read some posts on also making sure the IAT sensor on the intake manifold is clean. If dirty ... then false info is sent to the ECM..... and therefore improper fuel / air mixture.



Ohhh by the way... I have about 32,000 Klm / 18,000 Miles on it...



Thanks

 

[Fireman Dave]

Gordon,



I don't know - but now that I think about it, my mileage is down about 2-2. 5 mpg since the pump has been hanging around zero pressure. Could be a factor, but I don't know. Maybe someone else has some insight on that one.



Dave

 

[Behr]

Dave...



Thank you for the reply... .



I guess one day next week I had better get out and pick up a guage. I read some posts on that... seems best range of guage is around 0 - 30 psi. I will have to find a nice place in the truck to mount it. Geeeze ... bring back memories of the muscle cars in the 60's with bank of guages mounted on the lower portion of the dash board.....



Guess I am revealing my age here... . ehh??? Oo.



I must have just a touch of air in my fuel line somewhere after changing my fuel filter last nite ... because normally every morning when I start my truck she fires up on the first click of the starter engaging in the flywheel. This morning it took two cranks to fire up..... any ideas from anyone that reads this would be appreciated.

 

[EricBu12]

Dave,

When I put in the pusher pump, I noticed I got like 2# more boost on accel. so maybe the extra fuel would help the efficiency of it.

 

[SEmerson]

You could gauge your filter change by fuel pressure too.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Originally posted by Behr

I will have to find a nice place in the truck to mount it. Geeeze ... bring back memories of the muscle cars in the 60's with bank of guages mounted on the lower portion of the dash board.....



Guess I am revealing my age here... . ehh??? Oo.

Ahhh... the good old days.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by Behr

Dave...



Thank you for the reply... .



I guess one day next week I had better get out and pick up a guage. I read some posts on that... seems best range of guage is around 0 - 30 psi. I will have to find a nice place in the truck to mount it. Geeeze ... bring back memories of the muscle cars in the 60's with bank of guages mounted on the lower portion of the dash board.....



Guess I am revealing my age here... . ehh??? Oo.



I must have just a touch of air in my fuel line somewhere after changing my fuel filter last nite ... because normally every morning when I start my truck she fires up on the first click of the starter engaging in the flywheel. This morning it took two cranks to fire up..... any ideas from anyone that reads this would be appreciated.

Best guage to get is around 0- 30 psi in this case bigger is not better 0-16 is best due to the fact that guages are most accurate in middle of guage 8pse in this case and that is the low reading at WOT Idle should see about 14-15 and normal cruse about 12to 13psi . get a guage and save your self a injector pump Ron in Louisville KY P. S I had a 1950 Hudson straight 8 . Oo.

 

[Shovelhead]

Originally posted by Behr

I will have to find a nice place in the truck to mount it. Geeeze ... bring back memories of the muscle cars in the 60's with bank of guages mounted on the lower portion of the dash board.....

Guess I am revealing my age here... . ehh??? Oo.

Another "Old Guy" alternative:

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