Shortly after buying my truck i changed both fuel filters, after looking over the site I've been seeing people say to drain the water out from the HFCM drain plug. Is this something i can do without changing the fuel filters again or do i need to wait and do it all at once? Does this just drain the water stored behind the plug or should I be expecting a lot of liquid? When I changed the fuel filters i was unaware of this and change the rail fuel filter first and then the one under the hood, would that still get the water out or do i still need to drain the HFCM plug? thanks

 

First, you can drain the water anytime you want. The brass plug on the HFCM

They tend to strip out. Suggest one of these:

DTS Articles - HFCM Water Separator Drain Plug Upgrade

Makes things a lot easier. Drains in some sort of direction, instead of all over.

The amount of fluid that comes out varies. Some say a lot, some not a lot. I get about 2 inches in a tequila bottle.

The brass plug is under the fuel heater harness in this picture, you can just barely see it.

 

Just a little reminder the stock valve can be steel with an allen wrench socket.
Sean

 

And this is the one that tends to strip out, not the brass upgraded plug.

 

You will get about a pint of fluid out when you open up the drain plug in the HFCM (large fuel filter). You can do this anytime you want.

Some do it monthly, I only do it prior to changing my fuel filters... but then again, I have never had my "water in fuel" light come on nor had a fuel related problem (knock on wood).

Just use an allen wrench to open and have a small drain pan handy and some shop rags and paper towels. Do not have your head behind the unit as the flow of fuel will flow towards the rear and/or follow the frame rails... so just be prepared.

The reason for always draining this plug even when changing the large fuel filter is that this is the lowest point in the fuel filter... so when someone changes the fuel filter, they are not draining out any potential water/moisture that may have collected.

I, and may others, use the upgraded drain plug which just uses a Cresent Wrench to open and is made from brass (way easier to open and close). The key is not to over-tighten either plug when re-installing.

Also - only use Motorcraft or Racor made OEM made fuel filters as they only fit and filter 100%. WIX and other "will-fit" filters do not meet OEM filtration and do not have the proper "Aqua-Bloc" media (white media covering on the outside covering the paper pleats on the large filter). This is what seperates the water and is patented!!!

Good luck,

 

thanks for the info guys, i had a pretty good amount of fluid come out!

 

I am doing the change now and I assume Excursion is the same as F 250. How come there isn't any room to take the fuel filter with the cap out to change to the new one?

 

Super Duty and Excursions are the same.

tight fit is just the way it is due to the axle and transfer case stuff down there.

You have to snap the filter out of the cap and remove each seperately.

When installing, slide filter up (but not in the housing), slide cap into place and snap filter into the cap.... then after you have snapped the two together, you slide the cap & filter into the housing and tighten down.

If you slide the filter into the housing, then screw the cap on... the cap and filter may not "seat and seal" properly.

 

Opps! I had the release nut out and fuel just kept spilling out after 10 min. I went ahead taking the cap out and fuel spill out both opening. There is no way I stick my head under there to get the filter and cap together to install. Don't know why the fuel kept flowing out non stop, maybe because the fuel system isn't pressurize? Was working on changing the oil/egr cooler so there isn't any fuel in the secondary filter bow...

 

Next time park the truck on an incline, nose up, and open fuel cap to release press. Some trucks keep running, fuel, and some don't. Also do it with fuel tank at 1/4 full or less.

 

That is strange, some truck kept spilling out fuel and some stop after a pint. I did not have any fuel in the secondary. It was empty since I took it out to change the oil cooler. 1/4 tank is something I have to do the next filter change...

Thanks