Quick fuel filter question
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: MI
Quick fuel filter question
What do you all think of the fuel filters that don't have the white screen material on the outside of them? Are they safe to use? I bought the high quality one from the parts store and it did not have it, but the old one does. Is this something new?
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: West of Chicago
Take it and return it, throw it away or do what you wish with it as long as its not in the truck. That little white screen is actually a water separating material. It is the last line of defense for water in the fuel, and before the injectors. Some cheaper aftermarket filters like WIX, (napa filter line also) do not use this important screen. This vid is for the 6.0 but it does a good job at explaining the basic filter materiel.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Take it and return it, throw it away or do what you wish with it as long as its not in the truck. That little white screen is actually a water separating material. It is the last line of defense for water in the fuel, and before the injectors. Some cheaper aftermarket filters like WIX, (napa filter line also) do not use this important screen. This vid is for the 6.0 but it does a good job at explaining the basic filter materiel.
I'm not sure what you mean by cheap aftermarket filters like WIX? It's been my understanding that Wix is one of the top filters on the market. The guy who Blackstone Laboratories uses to do all of their filter analysis lives in Oklahoma. I can't remember his name but he is a retired WIX engineer and he told me that there probably isn't a better product out there than WIX for oil filter media. Why would it be any different for their fuel filter media?
This is the guy that Blackstone Laboratories contracts out all of their filters to analyze. If they trust him, I trust him.
Drake
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From: West of Chicago
The WIX/NAPA filters do not have the little water separating screen on them. WIX oil filters I have used for may years for no issue. I should have been more specific with "cheap aftermarket filters" . I am comparing the two based on what I have seen for fuel. 
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Longview, TX
This is interesting. First I've heard about not using wix fuel filters. I try to just add one or two filters to the list when I make an order from clay or Bob, but I've always used wix when I go to the parts house.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Walpole, MA
Or...
If so they gave you the filter for a 1994-1997 truck and I don't know if it will fit.
If it looks like this...
Then you got a wix 33818 for the 99-03 7.3.
Fleetguard, Baldwin, Motorcraft, Donaldson all have the water screen like below...
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Thanks for clarifying. Since I have the fuel bowl delete setup, I use a spin-on fuel filter from FST performance called FloMax 300M. They are a nearly exclusive fuel supply specialist in the off-shore boat racing industry and even supply filtration products for automotive, diesel, light duty, heavy duty, etc...
Here's a Link to the filter and filter base I'm using. It has ORB fittings making it a leak free setup. It's a true billet aluminum piece unlike everything else I've come across. Everything else I used for a filter base leaked fuel at the connecting ports and sucked in loads of air into the fuel supply. The fuel filter is top notch and does effectively separate water
I couldn't be happier with anything else and I'm very glad I got rid of my fuel bowl. That thing was a nightmare!
Drake
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Lancaster, Pa.
About 3 years ago I seen a deal on e-bay selling filters just like the drop in Racors that we often get, without the cap variations that is, what Clay sells, but without the outer white screen. Sorry, forget the brand. Although I used them (3), I really wasn't totally satisfied so after those were used it was back, where I should have been, ordering the Racors from Clay. Although I haven't ordered from Clay in a while, trucks been running flawlessly except for an up-pipe install, I order from a reputable and 100% trustworthy vendor. Order Clay's Racor's, most of us do from here and I need more soo.......
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