FRx spring choice
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
I'm using a 100 micron stainless fuel strainer.
It's great you've also got a good choice of fuel stations and can be choosy!
How many PSD problems have we seen on this forum where the in-tank strainer has blocked up causing loss of power & poor running, with the stealerships having no idea and replacing all and sundry at cost to the owner?
I've seen that senario enough on this forum to know that I want to take a few basic precautions to make sure if or when that happens to my truck I'll have it easily covered. I can live with the extra complications as 'insurance'. I certainly do NOT want to be cleaning a clogged strainer out on the inside my FULL 70 GALLON long-range fuel tank!
It's great you've also got a good choice of fuel stations and can be choosy!
How many PSD problems have we seen on this forum where the in-tank strainer has blocked up causing loss of power & poor running, with the stealerships having no idea and replacing all and sundry at cost to the owner?
I've seen that senario enough on this forum to know that I want to take a few basic precautions to make sure if or when that happens to my truck I'll have it easily covered. I can live with the extra complications as 'insurance'. I certainly do NOT want to be cleaning a clogged strainer out on the inside my FULL 70 GALLON long-range fuel tank!
But, it doesn't make good sense to use something like a 2mic water-separating filter in front of the OE pump. This pump does not like restriction on the suction-side and many have suffered a premature failure as a result. Adding another pump to compensate for this borders on just plain silly - IMHO... 
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7,793
Likes: 50
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Most fuel/water separating filters work better on suction-side of pump. That may be some of the reason OE filter is so expensive...
The fact is, the OE filter does a good job of removing water, contaminants and air. The non-serviceable in-tank strainer was likely designed to survive the warranty period. By partially 'looping' the return, it does reduce strain on the pump and mitigates heating the fuel in the tank to some extent.
The fact is, the OE filter does a good job of removing water, contaminants and air. The non-serviceable in-tank strainer was likely designed to survive the warranty period. By partially 'looping' the return, it does reduce strain on the pump and mitigates heating the fuel in the tank to some extent.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
New Fuel Pump Installation Kit Ford Pickup Van 7 3L Diesel E2236 | eBay
My fuel is clean and dry before I put it in the truck.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Only the best!! 
I have a lot more control of this with B100 I make and the WVO I process to use in my truck(s) than I do with the diesel I buy at the pumps... Some folks just dump stuff in their truck and hope for the best - they should probably have redundant filters (and a budget for injector/engine rebuild 
).
I will say if you have a filter on the suction-side of the pump, a vacuum gauge to monitor it is probably a good idea. With a pre-pump, I guess a pressure/vacuum gauge would be in order.
I have a lot more control of this with B100 I make and the WVO I process to use in my truck(s) than I do with the diesel I buy at the pumps...
Some folks just dump stuff in their truck and hope for the best - they should probably have redundant filters (and a budget for injector/engine rebuild ).I will say if you have a filter on the suction-side of the pump, a vacuum gauge to monitor it is probably a good idea. With a pre-pump, I guess a pressure/vacuum gauge would be in order.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 0
From: Canberra Australia
I hadn't thought of a vacuum gauge on the suction side of the pump. That is not a bad idea!
At $40 for a replacement stock pump I can see why you'd just run the standard system (with strainer external to the tank), and just carry the spare pump for insurance
The problem with Bio, as I understand it, is that while it might be dry at delivery, if it remains in your tank for an extended period it can absorb water from the atmosphere, much moreso that mineral diesel oil.
BTW, nearly finished fitting my FRx today. But I dropped one of the head fittings. It fell down the front of the engine, I spent hours seaching for it in vain. Bollocks!
At $40 for a replacement stock pump I can see why you'd just run the standard system (with strainer external to the tank), and just carry the spare pump for insurance
The problem with Bio, as I understand it, is that while it might be dry at delivery, if it remains in your tank for an extended period it can absorb water from the atmosphere, much moreso that mineral diesel oil.
BTW, nearly finished fitting my FRx today. But I dropped one of the head fittings. It fell down the front of the engine, I spent hours seaching for it in vain. Bollocks!
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
Beware! That link takes you to an ad for a Global Automotive pump with an Airtex part number and the picture of a Bosch pump. I'd dig deep before plunking my money on that one.
I just went through all my gyrations on the best pump for these trucks, with the goal of going another 15 years and 300,000 miles. I couldn't find a better one than the stock pump... but the stocker costs a Buck$Zooka round. Clay has the best deal I could find when I factored price, shipping, and time to my location.
I just went through all my gyrations on the best pump for these trucks, with the goal of going another 15 years and 300,000 miles. I couldn't find a better one than the stock pump... but the stocker costs a Buck$Zooka round. Clay has the best deal I could find when I factored price, shipping, and time to my location.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Beware! That link takes you to an ad for a Global Automotive pump with an Airtex part number and the picture of a Bosch pump. I'd dig deep before plunking my money on that one.
I just went through all my gyrations on the best pump for these trucks, with the goal of going another 15 years and 300,000 miles. I couldn't find a better one than the stock pump... but the stocker costs a Buck$Zooka round. Clay has the best deal I could find when I factored price, shipping, and time to my location.
I just went through all my gyrations on the best pump for these trucks, with the goal of going another 15 years and 300,000 miles. I couldn't find a better one than the stock pump... but the stocker costs a Buck$Zooka round. Clay has the best deal I could find when I factored price, shipping, and time to my location.
I've got 5yrs and over 120k miles on the Airtex pump in my VO system.
The beautiful thing about redundant fuel systems is I can always get home on the 'other' fuel!!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
brian42
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
7
May 13, 2015 11:15 PM