Fuel Heater

[Fish On]

I am having the throttle cable recall done on my truck today. Dealer just called and said while he was in there doing the work they noticed that the fuel heater was leaking. What is the fuel heater and where is it located. Quoted me a price of $607 for parts and labor. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Fuel heater replacement

That is excessive. Buy the parts from a cummins dealer and install. You will have to break into the low pressure fuel sys and replace a couple of cheap gaskets. 2 bolts hold it on. Pull the starter and access from the bottom.

 

[illflem]

Fishon, you need to post the name of that dealer so others can avoid him, they're tiring to rip you off.

 

[Joe G.]

First of all you want to confirm that the fuel heater is what is leaking. There are a few other possibilities in that area. The fuel hoses could be the problem. Also look at the manual push button on the lift pump. It has a couple of o-rings that can leak. Total cost of them at NAPA was about a buck and a half when mine did that.

 

[Fish On]

I called the dealer and told him not to do the repair. The deal is that the fuel strainer/ heater located next to the lift pump is leaking out of the gasket where the electrical connection comes in. I called cummins northwest and to get a replacement heater will cost $160. What should I do? Is the fuel strainer/ heater rebuildable? Please help! Thanks for saving me a ton of $$$$$$$$$$.

 

[Fish On]

oh yeah almost forgot the dealer is Anchorage Chrysler Dodge in Anchorage Alaska. The mechanic I talked with that did my throttle cable recall said he is replacing anywhere from 1 to 15 fuel heaters a week at this price of $607. The price was quoted by a service advisor. After I told the service advisior that I thought the price was a little high the mechanic came out into the yard as I was getting in my truck and told me that I could buy the same heater at Cummins NW for less than $200. So this dealer appears to be doing this work knowing that they are over charging big time. Break down of estimate: parts= $315, labor= $292. Anyway I think I will be doing the repair myself!

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Anchorage Chrysler

Their parts department seemed really good and their prices reasonable. Counter to countered a couple crisis parts to Kodiak. Can't speak for their service, though.



When you take off the lift pump, there is nothing holding the fuel heater on anymore. Good Luck.

 

[Midnite]

Anchorage Chrysler Dodge is notoriously bad regarding service. I have heard stories from people that make me believe they have nobody with any diesel engine experience. I've also heard stories that make me think they're just plain unethical.



Take this with a large grain of salt though--I have personally never had any experience with their service department.



Of course from everything I've heard, it'll be a cold day in hell before the tires of my '92 grace the pavement of their parking lot...

I should also point out that there is a relatively new Dodge dealership in town who's probably just begging to take business away from the other guys. I believe it's Lithia Dodge, although I don't know where they are in Anchorage, or their phone number.



Mike

 

[Cooker]

You probably don't need an entirely new fuel heater. Cummins sells a rebuild kit for ~$8 that includes a new gasket and strainer.



Also if you have it apart there is a additional gasket at the top of the strainer that's worth replacing. Cost for that gasket is < $1.



Not a bad job to do and all for under $10 in parts.



If you need the part numbers just post here. I can dig them up, or you can do a search and find them in some old threads.



Just curious how bad it is leaking? Do you notice fuel spots on the driveway? I wonder how many unknowing, non-TDR affiliated individuals this "stealer" soakes for $600.

 

[Fish On]

cooker would love to get the parts number for the rebuild kit. Cummins Northwest in alaska hs no idea what I am talking about when I mention this $8 rebuild kit. Thank you for your help!

 

[illflem]

I don't think the gasket set will help you if the heater is leaking from the wire harness, but I could be wrong.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

There is an o-ring at the top (above the heater element), Fleetguard Part number 383418500-S. ($. 30)The quad o-ring at the bottom of the element (accessible when pulling the screen prefilter is Fleetguard 3834185-S. ($. 66). These numbers were found in a post on blue smoke at startup by Hemi R Dart. Stated both parts came from Cummins.

 

[swamp rat]

If it is indeed the heater unit leaking, you will need either a 7 or 8mm hex wrench (can't recall exact size offhand) to get it loose. The wrench will slide right into the hole from the under side of the heater. Its really about a 25-30 minute job if you have the right tools, and a long arm. LOL But be careful to not let the upper or lower seals slip out of the grooves during reassembly, or they will leak like a sieve.



And as mentioned the pre-screen filter kit and upper O-ring shouldn't cost more than $8. No idea what the heater runs though, but no way should it cost $600. ROTFLMAO