First post...fuel heater question - Diesel Forum

Graham08 · 11-03-2009, 07:50 AM

Hello everyone!

This is my first post here. I have a 1997 F350 extended cab with the 7.3L. As far as I know, it is stock other than a K&N filter. I bought it from my wife's grandfather, and it's barely broken in with less than 78,000 on the clock...and it's a Florida truck to boot.

At any rate, as far as I can tell, I had the fuel heater in the filter bowl short out on me on Sunday (blown fuse #22). Fortunately, I was less than 1/4 mile from home when this happened. Based on info from posts here, my best bet is just to remove it from the circuit.

Now for my question: Do you guys just unplug the heater inside the bowl, or do you remove it altogether, and not replace it? It looks like it would be tough to get to the plug in the bowl without at least taking the heater loose because the plug is under the heater plate.

Also, my bowl does not drain when I flip the drain lever. Any suggestions on how to clear it?

Thanks!

Graham

Parky66 · 11-03-2009, 08:10 AM

Hi Graham,

Welcome to the site !!!

I just disconnected my fuel heater when it went out, left it in the bowl with no ill effects thus far. As far as your drain valve not working, I would order the drain valve repair kit and go for a o-ring replacement as listed here in the stick thread... Fix your fuel leak from filter drain valve

Sounds like you have one SWEET Truck there with only 78k miles. Do yourself a favor and get rid of that K&N as soon as ya can man !!! Those things let all sort of stuff get through... Removed K&N to find......

Again welcome to the site and I'm sure you will get a lot of replies here from the experts... it has been truly a AWESOME place to learn for me.

Graham08 · 11-03-2009, 08:50 AM

Thanks for the tip on the K&N. I'll be ditching it soon. I have heard the same thing from some dirt late model engine builders, that the ring seal lasts a lot longer with a Wix or similar paper filter over a K&N.

We run K&N's on my sprint car, but the other option is nothing (no paper filter fits a Hilborn injection), so the K&N beats that hands down.

**Jeep1947** · 11-03-2009, 09:00 AM

Just unplug the heater on the outside of the filter housing. Passenger side of housing IFIR it is the top plug. Hope this helps.

tbeck · 11-03-2009, 10:57 AM

Ditch the K&N, and contact Dale Isley at TYMAR Performance. You won't be dissapointed. Good filter, great service, and a stand-up guy, to boot!

RonKZ650 · 11-03-2009, 01:33 PM

I tried to unplug mine on the outside and the plastic started to break, so I thought before further damage it was safer to unplug inside. Remove the filter and get a pair of needle nose pliers and the wire pulls off easy inside to bowl.
As to your drain, I doubt there's anything wrong. What happens is the drain hose has air in it and not fuel. It takes a little priming to get things moving. Sometimes tapping on the fuel filter will get things moving. If this doesn't work, hook up a hose to the end of the drain valve tube, give a quick suck to the hose and be quick to put the hose in the drain pan because fuel will follow in 1/4 second.

**Jeep1947** · 11-03-2009, 11:27 PM

I always drain mine with the engine running use the fuel pump pressure to blow the crap out of the line.

Graham08 · 11-04-2009, 08:12 AM

Update...

It was the fuel heater! I just unplugged it on the outside of the bowl...no problem w/plastic breaking. Replaced fuse #22, and everything is good again.

Except, I have no turn signals or hazards. I'm guessing it is the flasher.

I started the truck w/the drain open, and it blew the crap out of the line. I'll be doing this more regularly now that I know the procedure.

I'll be sticking around here. Tons of good info. Now I'm looking at doing an air filter upgrade from my K&N, and probably an exhaust (at least a down pipe).

Thanks!

Graham