Fuel Filter Change on 2005 E-450? - Diesel Forum

k1uc · 06-13-2005, 07:19 AM

I have a new E-450 RV w/ 6.0 PSD and since I do my own maintenance have been checking out how to do a fuel filter change. The one on the bottom is fine, but I can barely see the one on the top of the engine! The hardware between me and the filter housing is pretty heavy duty stuff.

[EDIT] I did find a thread below for 6.0 PSD on an E-350 which said to remove the radiator plastic trim, move the power steering reservoir, and remove the air charge cooler tube for access.

Can someone tell me what the air charge cooler tube looks like? (Yeah, I know, it's the one in the way!)

Thanks. Jay

k1uc · 06-22-2005, 08:44 PM

Although 45 people have read my message, I've received no responses. I t would be helpful if someone could answer my question about the charge cooler tube.

Jay

ddog · 06-22-2005, 10:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Can someone tell me what the air charge cooler tube looks like? (Yeah, I know, it's the one in the way!)
Although 45 people have read my message, I've received no responses. I t would be helpful if someone could answer my question about the charge cooler tube.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't own a 6.0 Van so all I know is what I have read or seen here. Darth Surplus has some picture of his including some underhood photos in the links in his sig.Looks pretty scary to me. There are few 6.0 PSD Vans on the road and fewer yet on the forum.So of 45 views its quite possible that at least 40 of them are 7.3 or 6.9 van owners or truck guys who like to hang out in Van Land because its cool.Of the Possible 5 6.0 PSD owners that might have seen it, maybe 1 has changed his own filter. All that being said,since you will be doing your own maintenance, might we assume that you know what a charge air cooler is? Your lucky the 6.0 PSD Van gets one the 7.3 vans don't. Its also known as an intercooler. The intercooler if you didn't know is a radiator of sorts for the pressurized intake air trom the turboCHARGER that COOLS the AIR CHARGE before it enters the engine. Radiators and CHARGE AIR COOLERS (CAC) are generaly found in the front of the engine. The turbo charger at the rear and the intakes somewhere in the midldle.(Did I mention I don't Own a 6.0 VAN yet)Thus Mr. Watson, A turbo charged intercooled diesel is going to need some tubes to move all this air about from the front to the back to the front and back to the middle.So by deduction the charge air cooler tubes are the big ones that aren't radiator hoses. (I'm going out on a limb here so would a 6.0 van owner please correct me if the charge air cooler tubes are not easily distiquished from the radiator hoses). I'm guessing the tubes are usually a metal tubing with rubber boots connecting them to the cooler, intake manifold and turbo outlet. Not sure of the diameter(2.5-3.0") but they are bigger than the radiator hoses.

[ QUOTE ]
The hardware between me and the filter housing is pretty heavy duty stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]
Fuel filter replacement is covered in the 7.3 diesel owners manual supplement and was pretty self explanatory. I'm assuming it is perhaps still covered in the 6.0 supplement.You should have gotten an owners manual for the Van cutaway and a 6.0 diesel engine supplement with your RV.The reality of you doing this yourself without reading the manual is you will have to keep removing stuff until you can access/see the housing.The one on the 7.3 is involved and there is no intercooler plumbing in the way.When you have to remove parts related to the intake and CAC for service it is important you get that all back securely and correctly or you risk boost/pressure leaks or unfiltered air entering your turbo and or engine. Generally speaking Ford won't pay for a dusted engine.

racerman_27410 · 06-23-2005, 04:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Can someone tell me what the air charge cooler tube looks like? (Yeah, I know, it's the one in the way!)

[/ QUOTE ]

its the big 3 inch diameter aluminum tube that will prevent you from getting to the secondary fuel filter.( along with the wiring harness and brake master resevoir)

once you open the hood and try to stick your hand back in to access the fuel filter there will be no mistaking it for anything else.

Frank

k1uc · 06-25-2005, 06:49 PM

racerman & ddog,

Fellas, thanks much for the replies.

The 6.0 in the E-450 does not have an intercooler; not enough room to put it in. Racerman, the large aluminum tube that's in the way looks for all the world like it has coolant in it, not air. Guess I'll have to look more closely. I have 10,000 miles to go to figure it out.

I can't believe how inaccessible that engine is. Our ambulances are 7.3 and the secondary fuel filters on these are more accessible than on the 6.0.

Jay

ddog · 06-25-2005, 08:36 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The 6.0 in the E-450 does not have an intercooler;

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you sure? Do you have the 5speed Auto? I find this hard to believe. If its a 3" diameter aluminum tube in your way , its not for coolant.

racerman_27410 · 06-26-2005, 12:14 AM

If the engine is a new 6.0L diesel then it has a turbo and a intercooler. there is no way you could have any less room in there than in any other van equipped with the same engine

.......and a CAC tube- there is a flexible connector which looks to have been put there to ease removal of the tube for the filter replacement. You can get to the tube easier after you get the power steering resevoir out of the way (which BTW has flexible lines.... gee thanks Mr Ford engineer!)

Frank

k1uc · 06-26-2005, 07:08 AM

racerman & ddog,

Thanks again for your help. You are right about the intercooler. I recalled reading on the RV forums that there wasn't room under the hood for the intercooler and that the unit was derated compared to the pickups. I'm now recalling that the engine is derated because of lack of cooling capacity, but not because there was no intercooler.

So, I have a large aluminum tube on the left side coming out of a radiator, covered with aluminum wrap, that goes off towards the turbo. The one on the right goes from the same radiator and down into the front of the engine, which I understand is the intake manifold. This looks like the one that has to be gotten out of the way to access the fuel filter.

OK, I can work with this. Thanks again; much appreciated.

Jay

fordmastertech · 06-26-2005, 08:19 AM

I have done several of them and the easiest way is to remove the power steering reservoir and then unbolt the wire harness that is bolted to the bottom of the cowl. You can get in there to get at the engine mounted filter. Don't use a 1/2 inch drive ratchet use a short wrench on the filter lid hex, I can't remember what size it is 7/8 or 15/16. As the lids get older they will break using a 1/2 ratchet.
FMT