Hey guys I did the Hutch mod and I can't get rid of air bubbles in the filter. I just used the wix filter and I've tried using one clamp and two clamps on each side but nothing seems to work. I have also tried two different size clamps for the 5/16 hose. The only time I got the air bubbles to stop was by tightening the clamps down a lot but that collapsed the nipple on the filter and the truck seem to have less power. The 3/8 line that I used on the tank fitting I had to peel back some of the braided cloth in order to get it over the little nub on the metal fitting. I have two clamps on each side of the nub so 4 clamps total on that fitting just trying to stop the air from coming in. I think that it is getting air into the inlet side of the filter though. Any suggestions?

 

How does the engine run, smoothly ?
The bubbles will likely work themselves out.

 

it runs exactly the same as it did before the mod. I have nothing else to compare it to but it seems to run fine I was just hoping for a smoother quieter idle and maybe a little better pedal response . Surprisingly my pick up screens and foot were all in really good condition so somebody must have replaced it because it definitely didn't look 17 years old. There seems to be a constant flow of air bubbles coming in the inlet side of the filter. What a pita this has become . Here is a pic

 

Most of us double clamp each end of the hoses.
Did you use 30R7 hose or better? Is the hose 5/16 or 3/8 ? Wix 33972 has 5/16 inlet & outlet.

 

I used 5/16 hose and I had double clamps on there, but still have the same issue. I actually ovaled out the inlet side of filter using double clamps because there's not enough room for both of them. I am on my second filter

 

Is your fuel tank empty?
I wonder if you have a loose ferrule fitting in the tank, or one that was not tightened enough.

 

Get a filter with both 3/8 and 5/16 barbs, cut off the 5/16 barb to use on the 3/8 line from tank. Pic from Chris shows 2 options. I have the Case and a Racor on the bench.

 

tank is 1/2 full . Is it going to be bad for the truck to keep driving it? It seems to be running fine

 

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Win

 

hey tugly, how are you able to tell you had air in the fuel line with the metal filter? My truck still runs exactly the same if not a little better, the only way I can tell there's air in the system is the see-through filter.

 

You have to review how the line/filter are plumbed as well. Remember that air travels up and could get trapped in a space that is higher than the output where it could be expelled. If you look at the picture Rich posted about his Racor PS120, you will see the output line is the highest point in the system until the fuel goes up toward the bowl. Then, the air is expelled from the system.

Unless there is a persistent leak in at the hose connections that is letting air in, the air introduced into the system should be flushed out in short order. This is what happened to my system when I installed the hose and Racor PS120. I primed the system with 3 turns of the key and then on the 4th after starting up the truck I saw a few small bubbles pass through the PS120 and it has been air free since.

You may want to try and arrange the plastic filter in a vertical way in order to let the air bubbles escape easier. Or, you can remove the line to the tank (since you have a lift bed) and plumb it directly into a fuel can. This way you can test the connections at the filter and into the tank. If no bubbles are present going right into the fuel can, well you have an air leak toward the tank.

There was a noticeable difference in the sound and idle of my truck when I did this. Although, my screens were black and not in good shape.

 

Thanks sous, I like the direct into the can idea although I'm pretty sure it's probably leaking right at the filter. Should have listened to you and spent some more money and got the Racor, LOL. I'm surprised Sky ski Jason had so much great luck with these plastic filters as I don't see how you can easily get an airtight seal on the plastic nipples. Hopefully it doesn't hurt the truck to drive with some air in the line as I can't work on it until the weekend again

 

I think that you're prematurely and unjustifiably blaming the filter. I suspect a problem elsewhere letting air in.

 

Personally, I never had great success with the small filters either, but have been ecstatically pleased with the PS120 on both my old (now sold) Excursion and my F250. Besides, I'm also just a whole lot happier with the larger filtration area of the PS120.

 

do you guys know the best place to buy the PS 120?