So I got my van running again. While doing this I noticed I was dripping diesel when it was left running. Digging into it I found I was leaking fuel from here. It is circled in yellow:


Has anyone else had an issue with fuel leaking from here and is so how did you fix it?

Thanks

 

Check this thread for detailed Info:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ns-w-pics.html

Mark

 

Thanks. Looks like my next project will be replacing the fuel heater. I would just do the o-rings, but with my luck it would still leak.

 

why not just remove it and put a pipe plug in there?
you really do not need the fuel heater unless you are up near the arctic circle.

 

I just put a pipe plug in 2 of mine a few weeks ago - 1/2" npt tap - plug it and I also did some jb weld for good measure

 

That is kind of what I was thinking. Just didn't know if I would have any issues with cold temperatures. We usually get a few sustained single digit (below zero at night) times during the winter. The van is parked outside, would I need to worry about it?

 

my 88 has had the heater disconnected since it burned out back around 1990. never had any fuel gelling problems with it, and we get below zero temps here quite often. all i do is split a quart of diesel kleen between the fuel tanks when i fuel it up.

 

yeah just jb weld it.
if you want a fuel filter heater,consider installing a coolant filter and wrapping the two filters together to kill two birds with one stone,or buy a universal heater blanket.there's no need to tell ford it's ok to charge what they want for that old heater by supporting them with those ridiculous prices.example:
https://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com/...lterheater.php

 

Personally, I just disconnected it, cleaned the area, and filled the connector with super glue. Once it set(took /ages/), I haven't had any issues. This was over a year(year and a half?) ago.

 

IMO to keep it original, the filter head on the 7.3 is the high point of the system, and the return line leaving the filter head has a check valve, and small orifice in it, that when the engine's lift pump is operating a small amount of fuel is always returning to the tank, taking bubbles from tank slosh, with it down the return line's cooling the injectors along the way, the return line leaving the ip never seams to have anything coming out of it when I pull the hose off and look at it. the check ball is plastic and has a ultra lite spring that will get lost very easy if you remove the fitting and aren't ready to catch it. some persons have said that ford put out a tech bulletin that one could omit the return line from the filter head, I have not seen this bulletin, IMO to leave it hooked up. or the only way for air to get out of system is out the injector line's. The check valve should keep the filter from emptying out, when sitting. when the o ring in the heater rots it lets air in the filter head..

 

when it works as it should. but they very rarely work as they should. that is why ford issued the TSB back in 1989 or 1990.

 

Oh, that explains why a fuel bulb/check-valve, put inline, solves all these problems... It *should* have had one from the factory, but by now it's gone/broken!

 

yeah.

• Self-priming with a 10 ft. minimum lift
• Transient Protection
• Check valve
• 4 hour dry run
• Self-regulating
• 33 - 50 GPH
• 15 - 9 PSI
• VCA approved EC 95/54
• State-of-the-Art Electronic
• Sealed Electronics
• Reverse Polarity Protection
• Corrosion Resistant over 100 hours salt spray
• Durable Transparent fuel bowl
• Light Weight - 3LBs at 7 1/4”
• Low Power Requirements 1.4 amp on average
• Operating Temperature Range: -40F to 180F