Fuel / Water Filter

[vettmike]

OK I give up, I have been under this beast three times looking for the gas/water filter and have not found it.

Would someone please give me a good idea what I am looking for.

I'm getting tired of jacking this thing up and laying on my back looking for something that I have no idea what it looks like.

[cliffsurfs]

vettmike: In the front@ center of the eng. you will see a black plastic cover/two accorn nuts, remove and you will find a round black 3 1/2 filter cover it unscrews. On the back of this filter you will see a yellowish lever that turns left and right to drain water @ fuel in filter. You might want to extend the drain tube which you will see. Good luck. cliffsurfs

[PSDExcursion]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cliffsurfs:
vettmike: In the front@ center of the eng. you will see a black plastic cover/two accorn nuts, remove and you will find a round black 3 1/2 filter cover it unscrews. On the back of this filter you will see a yellowish lever that turns left and right to drain water @ fuel in filter. You might want to extend the drain tube which you will see. Good luck. cliffsurfs<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


What size hose did you use to extend the drain line?

Thanks,
Michael

[AJ'sDad]

5/16" fuel line fits. I installed a 3' length of it and it is perfect. I left it on and tucked it back on the frame rails until next time I drain the filter.

[cliffsurfs]

Did the same thing as AJ'sdad. Thankfull for nylon ties. If you don't extend the drain hose diesel will get on frame and wash off the black tar coating. Very messy. cliffsurfs

[JADFPE]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cliffsurfs:
Did the same thing as AJ'sdad. Thankfull for nylon ties. If you don't extend the drain hose diesel will get on frame and wash off the black tar coating. Very messy. cliffsurfs<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ditto - Works great [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
John

[PSDExcursion]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AJ'sDad:
5/16" fuel line fits. I installed a 3' length of it and it is perfect. I left it on and tucked it back on the frame rails until next time I drain the filter.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Cool. I'm going to do that when I get my fuel filter. I just ordered the filter, standyne, coolant test strips & the coolant additive from DIS. Whew!

I love shopping online! [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

Thanks,
Michael

[POLR BR]

On the subject of fuel filters and leaking fuel, I discovered that if you take the fuel filter cover off to inspect/replace the filter and don't in fact replace the filter and gasket, there is a good chance your gasket will leak. The last two times I cracked the fuel filter cover to replace the filter, I got cheap and decided to leave the filter in because there was no dirt at all. The filter material was in fact still whitish even after 15,000 miles. Unfortunately, the gaskets seem prone to leak once you take the cover off and then reuse the gasket.

[AJ'sDad]

You must have pretty clean fuel. Mine was BLACK at 13,000 miles.

[vettmike]

Thanks for all the input I will check it out on Sat.

Now for another question:

Should I get a new filter and gasket before I drain the fuel?

If so, does anyone have the Ford part numbers?

Again, Thanks in advance.

[AJ'sDad]

You can drain the filter bowl safely without removing any parts that require new gaskets.

[tginz]

Being quite nuts about a clean engine, I change the oil every 2,500 and the fuel filter every 15,000. However each time I change the oil, I connect a 5/16" hose to the fuel filter drain line (pass. side along the block) and drain the fuel/water separator. You'd be amazed all the goodies that come out in that pint +/- of diesel. Obviously, they are then out and not in your filter when restarted and pulling fuel.

The trick to the fuel filter change is draining the fuel first. Unscrew the lid and remove the filter, o-rings, and V-ring. The MOTORCRAFT NUMBER FOR THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR is FD-4596 F81Z-9N184-AA It comes with instructions and follow them. What they don't tell you... Get a quart of diesel and soak the V-ring and O-ring before installing them. Then once the filter is back together pour some diesel into the filter canister and screw the lid on. Done it several times and ever had a problem...Ever but ever unscrew the lid and try to retighten it. The V-ring and seal always leak.

On a long trip, I always toss in a extra fuel filter. They should be about $50 at the dealer, which looks real cheap if you're on the side of the road.

Also as a maintenance fanatic, I recommend a fumoto valve for the oil pan. It is a foolproof drain valve that eliminates removing the plug every 2,500. You can find them at www.fumotovalve.com. They really do and are everything they say.