Before starting my 08 of a morning, I do the "turn on key" and wait just as you should. The last couple of weeks, when I did this, it sounded like a pump was just about ready to lift off and go into orbit. Now this was only doing this with the first start of a morning. I was at the Ford dealer this week for the Fan and I mentioned it, the diesel tech said to change the fuel filters and just make d*** sure you can drain water, diesel or whatever out of the HFCM first. Well it has been 5k since the oil and 10k since the fuel fiters were changed, so today, nice 80 degree day, I did the essentials. First out, I could not drain the HFCM. So I took off the valve where the 3 T-20's are, and low and behold, all kinds of water came out and it it was full of "Green" gunk. I thought it was corrosion, but it was a mossy substance. The valve was clogged I then ran a straw in side the HFCM and brought out a whole bunch more green gunk. I then turned on the key and let the pump flush it out. Cleaned it again, wiped everything and swabbed everyplace that I could then put in the new filters, (old filters looked pretty good, cleaning and swabbing the internals of the HFCM), changed the oil and etc. But I can tell you now, when I was priming the system , the pump was more smooth and quiet than ever before. I will know more in the morning how the pump will sound and hopefull not like before. I buy my fuel at high volume places and change my fuel filters every 10k or less. Just a little concerned here, so I am going to start the "changing fuel filters" every 5k for a while to keep it more clean and check the HFCM weekly.
My reccommendations to the folks that cannot drain their HFCM because it is slow or just drips, TAKE OFF THE VALVE ASSEMBLY and clean it out. It takes a whole 2 minutes to take it off and see what is going on. Pretty good insurance against water and garbage in my opinon especially when the filters show no signs of excessive dirt or garbage.

 

This actually seems to be coming up more often these days. These trucks are starting to get some age on them now so I have a feeling that with age and fuel constantly running thru there it builds over time.

I suppose the quick check is the monthly draining and listening as you did.

If there is a slow drain/change in how it used to drain then one should investigate.

I am attaching a pick of what you referenced so that others can see what you are referring to.

 

Thanks for posting the Pic! If I would have known what I was getting actually getting into, I would have taken pics.

I started it up this morning, and the pre start was as quiet as a kitten. It is 65 this morning so now I am curious as its suppose to be 15 Thursday morning and see how it sounds then. I hope these folks read this, as senstive as the fuel system is on these engines and take heed. Water in the system along with some restrictions on the filters is a formula for trouble.

 

I have seen them unload fuel off barges with it raining with the lids wide open! Water in these tanks will grow moss at right tempature. One tank is all it takes and I got one. I was lucky it was in the tank in back of truck. My water stop filter in bulk tank stop pumping. I drained tank, I had what looked like green fish eggs. I drain a pint a week, let sit.

 

Would a system like the FASS be a worthy investment for this truck? I am not sure if its worth the money or be more trouble? any thoughts to that?

 

Maybe something that has merit. I just have not found one for an 08 and up fuel system.