Hello everyone! Sharing a “learning” from doing normal maintenance on my 2018 F250 6.7 a couple of days ago. Drained engine oil/filter and replaced with Shell Rotella T6 5w-40, and Fram filter. Also replaced oil drain plug with new valve that actually opens facing the ground versus at a right angle! Replaced air cleaner with new Motorcraft filter. Drained the fuel conditioner under the truck and replaced that filter cartridge with new Motorcraft filter. Last item on my list was to replace the engine mounted fuel filter, which is where I “learned” something from. There are three lines going into this filter (located in about center of the engine bay, near the firewall), and each line has a built in quick connect clamp (all are different). Two popped off very easily, but the third one, which is a fuel return line, was stubborn. When I finally got the clamp loose and removed it from the filter housing, I noticed the rubber hose going to the clamp had come loose from the clamp—not supposed to do that. The hard plastic nipple on the clamp that fits into the hose had snapped off inside the hose! I thought, “well, surely I can buy another clamp, install it, and good to go.” What was I thinking?

So, I called my local Ford dealership, described what happened and what part I needed. The parts guy knew exactly what I was looking for, said, “these get broken a lot.” However, as of 2016, Ford will no longer sell a guy just the clamp to put back on the hose. Not only that, they will not sell you the approximately 18” line with a clamp to replace just that section. They WILL however, sell you the entire fuel system hose harness for around $189-199. I was pretty much in shock. My truck was dead in my shop. I went online and found a couple of similar clamps, with the hose nipple, for about 20 bucks. But, I’m always a little leery of aftermarket parts like this, especially dealing with the fuel system.

Next step—I took the broken clamp to the dealership and asked a different parts guy “surely y’all can find me one of these, can’t you?” He looked at me and said, “not a new one, unless you buy the hose harness for about $200, then I’d recommend letting us put it on for you—it’s a beast to put on.” Then he said, “one of our mechanics sometimes keeps a few old parts around for emergencies. Let me go check with him.” Five minutes later, he came back with a used hose clamp just like my broken one. Told me I could have it if I paid him $40 cash, no ticket. Well, I sure did! Went home, installed the clamp on the hose and done!

I learned not to give up when someone says ‘this is the only thing we can do for you”. Also learned that Ford employees can sometimes find a fix on their own—especially when they can make a few $$ out of it.

 

Good lesson learned but shame on the tech how stole $40 from you... karma will eventually catch up.

 

I already learned to double check the integrity of the oil filter gasket. Got oil and filter from dealer about a week ago to change my oil for first time. Used Ford Pass points so it was kinda free. Changed oil and filter no problem, removed old gasket, lubed new gasket that looked good, screwed on new filter added oil. For next 2 days filter always had a line of oil on side and drip on bottom. Filter was tight. On second day decided to get new filter, took off old one and found chunk missing out of side of gasket and multiple dry rot like cracks in face of gasket. Have never seen an oil filter gasket like this in 30+ years of changing oil. Gasket mating surface also smooth on engine. Must have just been bad gasket. New one is fine. Beware!

 

Which of the three lines is it, I have changed my filter twice so far and no problem, on line goes down to a metal pipe, I just remove that whole line to try and prevent problems.

 

Say what you will about my old 6.0 but I sure do miss the easy-peasy oil and fuel filter changes!

 

And I thought the same thing about my 15 & 16 F350 6.7 PSD............easy-peasy, as you say.

 

Yes, all three lines on the engine side fuel filter have different connectors. The blue and red connectors are easy enough to figure out, but the return fuel line connector (with the brownish color) is different. After sliding the brown cover to one side, then two small buttons on each side must be pressed down to release connector. So the smallest, weakest connector has the most difficult end to disconnect.

 

He didn’t force me to take the part, so not sure he stole from me. But, I’ll almost guarantee both the parts guy and the mechanic (tech) are working the system to sell used parts. At any rate, I got what I needed to get my truck running again. Who should be ashamed? Ford Motor Company, for not allowing a customer to buy one simple little part to keep his vehicle on the road. That’s what stinks about this whole deal.

 

It is the line on the left-hand side of the on-engine filter. It goes down and “T’s” into a larger line, which I assume goes further down and connects with one of the fuel injectors. Just guessing about that part—its way over my pay grade!

 

That’s the one that got me!

 

Sooner or later, some aftermarket parts company will come up with this small part for cheap and that will be the end of paying a couple of hundred dollars at the dealer parts department for the entire assembly.

 

I wanted to replace one of the horizontal trim sections of my grille (got dinged pretty good by a thrown rock), found it listed with its own part number on a online Ford parts website but instead of ordering from there went into my Ford dealer to order it and thus, make sure I was getting the right piece. They ordered it (or so they said) only to call me back the following Monday to inform that Ford no longer offers it as a separate piece and thus, I'd have to buy the entire grille, which for my 19' SD F250 Limited is only $1,400.00.

I've learned to live with the ding!

 

rewilliam: I did find an online seller based in Michigan, Accurate Diesel, that had a similar part for about $20. But wanted an OEM part,which Ford no longer sells. So, I got the used one. So far, working fine.

 

Makes sense. My point being that the auto manufacturers are making it hard on consumers to maintain their vehicles at reasonable cost. It takes multiple pieces to be put together the make a component and then they only want to sell the component, not the pieces yet, all the while their parts catalogs continue to show the individual pieces and their separate part numbers.

 

Glad you got it fixed but for the love of God why are you using a Fram Oil Filter? Those things are trash, I won't even use them on my lawnmowers. Check YouTube if your not aware of the quality of a Fram Oil Filter.

If you can't find the MotorCraft Filter at least use a WIX or Napa Gold filter.