When changing out the secondary fuel filter, how important is it to get the fuel out of the housing, and if it is important, why?

 

If you are referring to the filter/seperater down at the HFCM... Pretty important, or you're gonna be taking a diesel bath!

For the top filter, I stole my lovely wifes turkey baster (don't tell her!).

 

I don't bother taking the fuel out of the secondary housing. I drain the HFCM by opening the water drain.

Brian

 

i drained the primary fuel filter by using the drain plug, i dont see why it would matter about the secondary (top) being drained either. thanks

 

So as you guys can probably see i am doing some preventive maintenance today. So heres the next question. I am looking at my auto trans fluid and the fluid on the dip stick looks bright red which seems to tell me that the fluid is still clean. Am i right in assuming this? I dont know when the truck last had a trans flush. I bought the truck with 57k miles and it currently has 70k miles on it now. Also, thanks for the help on the fuel filter questions.

 

If it were me, I would assume the trans has NOT been flushed. I would make that a priority to get it to a Ford Hot Flush Machine.

 

You should flush it every 30k miles....or like those of us around here that a financially thrifty (cheap), you could drain the tranny pan (8 qts) and swap the external filter every 15k and you will accomplish the same thing.

As far as the secondary filter, the only time you should drain it is when your going to replace the pressure regulator or need to unhook the lines. It's filtered fuel in there so there is no need to trash it.....or at least that's how I look at it.