Well.......the regulars know what this is about but I aint saying anything, I got in enough trouble the other day

I didn't add this to kper's thread becuase I had a different outcome (for lack of a better word).

This fuel filter change is at 40,000 kM (25,000 miles). The filters were changed previously at 20,000 kM (12,000 miles).

The first thing I noticed was the DFCM bowl was extremely had to get off this time (was not last time). It took substantial force to turn it for the first 3 or so turns. To the point where I thought I was going to break it. Something was causing it to bind......(more on that later).

First look at the DFCM filter and all looks good. So far so good.


However, when I looked in the DFCM bowl I saw something. If I was not looking for something maybe I would have wiped it out and not thought a thing about it. But on closer inspection the stuff is in fact very fine metal filings!! No question about it. It's not dirt or anything else. It is metal filings 100% no ifs and or buts. It is like about what you would get if you were working with a very fine file on steel.


A closer look at the DFCM filter and you can see it in there too....


It is definately metal, a magnet will pull it right off the filter or out of the bowl......


This stuff is too big to get by the DFCM filter and into the secondary filter. There is nothing visible in the secondary engine mounted filter.




The DFCM bowl was binding because of the metalic debris in the threads (the threads are below the o ring and in the fuel basically)......

Like someone here said, the fuel pickup is above the bottom of the tank. This stuff would be on the bottom of the tank but obviously the fuel moving around in there is enough to mix it up and suck it up.

If I was not looking for something I likely (maybe) would have just called it crud and wiped it off and never gave it a second thought.

I am now (thanks a lot Epic) interested to see if anyone else sees this.

You guys have fun with this one...I am going back to "head in sand" as it is WAY WAY WAY more fun than this. And I am being serious (for a change) for me too much information is not a good thing. I love my truck. This is a once in a lifetime vehicle for me. I have ALWAYS bought what I could afford, this is the first time ever I bought what I wanted. I will continue to enjoy it

After all, if there really is a problem someone will step up to the plate and fix it right?? (OH YA, just remembered, life aint always fair)

Good luck to you all.

 

Very cool. I'm only at 21,000 miles but I'm going to pull mine apart this weekend and do the same thing. I'll be careful to use proper lighting and some very close photography. Let's see if we can establish a trend.

 

...that looks familiar...

You are correct about the fuel slosh keeping the metal suspended at a level that the fuel pickup can reach...my fuel looked like it had glitter in it...
Regards

 

I do not know about the coatings...but...

My filter had more debris but my HPFP had failed catastrophically. The debris was also a mix of aluminum and steel. The camshaft is steel. Mine was scored and one lobe had eroded quite a bit. The rollers and their seats are also steel. They were also scored and showed obvious loss of metal...but no evidence of water infiltration.

Regards

 

Good to see no metal in the secondary, awaiting Epics video as always.

 

Nice! You've got my attention!! Subscribed!!

 

That looks just like the particles they found in my controller and HPFP. See the pics I posted in my HPFP thread. They've not torn into either filter but I'm going to ask now.

 

Those are clean filters despite the metal bits.
If Ford thinks the pump is perfect, why are there even metal bits returning to the DFCM?

I need to change the oil this weekend @ 5,800+ miles so I may as well change the fuel filters, too.
Mine will be needed in 3,000 miles anyways.

 

Wow, and Darren, aren't you are in Canada? Isnt that where the "good fuel" is? Also, despite all your mods, I would think that you should pursue "preventative" replacement, before the pump fully fails? Or since there are shavings, is it already too late?

 

Yes I am in Canada and I have put stanadyne performance formula in every tank. All but 2 tanks have been shell diesel.

For now I am going to drive it and see what happens over the next few months.......

IF there was an upgraded or better (aftermarket) pump available I would definately consider putting it in NOW. But I don't thnik I am going to spend the money and put the same pump in at this point

My truck is tuned and pretty much always has been. I like to get on the throttle. But 99% of the time I drive around in the "mild" mode which has the claibrations not much over stock. I only have 25,000 miles on the truck.

Not that I think it will matter at this point but I am going to give up my beloved stanadyne and switch to opti lube XPD

I am very

Kper, don't do what I did. I changed my oil last night too. But I was so flustered after finiding the metal I started the damn truck with no oil in it ARG, I really don't need this

Thanks

 

Darren,
Thanks for the great info. I wonder if the steel particles came from the outside in or inside out to the tank. Maybe a filter on the return tube to the tank is worth trying?
-Gavin

 

Our old friend Marauder92V just gave me a good suggestion and I think I will give it a try. He suggest putting a rare earth magnet on the outside of the filter housings to trap any metal that passes through there. I think it's a good idea, if you can trap the metal in one location you will have a better idea of how much of it there is.

Thanks

 

With my job I have spent plenty of time in China and have seen plenty of their "clone" products. I would never even consider a clone pump for this application. Their products look close to the origional but that is where it ends. The materials used and the longevity of the products are only a fraction of the real stuff. You would be changing the pumps along with your oil. IMHO

 

I like that idea. Anyone see any downside to that? The only thing I can see is the speed at which they are moving may mean it will only accumulate what the filter already has stopped. Would be cool if it could stop everything passing by.

Not an engineer so pretty much on the edge here.

Sometimes the simplistic solutions are the best.

 

I have the filters from my truck...I have not cracked the egg on the secondary...yet...I will open it up later and take a look. To be honest, I do not believe there will be any metal...there was no water in the fuel I dumped out of it...how big a hammer do I need...