So I performed the works on the truck over the Easter weekend. I hope everyone had a good one. Oil/filter, fuel filters, intake filter, cleaned the engine. She purrs. However, in the fuel bowl at the secondary filter, I noticed an ever so slight presence of what appeared to be some shine flake. I've never seen this before. Am I totally FUBAR'd screwed? I take such good care of this...it pains me to think about.

Thoughts? Am I okay? I feel like I want to take another look in the fuel bowl to make sure. Truck runs like a top. Fuel filters looked good like they always do...though there is more sludge on that primary filter than I would like. I started trying to pull **** out of the primary (horizontal fuel bowl) by hand but could only get so much. I felt like blowing water in there and just letting it air dry...decided against...blowing water into the fuel/water separator.

 

I sure wouldn't come uncrimped over what I'm seeing. Are the particles suspended on the fuel or at the bottom of the bowl.

I would throw in the new filter after a total swab out (No water). Let dry and use a fine nose shopvac to back that up. Any time I do a filter change I drain, swab, take non chlorinated brake cleaner, reswab and vac. That's on the 7.3 and 6.4. I use lint free cloth, such as an old t shirt, (white), so I can take my scope and see what is going on. Eyeball the inside of your old filter, should look at least 50 pct brighter than the out. (at your intervals).

If I were seeing big shards then yeah, I would start "crapping your oatmeal". Remember Pic, this is a mechanical unit and you can expect to see things like I'm looking at. That's why due diligence on filter changes are necessary and the way you baby that thing, let's face it........when/if it goes, you would be throwing your money and sleep away to attack it until then.

Give it a month and reinspect it and see if it gets worse. Our filters are 5 mic's I believe which is infinitely small. I don't think you can catch anything with a blind eye that small, so your filter maintenance will def payoff.

Denny

On a side note: If your fuel system is going down hill, you'll notice in performance waaaaaay before necessary action.

How did your last scan look?

Denny

 

I honestly don't see anything that looks like a issue.

 

these flakes typically appear during/after cold weather/

the cause is fuel starvation due to the difficulty fuel has getting thru the filters in cold weather...diesel gels in cold weather

prevention is anti gel and a fuel lube

so, now that you have it...what now

extreme cases of metal flakes could clog injectors open or closed

you basically have the begining of fuel pump wear

I had some flakes 2 tears ago from the previous owner not using anti gel and fuel lube

I changed my filters, fuel lines to the injectors, pulled my tank , etc

while I think my hpfp is worn, I can still pull 37lbs of boost so maybe my pump will get me by until the next time I pull the cab.

 

Thanks Denny. I would like to avoid filling my pants with oatmeal if I can.

Thanks fritz. I already use the fuel additive and oil additive so I'm covered there. What I haven't done is change fuel lines to injectors...or pulled the tank for a cleaning. Is that hard to do? I just don't have too many tools...or a lift.

 

Pic,

I sure wouldn't start tearing into the truck for this...............yet.

I also wouldn't lose any sleep over it. As I said, you are doing everything right with maintenance and additives so what will happen at one point is going to regardless.

There are many 6.4 owners who fuel and drive the truck without doing anything more than oil changes at extended intervals. The vast majority (in my eyes) of larger failures are just a plain old bad day at the build point in the plant, or racing and abusing the unit.

I have a local guy/kid that has an 08 6.4 and I swear he must go thru a set of tires a week. We spoke briefly as we were parked side by side and he is ignorant on the maintenance schedule and just doesn't have enough ambition to do anything except mash the peddle. No, we are not fiends...lol.

Keep doing what your doing and enjoy it without raising your eyebrows. I'm sure at one point both of us will be pulling valve covers and replacing things such as Fritz points out, but I think in terms of economics.......save a little for a rainy day.

My two bits:

Denny

 

Right on Denny. I appreciate that man. How is your rig running? I hope she's purring like a ***** with new Duracells.

 

the fuel lines are a lot of work.

the tank is about 4 hours work.

but now I know I have no glitter in my tank , fuel lines, fuel manifold, lines from the fuel manifold to the injectors.

check those filters again real soon

 

The secondary filter always looks good. The primary is the only filter that has ever had any kind of brownish particulate or gunk on it. You saw the pictures and I know I've posted filters 1 or 2 changes ago. No one said anything bad was happening then, and the filter doesn't look any different. Does the primary look bad? I may be able to get a better picture of it.

Pictures I forgot to include.