diesel fuel filter - Diesel Forum

egbert7 · 03-02-2005, 01:52 AM

Fuel filter light came on. I replaced a fram filter with another fram filter. After starting it the fuel filter came on once again, and the engine runs rough. I removed the filter, primed it again, reinstalled it, and the fuel filter light comes on at 2000 rpm. The truck still runs rough. It is a 1992 F250 7.3 natural with an automatic transmission. I replaced the machanical fuel pump a year ago. The filter I took off only had 3000 miles on it. Could I have a bad fuel or faulty filter? drpaul

jlmendoza · 03-02-2005, 02:30 AM

Have you ever drained the water out of the lower part of the filter assembly (the water separator) unless your truck is using a one piece after market/not ford type fuel filter.
One other thing get a large bottle of Standyne Performance formula ( or Power Service fuel additive (WalMart/Autozone) fuel additive pour every thing out of the new filter fill the center hole with fuel additive then split the rest of the bottle betweeen both tanks, consider this a light prophylactic treatment, the additives add much needed lubricity to diesel as they puch for diesel with lower & lower sulfur content.
Also, please goto the top of the screen and click on "My Home"and edit your profile, to include specifics about your truck, year, transmission,rear end gear ratios, 2wd/4wd,cab type , geographic location, as there may be someone near you that can assist, or members may be ableto recommend a shop or parts place with good prices/service.

jerry

Greenie · 03-02-2005, 05:23 AM

Not sure where you're located but gelled fuel will do the same thing.

aaklingler · 03-02-2005, 11:41 AM

you might want to try testing for fuel pressure and quantity at the schrader valve on the fuel filter header, i think the pressure that your looking for is 4-6 psi and 1/2 pint in 10 sec. of cranking, if my numbers are wrong somebody will fix them, my copy and paste buttons are broken.

SMASHER89 · 03-02-2005, 11:51 AM

Mine did a similar thing when the mech fuel pump was sucking an old piece of rubber hose intil it was collapsing. turns out that when I replaced the mech pump the piece of rubber hose that connects it to the fuel supply pipe on the frame that I looped the rubber hose too tightly and caused a restriction.

When the engine was under load above 2000rpms it was restricting fuel enough to cause reduced pressure at the filter. The light would flicker on when on the hiway loaded but would go out when I backed off to under 55mph.

R0oster06 · 03-02-2005, 12:05 PM

its a 1/3 pint but your right on the 4-6 psi

-Jeremy Roooster!

Eric_Mims · 03-02-2005, 08:22 PM

Hello i am having the same prob with my 88 f-350 7.3 except mine stalls when the fuel light comes on please let me know when you find the fix.

egbert7 · 03-03-2005, 11:24 PM

Tonight I pulled the fuel filter off inspected
the gaskets, spilled the fuel, inspected the head for cracks, filled the filter with PS and put it on hand tight. It idles smooth however at 1,200rpm the idiot light came on again. The engine will occasionally surge at 30mph like it has a burst of energy. I replaced the mechanical fuel pump last year. I have yet to check the schrader pressure and fuel flow. Ive got to fit it in between cub scouts and rodeo club meeting. Where can i get a schrader valve gage? I have 144,444 miles today, would you reccomend a newfuel system, pump and injectors with this many miles on it. Should'nt the mechanical transfer pump keep the pressure up at the filter head. I pull four horses and tack with a goose neck trailor. In the hills at 6500 feet I have to gear down by using 4low to pull and it smokes like a old 220 cummins. Is a load and task like this beyond the 7.3 natural"s
capacity?

agnem · 03-04-2005, 02:32 PM

Sounds like maybe your sucking air. Have you noticed if it does this on only one of the two tanks, or only when the tanks are other than full?

egbert7 · 03-08-2005, 01:15 AM

Saturday in the middle of 4 lanes of traffic she stalled, when I had three kids with me. I cranked it over for a minute while rolling 30 mph and she fired up. I went to Autozone looking for a fuel gage to test the schrader valve pressure, and of course they were clueless. I thought if the pressure and flow are bad that I would be replacing the transfer pump anyway, so I purchased a pump for $25,and drove home the ten miles to remove and replace it. I replaced it once before about 18mos ago, and the bolts loosened up allowing it to leak oil. Back in Oct. I had a guy changing my oil and he, noticing the leak, tightened the bolts for me. Sat. when I took off the pump I discovered the pump lever with some aberrant were pattern, and aprox. two inches of the lever missing. I suppose that these loose bolts lead to the demise of the transfer pump. I put the new pump on making sure that the shaft was on the correct side of the cam lobe, fired it up and she ran smooth without the idiot light.

Thank you for all of your help gentelman. Sat.I turned three diesel freeks on to the site.

hesutton · 03-08-2005, 08:37 AM

Glad to hear you got it fixed. I hope the two inches missing from the arm aren't floating around in the oil pan [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] Might want to change the oil and look for shavings. If you find some, I'd change the oil frequently for the next couple of months to try and flush them suckers out. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Heath