My fuel filter light has been coming on intermittently during hard acceleration. I figure it is a combination of the colder weather thickening the fueld and the filter needing to be changer. I have read you need to prime the filter with diesel or additive, and some have posted about bleeding the schrager valve, I am a bit confused as to what needs to be done. Can someone post a quick procedure for changing the fuel filter in a 1992 IDI? Thanks in advance.

 

Ford diesel 6.9 7.3 IDI

A warm engine helps getting it started after changing it. Put some oil around the gasket like you do with oil filter. fill it with your favorite diesel additive and your ready to install.

 

crank 15 seconds max/let the starter cool 2 min.then crank again.
have a battery charger handy in case you need it.
don't burn up your starter.

 

Sounds like I just: 1) warm up the engine 2) spin loose the old filter, 3) fill the new one with additive (diesel kleen in my case), 4) Put some oil on the seal, 5) spin on the new filter, 6) crank her over for no more than 15 seconds. Seems easy enough. Thought there was more to it. Thanks

 

I think what he meant was:
Warm the engine up, shut it down, install the new filter as stated (I prime with Diesel Kleen also) start it up (don't burn up the starter) and let it run for 10-15 seconds then shut it down for 30 minutes to an hour. Letting it set for awhile gives the Diesel Kleen a chance to remove varnish from your system. Then fire it up and you should be good to go.

 

thats it.
the cranking spins the mechanical fuel pump,which pumps fuel up through the lines again.it has to press out some air too.
that's why all the extra cranking,to re prime the system again.
pretty much everything to do with this engine is quite basic.
sounds easy enough,though it can be a real hair puller lol,so have the battery charger ready.

 

actually,
warm the engine right up to operating temp.
(drive her for a good 20 minutes,or do this just after a trip home from work etc.)
swap the filter inside just 10-20 minutes (as soon as possible.)

this way,when you go to restart with an empty fuel system,your not fighting a cold start and a losss of prime start at the same time see?
with a good glow plug system,that's not going to make a whole lot of difference.the re-prime is what can give ya hell lol.

 

Oh, I forgot, make sure the new filter is as full as possible when putting it on. I always lay a rag over the valve cover to catch the spillage.

 

you may need to crack the fuel line going to the ip too blead air to, but you should usually be able to get it started.

 

All done, worked like a charm.

Filled up the filter plus a little with Diesel Kleen, screwed here on, turned the key and fired right up. Let her run 15 seconds and turned her off for 20 minutes or so, fired her back up and let her run a half hour. Not a hessitation, and appears to run a little smoother. Thanks fellas. Made my first diesel fuel filter change a breeze!!