Fuel filter change

[DMorris]

Finally a warm day so I decided to change the filters. It went pretty much as described. I opened the rear water drain , I did not loosen the seperator while on the vehicle and I did get a small fuel bath when I loosened the filter. Next time I will loosen the deperator or filter so some air will get in and that should avoid that. Nothing was overly tightened.

Getting the front filter open was a little tougher but once it is loosened the change is easy.

I am a little confused on the starting/priming procedure. On my 99 I could bump the key and the pump fuel pump would run. On the 13 (tradesman has a key) bumping the key makes the starter run until you shut the key off. After 2 tries and no start I tried just moving the key to on waiting a bit and doing it again. After doing that 3 times it started right up.

The evic reset by just holding the reset button a couple seconds. I was showing 7% left at 11300 miles, mostly towing a light 5000 lb trailer. I was hoping for a little more mileage
than that It reset to 100% but I just checked it again after moving around the driveway, 0 miles and it says 99%. Sure wish I knew what it measures.
Next time will go much faster.

How do you go about bumping the starter on a keyless system to prime the filters ? Or do you just hit the start and let it cycle through over and over until it starts ? Sorry task a dumb question, I am at 9% on my filter and by the weekend I will probably have to take care of it and want to be sure to do it correctly. At the tall cost of filters I am holding off as long as possible

 

[photowrite]

snip...

The evic reset by just holding the reset button a couple seconds. I was showing 7% left at 11300 miles, mostly towing a light 5000 lb trailer. I was hoping for a little more mileage....

Thanks for sharing, nice to know that you only got 11,300 out of the filter based on the EVIC. In prior years with purely mileage based intervals I bet we could change at 15k regardless of the use (or whatever the recommended interval), but with the EVIC measuring load/use there is the possibility of needing to do it sooner.

Every 15k sounded attractive, but maybe every 10k is a more universal and consistent number.

 

[RikDavis]

Based on how clean the engine mounted filter looked, just slightly darker in color than the new one, I would guess they could be run a lot further . I am just a bit scared to push anything with the newer engine and still under warranty.

 

[Kirwin]

How do you go about bumping the starter on a keyless system to prime the filters ? Or do you just hit the start and let it cycle through over and over until it starts ? Sorry task a dumb question, I am at 9% on my filter and by the weekend I will probably have to take care of it and want to be sure to do it correctly. At the tall cost of filters I am holding off as long as possible

Push the button twice without touching the brake pedal. Wait for the 15 seconds the pump runs, then turn the truck off, repeat. Ken Irwin

 

[Trophy1]

I have a question that may seem foolish but I was just curious about. I have several GM fuel filters from a D Max that I owned. These GM filters look exactly like the chassis filter on my 13. Has anybody tried to use these filters, they have the same configuration right down to the o rings and fuel sensor for water. They are alot cheaper from GM then what Ram wants, I paid around $29.00 each for them and my D Max never had a problem using them. Thanks

 

[Cummins12V98]

Geno's has the Chassis mount filters. Mopar (Raycor) $60 and Raycor $55

 

[DMorris]

Push the button twice without touching the brake pedal. Wait for the 15 seconds the pump runs, then turn the truck off, repeat. Ken Irwin

Well I held off until 1% to change my fuel filters. Two reasons really 1) get the most for my dollar , 2) laziness set in and I was putting it off. Now that I am done I look back and have to say reason 2 was pretty lame. I think it took all of 20 minutes to change both. I did things slightly different then the op. I would have to re-read his post to tell exactly what we did different but the big two were , I didn't pull the sensor off the frame filter until after I had the filter off, that way I could do it on the bench. I left the drain open when I cracked the filter loose, and it was really a no mess job. I did lube my gaskets (O rings) prior to install with the lube of my choice (motor oil) prior to reassembly. Also I used dielectric grease on the plug to insure connection protection and make plug disconnecting a little easier in the future. All in all I am pleased with how easy the process was, now if the cost of filters was a little cheaper I would be more inclined to not wait until the last minute.

 

[MJWenrich]

I'm curious how many miles you went to get down to 1%. And how did the front filter look? Mine looked like new at 8K.

 

[DMorris]

I'm curious how many miles you went to get down to 1%. And how did the front filter look? Mine looked like new at 8K.

14,050 mi. Front filter was not white - closer to a heavy tea - very light coffee color.
Clearly I didn't get all the air out prior to starting. IT started right up after the change - but then the next two (very little run time between them) took a lot more starter before it ran. After a short drive all was good and it starts right up now.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I changed both my filters yesterday, took about half an hour. Pretty disappointed in the need to change these according to the dash gauge. Under hood filter looked exactly like the new one, white as white can be. I cleaned the canister out with white shop towels and it was perfectly clean. The rear filter was the same. I cut it open and it was not dirty what so ever. When I drained the fuel from both, the fuel was as clean as I've ever seen. My mileage at filter change was 13,159 and 10% left. Every drop of fuel that enters my truck goes thru a dual filter setup similiar to what's on the truck before it enters the tank. These filters could go a lot farther than that gauge is letting them. Not too impressed!!

A simple tip that I've been doing for years is using Ziplock one gallon bags. After draining the rear filter housing and breaking the seal, put a bag over the filter and screw it off. All the fuel that spills out goes into the bag and not on you or the truck/ground. I do the same for under the hood. I also use the bags on the oil filters. Just thought maybe this would help some out.

 

[gsbrockman]

The rear filter was the same. I cut it open and it was not dirty what so ever. When I drained the fuel from both, the fuel was as clean as I've ever seen. My mileage at filter change was 13,159 and 10% left. Every drop of fuel that enters my truck goes thru a dual filter setup similiar to what's on the truck before it enters the tank. These filters could go a lot farther than that gauge is letting them. Not too impressed!!

Can you post some pics??? What was your interval for the fuel filter change???

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

The filters had 13,159 miles on them. The gauge was at 10%, but I'm leaving tomorrow for a 1000 mile trip and didn't want to be changing them in a parking lot somewhere. That may seem like a lot of miles to some but from the looks of the filters, inside the canister and the fuel itself, I should have been able to go a lot further. I do not have pics, I threw the filters away. I live in an apartment complex, there's no way I'm digging in the dumpster to try and find them.

 

[TCDiesel]

I have dual filtering before factory frame mounted filter , I change my auxiliary filters yearly and reset the factory minder, I probably will not change the factory filters for 3 or 4 years, I ran my 2003 filter for 5 years before I change it, I only changed that filter 4 times the whole 12 years I owned it, with similar pre-filtering. 1 of the guys that works for my construction company bought it Jan 2014, He call and said Todd that darn factory filter looks New, when did you change it last, I said Nov 2011. Pre or auxiliary filtering is the ticket, direct filtering always allows x % of water or contaminates, although 2013+ is pretty darn good factory setup. My Auxiliary filters cost about $40.00 to change and about 5 minutes work.

 

[ToddGeisler]

I changed both my filters yesterday, took about half an hour. Pretty disappointed in the need to change these according to the dash gauge. Under hood filter looked exactly like the new one, white as white can be. I cleaned the canister out with white shop towels and it was perfectly clean. The rear filter was the same. I cut it open and it was not dirty what so ever. When I drained the fuel from both, the fuel was as clean as I've ever seen. My mileage at filter change was 13,159 and 10% left. Every drop of fuel that enters my truck goes thru a dual filter setup similiar to what's on the truck before it enters the tank. These filters could go a lot farther than that gauge is letting them. Not too impressed!!

A simple tip that I've been doing for years is using Ziplock one gallon bags. After draining the rear filter housing and breaking the seal, put a bag over the filter and screw it off. All the fuel that spills out goes into the bag and not on you or the truck/ground. I do the same for under the hood. I also use the bags on the oil filters. Just thought maybe this would help some out.

The ziplock bag idea is a great tip! thanks.

 

[TimBrunett]

Gsbrockman Thank you for this very informative thread. Great pictures.

I guess I’ll be doing the filter cutting too until I get a handle on intervals.
On my 2001 I always changed my filter and prefilter/water separator based on the fuel pressure. It was measured after the filters but before the VP44. It never failed that when my pressure dropped below 12 at idle and 10 at 65-70 I needed to change the first or usually both filters to get peace of mind. Pressure always shot back up to 15-17 at idle and 10-11 at 65-70.

Now with the 14 I have no fuel pressure to go by and the fuel filter percentage reminds me of filter salesman. I have about 5600 miles and its showing 45% remaining. I’ll change the rear filter at 10K and do the dissection to see what’s inside but I’m thinking that it may look like the change was premature.
TB

 

[Bob4x4]

Gsbrockman Thank you for this very informative thread. Great pictures.

I guess I’ll be doing the filter cutting too until I get a handle on intervals.
On my 2001 I always changed my filter and prefilter/water separator based on the fuel pressure. It was measured after the filters but before the VP44. It never failed that when my pressure dropped below 12 at idle and 10 at 65-70 I needed to change the first or usually both filters to get peace of mind. Pressure always shot back up to 15-17 at idle and 10-11 at 65-70.

Now with the 14 I have no fuel pressure to go by and the fuel filter percentage reminds me of filter salesman. I have about 5600 miles and its showing 45% remaining. I’ll change the rear filter at 10K and do the dissection to see what’s inside but I’m thinking that it may look like the change was premature.
TB

If your filter warming comes on before 15k take it in there should be a flash to correct that. To protect your warranty on the fuel system do the filter changes as recommended.

 

[RikDavis]

I changed my filters a few weeks back. 321 miles later I look at the evic and it shows 22 % left.
Everything is running fine, same fuel stops as always etc, no water in fuel light.
I have had several flashes done since I reset it. One to address codes tripping too often and I think a couple more, plus the ABS recall reflash today. The dealer also managed to break my mirror while installing a new turn signal LED as covered in another thread.
Anyway I have reset the fuel filter evic again since four miles per percentage point seems a little extreme and am hoping that it was just a glitch from all the computer reflashes. Hope this is a nothing event but it is making me nervous.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I had my truck reflashed yesterday for the fuel filter gauge prematurely running to zero%. When I dropped the truck off it read 97% on the gauge. After the flash, the gauge read 24% life remaining. Nice!!

 

[RikDavis]

I had my truck reflashed yesterday for the fuel filter gauge prematurely running to zero%. When I dropped the truck off it read 97% on the gauge. After the flash, the gauge read 24% life remaining. Nice!!

Hopefully that confirms my thoughts that the reflash was responsible for mine going to 22%.. I have only driven about 40 miles since I reset but it still shows 99% which is what it reset to. I am not sure it resets to 100%. Mine didn't after the fuel filter change. The oil filter does reset to 100%.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I'm pretty sure this does confirm your thoughts. I reset the gauge, now I'll just wait and see what happens.