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I just purchased a new 2019 F350 and read the manual and did my first drain of the fuel filter water separator the yellow drain plug. 2 days after I got it. As soon as I opened it fuel started coming out and I got about 3 pints before I closed it. Didn't really see any water at the bottom of the glass jar.
After a 700 mile road trip (1600 on the odometer) and about 3 tanks full I opened the yellow drain again to see if I had anything in there. Mostly just seeing how the quality of fuel I'm getting from my local gas station.
When I opened it this time nothing came out, not even a drop. Does it make sense I didn't have anything in there or did the drain not open after turning it. I figured the fuel filter separator would fill back up with fuel and something would come out. Is that not the case? I ever pushed the start button 5 times to let the fuel pump run.
Figured something would come out every time I opened it. Could there be air trapped or yellow **** broken?
Drop the filter??? That means dropping the entire tank as the filter (separator) mounts from the top down.
The yellow drain plug needs to come down slightly on opening as there are 2 O-rings that need to release.
Last edited by dsandfort; Oct 6, 2019 at 08:10 PM.
Reason: deleted unknown text
Well sum beach. Shows what I know. I just moved the separator to a new tank this weekend and had to go top down with the whole thing after dropping the old tank. Never even looked at the bottom of the unit.
To the OP, you should listen to folks who know what they are talking about.
More than likely you just need to pull down slightly on the plug. Also of note, there is no need to drain 3 pints in order to check for water. With the truck off for for a few minutes, all you have to do it drain a few seconds worth. I normally put an inch or two in the bottom of an old pickle jar. The Diesel fuel will be yellow/green, and you look for clear water drops on the bottom. Diesel floats on water, so you only need a drain a bit out of the separator.
The video of the fuel filter change. Hope you don't get those cross threaded putting them back on with an impact wrench. But what do I know. Here's a link, takes her less time (per video length), without using power tools. This is a job the dealer likes to charge way too much to do.
When those first came out, I mentioned this: While it is true, that the Alumnimum plug will be far stronger than the plastic OEM plug, and you will not have to worry about breaking it, consider that you are also moving the failure point from the 4 dollar plug to the filter housing itself which runs about 120 (current price on Rock Auto).
Plastic to plastic, with (freezing) water involved by design, I'd rather have to replace the 4 dollar part. Plastic on Aluminium, when water setting down on that seal freezes, I'd be too concerned that something in that housing fails.
LOL, can't blame the dealer............this is the job most people are willing to PAY the dealership to do.
I paid the dealer to do the first fuel filter change. I was concerned about reported problems with the connectors on the upper fuel filter breaking. I was also pressed for time. I'll do the next fuel filter changes myself, now that it looks like the connectors are OK.
I think it is the middle line on the upper fuel filter, I just remove the line completely, both ends of the short line are accessible, and keeps from having to flex that one very stiff line.