The factory fuel separator on my 86 F250 with a 6.9 was bypassed by the Ford dealer in 1987. I would like to install a new WS. I found one on ebay, zorotools Baldwin B10-AL $40.45 with free shipping. Would anyone recommend this one?
thanks nick c

 

Hey Nick,
I don't have a recommendation, but I just got my first diesel, '87 350, 6.9, and it doesn't have the separator either. I was also wondering about installing one so your post is definitely apropos. Do you know if Ford deleted this part in 87?
Good luck with your project!
Mick

 

It's hard to believe that Ford would bypass the system on a year old truck. You really don't want to not have a water separator, even a small amount of water can damage your IP.

They did not delete the water separator, the 6.9 had it on the firewall by the brake booster, the 7.3 had it Incorporated with the fuel filter with a leaky aluminum bowl on the bottom of the filter.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13028016

 

The factory water separators on the 6.9s had problems. That fuel separator on ebay is for use on a fuel pump at a filling station. It is huge and I wouldn't install it on my vehicle. Personally I'm not fond of plastic or glass bowls for fuel applications on a vehicle. Keep looking... I use a stanadyne fuel manager on my truck, but I'm not really satisfied with it. I have been experimenting with different elements 5, 30 and 150 micron and haven't been happy with the results. It seems to clog after a few hundred miles regardless of the micron rating. I purchased elements for it on ebay cheap and will likely switch to a wix spin on type after I use them all. The fuel filter on a 6.9 does block water, but a separator upstream is preferred.

 

I've a spare filter w/separator ***'y from a 7.3. Is it an easy ( as in no fabrication needed )swap with the 6.9 fuel filter ***/y? I know there is a water in fuel light on my 86 F350.

Has anyone thought about drilling a tap in the bottom of the 6.9 filter and used JBweld for a temp fix? I have a week to get on the road and need a quick solution.

 

I couldn't tell you about fabrication, but the 7.3 fuel filter assy has a 3/8 NPT thread for both input and output, once you remove the brass adapters pre-threaded into it. This makes it easy to attach hose barbs to both sides.
Beyond that, just make sure it's vertical and attach it wherever and however you want -- you could probably figure out a way of zip-tying it into place if you needed a quick fix.