So I have had 3 different 7.3L PSD trucks and one 7.3L Excursion. today I went to the parts store and got a fuel filter, took it home and it was wrong !!! Went back, the computer added up, went to another parts store got a completely different but similar one....still didn't match up to the one in the truck. What Gives????

 

Most of the new filters now include the housing cap as a intragal part of the filter, unless you go to Ford that's what you will get, they work just fine!
Jim & fat Monty

 

the old one had removable cap, the new one no cap but a big plastic base that was un removable. just my luck.

 

That base is the cap your old cap is not used just put away somewhere!

 

I will have to take a pic of it....no threads....must have been entered in the computer wrong.....lol.

 

With that many 7.3 vehicles, you might consider ordering the filters 8 at a time. Then you can get the OEM filter for a great price. I order from Riffraff.
Riffraff Diesel: OEM Fuel Filter

Edit: They are a great price regardless of how many you order....I suggested you order 8 so you can put one in each vehicle and then have spares. :-)

 

I've had very good performance out of these:
http://www.baldwinfilter.com/literat...ts/form341.pdf

They have the integral cap.

Pop

 

Advance & O'Reillys both stock (or can get) the Motorcraft filters.

 

That Baldwin filter looks nice. I like the design of the lid making it easier to remove by hand, if it is possible. I have noticed that my OEM cap gets so tight over the course of a fuel filter cycle that even with a special filter tool, it is hard to get off. I don't really want to stop using the OEM cap.

To the OP, just buy Motorcraft filters at O'Reilly.

 

Like you Pop I've been having good luck with the Hasting filter that looks like that Baldwin. I don't have the part # handy but it has the finned lid like the one in your link & from what I understand Hasting makes a good product.

 

Every one I've tried w/ the attached lid has leaked - not sure why but if I use the reg filter + oem lid = no issues. Heard of others w/ the same issue.

 

I suspect the Hastings and Baldwin filters come off the same line, as they are one company, at the same address, in Kearney, Nebraska.

Pop

 

Conversely, not one Baldwin with the integral lid has leaked for me.

Of course, not all filters are created equally.

As always, YMMV.......

Pop

 

We've never tried the baldwins - nobody local carries the Baldwin line. I can get them through several online places but the shipping tends to make it less attractive. We've tried ones w/ lids from Napa, carquest, federated & fisher - no idea who makes the filters for these guys but they do all look fairly similar. All leaked around the lid - from a slight "weep" to whoa nelly "sprayer" - we did successfully run a napa one for a while but it developed a leak after about 6 months

 

I've never even considered anything else. I've been using them since about 1964.

FleetPride either has them, or can get them in a day or two.

If you have a store near you, you should get to know them anyway if you have a diesel.
Find a FleetPride Location

There's one in Roanoak.

Pop