Ok, so this should be pretty easy, right? 15 mins? Yeah, my first one and first time as this truck's owner so not so much. I have two questions at the end if you just want to scroll down...

I drained it no prob. Into a clear glass jar via a clear hose as someone here suggested. No worries, clear and bright.

Now for the cover. Well, the bowl cover was VERY tight but I got it off. Gasket still there and looks like the bevel side is up, so that is correct.

Next, the old filter was VERY tight. I had to wiggle, pull, pry, tug, and yank on the damn thing to get it out. No "very carefully" remove the old filter. YANK ON IT!

I get it out to see this- not a great photo but yes the element is BLACK. So, I'm thinking oil contamination. However, it looks like it is correct and in one piece so I'm happy about that.



Then I look in the bowl and see this-



Pretty dirty and it seems to be "cooked" onto the walls. And, hey, is that "bottom" supposed to be there? Other pics I've seen you can see the heating element, so did they take this part out to get to the rest?



So, I guess these are my questions-

1) Is that oil? Where might it be from? What should I do?

2) Should the filter have been that difficult to remove?

3) Is that "bottom" supposed to be there? Can I remove it to clean the bowl and then put it back (if it belongs)?

4) Any suggestions on how to clean the bowl? I think this is beyond q-tips.

Any help is appreciated!

 

I bet that lid belongs to the bottom of the filter. When you put the new one back take that one out. By the way I never seen a filter that dirty, looks like the original owner used motor oil as fuel lol.

 

I thought it was the bottom, too, but the filter has it so perhaps an old bottom? But, it shouldn't be there, right?

 

The last time I changed mine out, there was a lot of sediment in the bottom, sand, grit like. So I don't think it is 'oil', but other types of residue.




yes and no. It should be snug and twist out hard, but easy. It looks like it has been a long time in need of a change.
I do not think that should be in there. it looks like the bottom of a former filter that did not come out. you should be able to see the heating element and I don't see that as it is under that 'bottom'.
twist that 'false bottom' out and you will see a lot of 'junk' around the heating element. you may have fun getting all of the crud out. Loosen it up with the q-tip and stick your shop vac hose in there for the loose specks.

there should be a picture of the inside of the fuel filter bowl around here somewhere for you to look at, but again, that 'false bottom' I don't think should be in there.

There are a couple of 'different' 'types' of filters to buy. Some come with a built in cap and some do not and only have the filter. If you bought only the filter make sure you have 'keep the cap' and use it.... If you buy one with the cap installed, keep your old cap for later use as you may only be able to buy a filter with no cap.... and wish you have kept it...

 

Welcome to guzzle's Powerstroke Fuel Bowl Rebuild Web Page

Was the lid, seperate from the filter? If so, i'd say the metal plate belongs there.

 

I personally don't think the housing looks THAT bad. I just took some fuel injector spray cleaner to mine while the drain was still open and all the gunk ran right out the hose at the bottom into my catch pan.
Your filter looks a bit dirty kind of like the PO didn't change it often enough-the factory calls for a fuel filter change at every 15k miles.
Without seeing what you've got up close-if you've got a removable top you CAN just buy a filter for use with that-it will come with NO top. OR you CAN buy a filter that HAS the top built in and use it like it comes. Hope this helps!

 

I think that round metal in the bowl is part of the filter you just removed, the filter tore apart . Get it out. If the black pedistal in the center comes out with it, unless it breaks, you should be able to snap it back in.

 

To clean the housing just close the yellow valve turn the key on for 5 sec and use a parts brush or a 1 inch paint brush and go to town on it. Drain it and do again and again till it looks clean.

 

The bottom piece was from a previous filter change as the one I took out was intact. I got it out and saw SOOOO much crud in there and an old o-ring (one was still on the filter I removed).

I cleaned it as best i could with the q-tips and put the filter back in. I changed the oil (T6 w/ Fumoto drain) so I'll do them both again in 7,500 to see how it looks. Took a sample for Blackstone analysis.

Next time I'll do more with the chemicals (fuel injector cleaner, flush with fuel, etc). Thanks for the tips!

 

And next time it will be much easier to change. The reason you had so much trouble getting the lid off and the old one out was because it had been forced down on the old bottom and then tightened up enough not to leak. Now that you only have the needed pieces in there, it will be a breeze.

And I don't know what it looked like underneath the lid, but the picture you posted doesn't scare me at all. If my bowl looks like that I just slap another filter in and go.

Now for the color question. If there's oil in there, you should have seen some evidence below the lid too. Don't be fooled by that little outer screen. Look up under that at the pleated paper filter to gauge how dirty or contaminated your filter really is.

 

Nice. You're the only other person I've heard of running dual lower filter cups! Did anyone run BIO through it? That's what dissolved the glue on one or two of mine. I saw what you saw, and there were TWO of them in there. One that was just a squatter and one that had just come off the filter I just removed.

 

Glad to hear the experienced people think the bowl is in better shape than I do/did. AFAIK, there was no bio through it. The PO did his own maintenance, I'm just not confident he did the CORRECT maintenance. For example, his coolant was totally wrong and there is power steering fluid in the steering system instead of ATF. I fixed the coolant but still waiting on the steering flush.

I am rethinking the oil contamination. The fuel was clear when draining and only turned black when I took the filter out. And, the bowl has no oily residue and none up under the filter or bowl cap. So, I think it is just crud of some sort.

At least the oil change went easily. I didn't even have to use a wrench on the filter. spun it right off with my hand, doh.

Started it up and SWEET! Reduced cackle and injector knock, so smooth. I think she is gonna like the new filters and oil!

 

Glad you got it figured out!

 

x2

It had probably been a long time since the last filter change and it looks like it did it's job keeping the fuel clean. If the previous owner ran some 2 stroke oil in the fuel for lubrication that would explain the color of the media. If/when you do the intank/pre-pump mods you will easily see the difference in a cleaner fuel filter and bowl.