So today, I dumped about 5-10 gallons of diesel across the road.

I drove about 5 miles, got out got coffee and smelled diesel. "No biggie" I thought, "I just checked the fuel filter last night and when I drained it, the fuel got all over everything underneath. Probably just run off."

Climbed back in about 5 mins later, turned the truck on and the vents poured diesel fumes into the cab. Drove about 1/4 mile before I decided that was way more fumes than should be coming off from residual fuel, because at this point we were coughing. Pulled into a nearby lot, popped the hood, hopped out and saw a quickly growing puddle of fuel under the truck. Opened the hood to find a large steady stream of fuel shooting out of from the cap.

So I shut the truck off. I opened the drain, undid the cap, reseated the oring, and replaced the cap. Tighter this time. Started up the truck, and proceeded along our marry way.

Cam up to the first stop sign, and gave it some gas. It struggled into the intersection at barely an idle.

Uh oh. I limp across the intersection with trailer in tow and pull over at the next cross street. Then I think, "Oh! I forgot to prime it!"

So I pull over to shut it off and prime it. I let it prime and hop out. Yupp. Fuel was pooring out the bottom of the truck. Crawled under and see it coming from a tube. I forgot to close the drain!

Popped the hood, closed the drain and primed it again. This time there were two very small jets of fuel coming from the oring. I decided I could live with those two small leaks and I limped on over to the nearby autozone and bought a new filter, complete with oring and lid.

I needed to replace the filter anyway which is why I checked it last night. I estimate about $20-40 of fuel dumped out. One guy even came up to us while I was on in the engine compartment and said "You realize how much youre leaking right?" That was while I was reaching for the drain valve to close it.

So here are my reminders to everyone:

• Check that the oring has seated properly
• Double check that you closed your drain
• Prime your motor

On the plus side, everything in my engine compartment is clean now..

 

I had My lid crack on Me one time. Lost a good bit of fuel and had to have it towed Home. I live in the country so no parts store close.

 

That's two leaks I won't have to worry about any more. I did the fuel bowl delete before going to RRE last week.

 

Glad it didn't turn into anything more serious. Out of curiosity, why were you checking the fuel filter? Was there something specific you were looking for? I don't think the o-ring on the cap is designed to be reusable...at least I have not had luck trying to reuse them before.

You don't happen to have an open element air filter do you? Might be a bad thing to get one of those things soaked with excess fuel. I wonder which way the spray would go if a Parker sleeve springs a leak.

 

Man dont cut ya self up. I could educate a High school with the amount of mistakes I have made. Glad you got it sorted bruva

 

Glad it didn't turn into anything more serious. Out of curiosity, why were you checking the fuel filter? Was there something specific you were looking for? I don't think the o-ring on the cap is designed to be reusable...at least I have not had luck trying to reuse them before.[/QUOTE]

I had just run a tank of biodiesel, the first ever so I wanted to check how bad the filter got. I know I've never had any luck reusing them either

I have a 6637 with a filter cover, and it stayed remarkably dry. There might be spots that got wet.

 

AMEN bruva, couldn't we all
glad you got it going

 

Did some math today. I spilled about 4.25 gallons on the road. At $4.12/gal thats $17.54 in wasted fuel. Not to mention the $30 fuel filter, but that needed replacing anyway.

Thats not as much as I thought, but picture what 4.25 gallons looks like in jugs. Now mentally pour it out.

 

1. Thanks for the post.
2. It was timely since I changed my fuel filter today. I made a mental checklist of what not to do based on reading this post first.

 

Glad I could help