Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Metal shavings in pre-filter..

[ELake]

Is this common?

I finally tore into the truck this weekend to replace the pesky vac pump / ps leak and also decided to attempt to fix my hard start issue. I have been reading that the fuel heater is a common problem and sure enough I cleaned it all up and was able to blow air through the electrical connector. When I got the pre-filter bowl off I noticed that there was some sediment in the bottom of it. There metal in there floating around with what looked like were some aluminum shavings too. I dragged a magnet across in there and it quickly filled with metal. Is this a sign that my lift pump is on the way out or something?

 

[ELake]

Any ideas?

Found that I have a leaky fuel heater and I bypassed it and lowered the idle back to where it should be (750 w/ AC on) and its taking a couple more revolutions than it should to start... . a little pre-load on the skinny pedal makes it start like it should... I also stretched the OFV while I was there and I also checked the 90 degree hose on by the fuel primer and pre-filter. I ditched those cheesy stock clamps and put on some hose clamps... What is the easiest way to rig up a fuel pressure gauge so I can check that?

TIA

 

[Johnstra]

I cleaned my prefilter recently and it had virtually nothing in it - certainly no metal. One possibility is the fuel level sender assembly. It has an aluminum housing that slides. There are screws mounted to slots on this assemly and normally the screws will wear all the way through the aluminum. I've heard of people finding aluminum flakes in their tank so it does't seem unreasonable that the flakes could find their way to your prefilter. I don't know about the magnetic stuff, though. I suppose it could be wear metal from the lift pump.

-john

 

[ELake]

yeah I'm not sure. . I was reading that the prefilter is on the suction side of the lift pump so it would be unlikely that it would be the source

 

[Signal73]

Recently I had cleaned mine, and found it to have a considerable amount of flakes also. Im not sure mine had been cleaned in 105K