Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Your Thoughts on Heater/Screen Permanent Removal

[mwilson]

Good Morning All,

Am going to replace the transfer pump and fuel lines on my new treasure and after some research have decided to remove the troublesome heater/strainer combo while I am there.



Will also allow me to eliminate the 90 degree rubber hose and use a push-loc fitting right into the pump suction fitting.



Cummins shows a spacer being used in place of the strainer mount to keep the pump at the the proper distance from the block, I will simply cut the plate away from the strainer and use that over.



I have checked several FL70's that we sold with 5. 9 power and they were built using a Fleetguard FF5079 in the line from the fuel tanks to catch the chunks and no heater or strainer on the engine itself.



It looks fine to me but wonder if I am overlooking anything before I start.

I searched and searched but can't find anything relating to removal in the forums.

Any thoughts or comments are welcome!!!!!



Thanks, Mike.

 

[hsmith]

Lots of us do away with the heater, keep the strainer, and still run the stock lift pump. If you do away with the strainer completely, be sure to use the spacer for the lift pump.

 

[WilsonF]

I would not remove the strainer. I have taken out the heater. Never miss it.

Floyd

 

[LVJUNIOR]

mwilson You might want to ask people where they live when they answer. If you live in southern California where it never gets below 40 degrees you might have a different experience removing the heater than someone in Alaska where it gets 40 below.

 

[WilsonF]

I live in Wa. started my truck yesterday, it was -2*F. Not a problem.

Floyd

 

[NIsaacs]

Living in Maine, I would not remove the heater. Twice in early fall I traveled/hauled up north with my '91 Dodge and the Ford. The Ford has no cold weather aides and both times with Arizona fuel it jelled, the Dodge parked right beside it, did not.



Nick

 

[hsmith]

There is a lot of fuel between the heater and injectors that has to be burned before any heated fuel gets there.

 

[Joe G.]

There is a truck owner who is not on this forum who lives in Yellow Knife. He says that the fuel heater is just a piece of junk that might cause you to break down in -'50° weather. His opinion is to get rid it as soon as possible. He has no problem starting his truck without a fuel heater in the winter.

 

[Swineheart]

I live in Alaska and at my house most morning are below zero and I've been running without a fuel heater for 2 years without any starting issues or gelling. So I say get rid of it.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I got rid of my strainer on the '98 about 10k miles ago, so far no issues. Because of the screen on the pickup assembly in the tank there isn't a lot of chances for chunks of debris to make it into the lift pump.

 

[The patriot]

I got rid of the junk heater once it developed a suction leak but kept the strainer.

In addition to the strainer I have an FL1000 in the primary suction line.

No matter which tank I pull from it goes through the FL1000, the strainer then the factory canister filter.

I dont believe your fuel can ever be too clean.

I'd think it's safe to say the fuel is sufficiently winterised there, unless you buy in bulk yourself.

When I did that I ran summer grade year round. It dont get that cold here.

 

[mwilson]

I have made the decision to amputate it tomorrow.

As it will live on a steady diet of Irving Winter Blend Diesel up here I should be good.



I had a whole box full of goodies from Geno's show up today so it all happens this weekend.



Am going to install draw straw, all new fuel lines, new fuel sending unit, new rear brake line, new transfer pump, starter contacts, starter to fuel relay diode, new front u-joints, whew... ... ... ...



Planning to remove body, have luxury of being able to use overhead hoist here.



I don't make it a habit to work on my stuff here as a rule but with a long list it will be a great help this time. They have cleared a bay for me to use this weekend, nice guys here.

Probably tired of me crabbing about having to run my Mega in this winter slop... ... ... :-laf



Gotta' get my '97 on the road and the '06 put away before this calcium eats it alive.



Patriot, did you get your brake project done??????

 

[The patriot]

No, not yet. The 4 year old got sick, then the wife, then me.

In addition to birthdays Christmas and a few other things. Just no time.

Then there is the weather...

I have all (I think) the parts waiting in the truck and the fuel tank is 1/2 removed. The brake line that's shot looks as if it runs from just under the master cyl to the rear dist block. It's about 15 feet long #@$%! with lots of bends. #@$%!#@$%!

 

[mwilson]

Part Number for Spacer Plate

Part number for spacer plate used in lieu of the strainer assembly



3914284



Illustration below. Item # 2



Mike.

 

[BigPapa]

Both heater and strainer have been gone from mine for quite a while. No problems.

 

[The patriot]

Part number for spacer plate used in lieu of the strainer assembly



3914284



Illustration below. Item # 2



Mike.

Any time you can eliminate rubber hose will get my attention.

What does this cost?

 

[mwilson]

Any time you can eliminate rubber hose will get my attention.

What does this cost?

$15. 00 at the worst.



I have some pictures somewhere, I will try to find the card they are on.



I lost everything out of this laptop last month as it all went away when I brought it back from the dead... ... .



The winter of electronic hell... ... .



Mike.

 

[GAmes]

Any time you can eliminate rubber hose will get my attention.

What does this cost?

Cutting the adapter portion from the strainer mount would cost about zero:-laf

 

[The patriot]

I've already eliminated the heater long ago.

 

[GAmes]

MY heater is long gone also. The adapter I refered to cut off is the strainer mount.