Fuel filter change.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Fuel filter change.
I need to change the fuel filters soon and I read that on some of the early trucks it would siphon fuel out of the tank when you drain the rear filter if you don't disconnect a fuel line. Does anyone know when they changed it to where you don't have to remove the fuel line? Mine was built in June, and I'm just wondering if I'll have to remove the fuel line or not.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 150
Likes: 10
From: Amarillo & DFW
NTXDiesel......Subscribed! I'm changing my fuel filter this weekend and have the same question. Where is the build date presented? I didn't find it on the window sticker.....thanks in advance.
RP
'17 KR Ultimate Black/Caribou 6.7
RP
'17 KR Ultimate Black/Caribou 6.7
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 104
Likes: 4
From: Oregon
Just changed mine 2 weeks ago (first time for me came from ram), my build date is 04/17 and like stated above I ran mine down to 1/8-1/4 of a tank before draining the rear filter. I used a old 1 gallon milk jug and it only drained about 1.5 Liters (filled it half way). You will know if something is wrong, mine started with a steady stream and when it emptied went to almost nothing coming out instantly. Only took about a minute to drain.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 79
Likes: 13
From: Williamsburg, VA
IF you remove the lines going to the fuel filter under the hood, that will break the vacuum. Then when you unscrew the frame mounted filter a little bit, you should be able to drain from the frame filter valve (filter/water separator) until that canister is empty. If you don't release that vacuum, it can drain you dry. It is not hard to do this properly. There are a bunch of instructional videos on YouTube that would be very helpful if you have never done it. They are worth the quick view.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I did my 2017 when the filter gelled. I had nearly a full tank. Drained the housing which filled about half a 1-gallon milk jug with diesel. It did not drain the tank. I recall the warning on the previous generation truck, but this filter housing is completely different. If it drains much more than a half-gallon of diesel, you might have a problem...but I don't think you will.
The engine bay filter is a piece of cake.
The engine bay filter is a piece of cake.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 324
Likes: 8
From: Austin, TX
I did my 2017 when the filter gelled. I had nearly a full tank. Drained the housing which filled about half a 1-gallon milk jug with diesel. It did not drain the tank. I recall the warning on the previous generation truck, but this filter housing is completely different. If it drains much more than a half-gallon of diesel, you might have a problem...but I don't think you will.
The engine bay filter is a piece of cake.
The engine bay filter is a piece of cake.
Fuel/water separator:
(1) Drain fuel/water separator until it stops (hopefully a couple of quarts).
(2) Undo bolts and remove bottom cover.
(3) Swap coalescing filter element and O-ring.
(4) Slide back into position and retorque bottom cover bolts to 44 lb-in.
Engine mounted filter:
(1) Undo all three clips and detach hoses.
(2) Rotate counterclockwise then remove filter lifting upward.
(3) Replace with new filter (reverse)
(4) Reattach hoses and confirm clips secure.
I'm just curious if you did fuel/water first, then engine mounted? Did you get much leakage out of the hoses on the engine mounted filter when you disconnected them? Also curious if you did any priming cycles before you started the truck?
I don't want to screw it up. Thank you.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 79
Likes: 13
From: Williamsburg, VA
BackTrack - that's the procedure. I disconnected the engine filter lines and removed and then did the frame mounted filter. You get nothing but few drips from the engine filter hoses. I just had a rag in my hand and it was a small drip.
You want to cycle the key on and off several times without starting the truck, before you fire it (after changing the filters of course). You will hear the system prime the filter under the truck. I did it probably 6-7 times if I remember. Probably more than necessary, but I wanted to be safe. Truck fired right away like normal after I finished the prime sequence. It is a pretty easy process start to finish.
You want to cycle the key on and off several times without starting the truck, before you fire it (after changing the filters of course). You will hear the system prime the filter under the truck. I did it probably 6-7 times if I remember. Probably more than necessary, but I wanted to be safe. Truck fired right away like normal after I finished the prime sequence. It is a pretty easy process start to finish.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 324
Likes: 8
From: Austin, TX
BackTrack - that's the procedure. I disconnected the engine filter lines and removed and then did the frame mounted filter. You get nothing but few drips from the engine filter hoses. I just had a rag in my hand and it was a small drip.
You want to cycle the key on and off several times without starting the truck, before you fire it (after changing the filters of course). You will hear the system prime the filter under the truck. I did it probably 6-7 times if I remember. Probably more than necessary, but I wanted to be safe. Truck fired right away like normal after I finished the prime sequence. It is a pretty easy process start to finish.
You want to cycle the key on and off several times without starting the truck, before you fire it (after changing the filters of course). You will hear the system prime the filter under the truck. I did it probably 6-7 times if I remember. Probably more than necessary, but I wanted to be safe. Truck fired right away like normal after I finished the prime sequence. It is a pretty easy process start to finish.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Dixon, MO
backtrack, I did mine exactly as you spelled out. If disconnecting the engine mounted fuel lines helps like it did for mfrancis I don't see any harm. I would agree if you drain your fuel/water separator and get more than 2 liters then you may have an issue. I do think not having your fuel tank full helps with the siphoning other have experienced. Like I said earlier I only had 1/4 tank and didn't have any issues. I would also pass on, the engine mounted filter is easy of course if you can decipher each connector as they are different in the way they disconnect and reconnect. The middle connector gave me the most hassle. There is a tab on the top connector, slide it across the connector and with another finger below there is a push tab. You slide the top tab over and push in with another finger on the bottom. You will not see this push tab! But you will feel it with your finger. Another note is when reconnecting the fuel lines make sure you have a good connection by pulling on each line. You may think they are connected but they may not be. Don't ask me how I know!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 324
Likes: 8
From: Austin, TX
backtrack, I did mine exactly as you spelled out. If disconnecting the engine mounted fuel lines helps like it did for mfrancis I don't see any harm. I would agree if you drain your fuel/water separator and get more than 2 liters then you may have an issue. I do think not having your fuel tank full helps with the siphoning other have experienced. Like I said earlier I only had 1/4 tank and didn't have any issues. I would also pass on, the engine mounted filter is easy of course if you can decipher each connector as they are different in the way they disconnect and reconnect. The middle connector gave me the most hassle. There is a tab on the top connector, slide it across the connector and with another finger below there is a push tab. You slide the top tab over and push in with another finger on the bottom. You will not see this push tab! But you will feel it with your finger. Another note is when reconnecting the fuel lines make sure you have a good connection by pulling on each line. You may think they are connected but they may not be. Don't ask me how I know!
Thanks for the extra tips here. One of the guys on the Grand Design forums had his truck catch on fire (lost both the truck and his fifth-wheel) after the dealer did some work on the fuel system but failed to get it buttoned up properly. I'm quite sure I'll be checking those connections a few times, including after each of the first few drives.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 324
Likes: 8
From: Austin, TX
FWIW, I just looked it up again to make sure I hadn’t made it up. It was a 2013 Ford 6.7L and the fuel filters had recently been swapped by the dealer. The theory is that one of the connections on the engine-mounted filter wasn’t quite secure and worked its way loose with the truck in motion...sudden loss of fuel pressure....fire.
The owner was quite keen to make sure people double-check those connections after they have their filters changed.
The owner was quite keen to make sure people double-check those connections after they have their filters changed.