Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel Filter change

[Black Cloud]

What is the proper way to change the fuel filter on my 2000. Should I drain the canister first and drop the filter in? What do you guys do?

 

[MJEdwards]

turbodiesel ram - just remove the top housing(lid) replace filter and o-ring, put back in bottom housing, let it sit awhile and add fuel to top of housing, tighten lid slowly until snug. Your filter housing may have a small hand pump to finish filling(pressurizing) the filter ***'y. Cycle the lift pump twice before attempting to start. I've changed mine every 10k this way for over 80,000 miles with no problem. Good Luck - Mike

 

[Black Cloud]

How often do you drain the fuel filter housing, at every fuel fill up or do you have a regular schedule?

 

[Ncostello]

There is no hand pump on these trucks. The electric pump is supposed to handle priming and air purging. Also... do your injection pump and new filter a favor and drain the canister before pulling the old filter out. If your old filter collected alot of contaminants in 15,000 miles and you don't drain the filter, installing the new one in a filter bowl of fuel could wash crud into the clean side of your new filter. Then your VP44 pump will have to eat that. And I would caution filling the canister with fuel from a can. If you do make sure it doesn't end up on the clean side of the new filter without going through the filter first. You can't be sure you didn't pump a dirty can of fuel.



It doesn't take much debris to damage a good injection pump. Cleanliness is paramount in the filter change process. Having your filter remove 10 micron stuff doesn't do much good if your gonna let 100 micron particles get by during the filter change out.

 

[SHobbs]

Easiest way I have found. Drain filter housing, replace filter and o-ring. Once the new filter is in place and the cap is tight loosen the supply line on the VP44, bump starter and let LP run, when fuel comes out of the supply line tighten it back up. My truck will start with the first try, sometimes it takes a couple, darn thing has a mind of its own. There are numerous ways and opinions on how to do this, this is how I do mine and I do it every 6k along with the oil and oilfilter.

 

[TJany]

hey-

when i do mine i make sure to drain the housing completely, i also like to take a rag and wipe out the bottom of the housing, maybe i'm a little psycho when it comes to this stuff, but i try to get the rag all the way to the bottom and soak up all the fuel and try to remove EVERYTHING from the housing, make sure there is nothing left in the bottom of the housing. Than i put the new filter and o-ring in, cap it, and cycle the lift pump a few times. i also open the schrader valve while the pump is running just to aid in getting the air out. than start it and let it run about 10 minutes to make sure all the air is out... the first time i changed it i didn't let it idle and than had a heck of a time getting it running the next time i tried to start it



Tim

 

[MSnow]

I'v got a 98. 5 24 valve. Do you just loosen the the screw ontop of the canister to get the lid off? I bought the thing in july and still trying to figure out how to get the filter out. Guess i'm scared I might break somthig. Kind a like a bull in a china shop, if I don't break it I s**t on it!!

 

[DFerverda]

Hey MSNOW

On the 98. 5 push the drain valve handle to drain. Make sure the hose is pointing down and run the fuel in a can. Unhook the drain hose and the wif sensor . Unscrew the big nut in the middle top. drop the whole mess down and pull out of the truck. Clean out the canister and make sure the wif sensors are clean and DONT damage the probes in the bottom(wif. . water in fuel sensors) When you take out the filter and Oring make sure you know where the old O ring was set (the big one and put the small one on the canister stud . Install the new filter and Orings and put it back in the truck and tighten the nut on the top. Make sure to alligin the locating tabs on the canister with the tab on the headder. tighten the nut to 120 in. lbs. Hook up the wif sensor wire and make sure the drain valve is closed.

Crack one of the 2 small plugs (pressure test port fittings) and cycle the key but dont start the truck. in a few seconds you should have fuel squrting out the loose plug,i use a shop rag over this to tighten and keep fuel off of Everything

tighten the small plug. Cycle the key twice than start the truck. It may or may not run crappy for a few minutes, just let it idle for 4-5 min.

Check for leaks if no leaks Your Done. This should only take you 10-15 minutes not bad Good Luck Dirk Oo.

 

[MSnow]

Thank you very much Dirk! You made the whole process alot less painful.