Seems to me that the big reasons our pumps are failing is either poor quality fuel or water, which i guess is the same thing. I have been doing a lot of research and can't help but wonder, if we were to run something like a fass system that filters AND takes the water out of the fuel would that help our cause? I have been trying to decide between the FASS and the dieselsite fuel filter/water separator or our rigs. I just can't decide which one to use. My mind tells me if i have to do one i should do the FASS simply because it gives me a better low pressure pump, but does it filter as well as the Dieselsite filter kit? It doesn't seem like our Fords running around with a tune only really need a bigger low pressure pump. What if anything would one gain by going with the FASS system for filtration over the dieselsite system. Has anyone looked at or ran either unit?

 

I've perused dieselsite.com many, many times in the past. I used their trans filter housing and trans return line shut off valve on my 96. I was really into the concept of their fuel filter system. I ended up buying a used Diesel Site filter from a member here and never mounted it. I did not use it because I began to learn about air as a contaminant in diesel fuel. I researched and found FASS and Air Dog. Both these systems seperate out the air out of the fuel that results because the movement of the vehicle agitates the fuel causing air bubbles. I do not have personal experience with these systems but learned from what I've read online. With the FASS system, you have to drop the tank so you can access the top of the tank and the fuel module (or fuel sending unit for lack of better terms). You have remove the fuel lines module from the tank to modify it. You have to also drill into the top of the tank to put in a new return fitting I believe. It is more involved than than the AirDog. There's also a choice between replacing the stock DFCM (the frame pump/filter) or assisting it with an AirDog or FASS. I was going to and still will assist my DFCM as it's one more layer of filtration plus if the AirDog/FASS fail, you will still have the factory primary pump. I am told the AirDog has a built in bypass that will allow the fuel to flow through to the factory pump. I am not a 100% sure what the FASS does. I remember seeing a video from them where the vehicle quits before the water can go any harm. I will link it here if I find it.


https://fassride.com/what-is-fass/


Here's the manual for the FASS that I was looking at for my truck.

https://fassride.com/wp-content/uplo...S-F17-165G.pdf


Here's the link for the listed filters for the FASS and their micron ratings. :

https://fassride.com/portfolio-item/...ement-filters/


All the modification you have to do for the AirDog is cut the factory fuel fill hose that runs to the tank. You then have to secure a tee fitting with hose clamps where the AirDog returns the fuel to the tank. I was all sold on the AirDog.

https://pureflowairdog.com/p-35840-a...-it-works.html


Use this link to get to the install manual.


https://pureflowairdog.com/i-3049761...6-7l-ford.html


I see AirDog has two spin on fuel filters rated at 10 microns and 2 microns:


https://pureflowairdog.com/c-1389189...cessories.html


AFE came out with their version of a fuel filter pump in 2015 I believe, the DFS780. They do things a little different than the big dogs FASS and AirDog. I like their system as it has only one filter for fuel filtration and water separation. It also comes with a plastic window on the bottom to see if there's any water in the filter. There are no modifications to make other than adding their lines to the factory filter/pump. They are about 100 dollars more than the AirDog I wanted to get...about $840. Their filter is good for 1 micron. Not sure about the efficiency though. I like they I can maybe put a FilterMag on it. well, I could have done that with the others as well. Apparently the life of the $29 filter is 10k to 20k miles I believe. Their return line has a "tee" in it that takes not only the return of the fuel with air in it from the top of their setup, but it also returns the fuel from the HPFP to the tank also. That's an ingenious way of doing it instead of having to modify stuff. Just for your info, our factory fuel filters are rated 10 microns at the frame and 4 microns at the HPFP.

So now that I've seen there's no mods at all for the DFS780, that's what I am going to get to "shine" my fuel to get rid of all air whether visible or dissolved. I think it will be better not only the life of the HPFP and injectors, but also have a better running engine. JMHO as this is a long term truck for me. Enjoy...


https://afepower.com/diesel-fuel-sys...mps-lift-pumps



https://www.xtremediesel.com/afe-42-...time-operation

 

As far as efficiency, would that matter if you are changing the filters ever 10k? I already change my factory filters every 10k anyways. Would one still want to use the factory filters at that point? Seems pointless if we are filtering down to 1 micron before it even gets to the other filters? Seems like you have really researched this and i like the looks of the AFE kits vs the other 2 and like you said its 1 filter and 1 micron vs the others having 2 and 2 micron, not that 1 micron difference is probably very much at that minuscule amount.

 

Some failure senerios

water in fuel , pump burns out due to no furl lube. Yes airdog type fuel system would take the water out up to the capacity of the water filter....which is a cup

fuel gels, clogs filter, pump burns out due to fuel starvation. Anti gel products could prevent gelling


lift pump fails, high presure pump burns out do to fuel starvation. Only preventive solution for this is adding a redundant pump, one fails the other keeps ticking. I did this on my 2010 6.4

no fuel contaminates, no water, no geling, pump fails due to wear and tear. Curl lube products will help extend service life and a disaster prevention kit will protect your injectors when the pump fails.

 

I wasn't concerned about the efficiency of the filter but made a comment in case someone asked. MY MAIN concern for adding this would be for the air fuel separation. I'm not saying it's not great getting down to 1 micron as opposed to 4, but with the amount of PSIs these fuel systems run at, I would rather get out the air so maybe the fuel system components will go longer because they are using pure filtered fuel. Any air, no matter how small, will affect the fuel pump and injector tips. Make sure you read this as it lists other companies like CAT and Cummins talking about air as a problem in diesel fuel.

https://pureflowairdog.com/p-35840-a...-it-works.html

As for my install, I was definitely going with the Air Dog. After researching the AFE last night, I have heard of it before but never paid it any attention, The fact that there is no cutting or modifying of lines, there's only one filter to replace due to their way of separating out the air, there's a window on the bottom of fuel filter, I was sold on it even though it's more than the AirDog. My two cents.

 

I use additive every fill up for the reasons you stated. I'm using this for air separation. This has an internal bypass that will allow for the pass through of fuel in the event of failure. I will feed my DFCM with the DFS780.

 

Personally, I think the HPFP is an over blown issue that has been perpetuated by forums such as this one. Yes, there are "some" HPFP failures. Yes, some where at low miles but some where high miles. No one seems to have come up with the real reason other than the ULSD the USA and Canada mandates. I wonder what regular maintenance many do to preclude an issue. I know I am guilty of not regularly draining the water. I do buy at high volume stations and not at mom and pop gas stations. I also use a lubricity additive for lubrication of the HPFP and also one with an emulsifier in it.

I high speculate there are many 6.7 engines in use that have well over 250k miles or maybe even many over 500k miles and none of them have had any issues. Did they do anything special to achieve these miles? I bet many did nothing beyond some maintenance. I suspect many didn't even have regular maintenance.

The big thing one has to remember before jumping onto the band wagon is this....

Forums tend to magnify a simple problem that some have into a problem of extreme proportions.

 

I have bought fuel at over 150 different stations in my travels and still don't have a fuel problem. Like Larry said try to buy at high volume stations. I am waiting for my water in fuel to come on this time. So far there has been no water in my fuel filters. I will change them with my next oil change I have 64,000 miles currently. This will be my 3rd filter change

 

I just posted up info to help the OP decide if he wants a system like the ones I posted. I stated my POV on WHY I want to run one. I don't have any fuel problems nor do I anticipate any because I have faith in the product I add to the fuel. Like I've stated before, the only times I have drained the frame filter is when I changed it twice.

My train of thought in purchasing and running one of these is for preventative maintenance. I have plans to keep running this truck far after it's paid off. Most guys here will probably sell or trade their trucks for a new gen when I'll still be in mine.

If the OP is viewing his truck as a long term vehicle, then it may benefit him to buy one of these kits. I'm not going back into the discussion of failed pumps again. They fail and if it's not user error, manufacturing defects or failure to maintain, it's the fuel. If the fuel was so good or not potentially a problem, additives would not be needed. There's a lot of guys running additive. Running additive is also preventative maintenance.

As Fritz mentioned, a disaster prevention kit is good insurance. At one point, there will be one on my pump.

 

I plan on keeping this truck for a long time. I see all of this as good, preventative maintenance. I don’t have any issues with my truck at all, 66k miles and running strong. I add a fuel additive from Jim with LE and it helps IMO. It’s a small price to pay to save a lot down the road. It’s the exact some reason people keep their homes insured typically after they are paid off, small price in comparison to the overall cost.

 

I have mixed feeling about this. I'm sure plenty of people come here to complain when it happens to them. On the other hand I bet there are just as many that don't visit a forum when it happens to them. (fleet truck owners would be a good example)

The problem is no matter how rare the issue might be it is a major expense to fix these fuel systems, and Ford engineers have said they would have "preferred a more robust pump". It's cheaper to put a short block in a gas truck than it is to replace a grenaded fuel system in the 6.7. That scares the crap out of most people, if it wasn't such an expensive repair it wouldn't be as much of an issue.

 

I guess it is something to worry about, I try not to though. That being said I always fill up at high volume stations and add Ford PM22 fuel additive at ever fill up, I drain my fuel filter before and after long road trips and just periodically in between.

I have a buddy that became so worried that something was going to happen to his truck he couldn't sleep at night, he finely sold it and bought a gas truck.

 

I just drive the truck. I don't add anything but every once in awhile. I do use premium fuel from one station.

I drain the fuel separator monthly and periodically on the road.

On the road I try my best to fill up at pilot/flying J or loves if I must.

 

I'm on my 3rd 6.7L truck, Have collectively over 300,000 miles between them. No HPFP problems Nor do I know anybody personally among the many who own similar trucks who has ever had a problem.

I run some Opti-Lube additive, But I'm not religious about it. Maybe every 3rd tank gets dosed. I've traveled and bought at stations I've never used before and I buy at local stations I use frequently.
Just don't think it's as big a problem as the internet makes it out to be.

 

I don’t know that it’s a huge problem either, but it is a problem and one that seems we can fix with better filtration and maintenance. I would rather spend 1000 dollars now then 8000 dollars down the road potentially.