I know my 7.3 knowledge is limited and I hate to bother you all again, but after replacing the serpentine belt with a Gates belt (now made in China), dealing with a coolant flush problem with my local mechanic, I am now stuck with a fuel filter problem. When I first bought the truck, it noticed the filter and the cap were one unit so I continued that until the last change about 15k ago finding a Fram combo unit and as always it was a simple drop in and done with it. This time I decided to get a pretty “DP” aluminum billet cap and a FD 4596 filter separate buying both online through Amazon. I can’t get the cap fully on! A couple things I noticed were that the Fram filter/cap combo is shorter about 3/8’ than the new setup (see picture). The second thing I noticed is that in the back of the “combo” filter there is a small rod that apparently pushes down on the center of the center post, opening some sort of valve. The same rod is on the new filter however is somewhat larger in diameter so that may be hanging up as well, keeping the filter from seating properly. I have no way to tell since you can't see inside the filter when installing. I’m not quite sure what to do next. Has anyone run into the same issues?

 

Gary,

Does the new filter need to be pressed over the aluminum cap ridges a bit more? If I found the right cap on amazon from DPTools, it looks like the filter is supposed to slide over the 3 castellated ridges on the cap - might be 3/8" of meat there. Maybe lubricate the center of the filter with diesel or ATF, and see if you can press/turn the filter to seat it fully inside the cap. It might be an interference fit.

Nice looking cap - would like to see a pic of your engine bay when it's in, sir.

 

Fits in there nice and loose in that castellated ridge Jeff. Spins on the filter easily. Yep, that's the cap. lubricated everything with diesel. I'm starting to think it's the filter that won't go down enough because of that short rod in the center being to thick in diameter to fit inside and push that plunger down. But again, you can't see what's going on after you begin sliding the filter down on the center post.

 

I've never had a Motorcrafr fuel filter not fit. Sometimes the one piece filters you can take a screwdriver and pop the filter off it. See if you can pop it off and screw it on with the new filter to see if it's the filter or the cap.

 

I've had one of the cheap Amazon ones on mine for about a year now. It's aluminum color though. Haven't had any issues at all with it. Works great with Motorcraft filter.

 

I tried that eBay one, the threads were wrong and insanely sharp. Wouldn't send me a different one.

 

I had 2 napa filters blow out on the highway.

Fuel....everywhere.

The cap wouldnt fully thread and the gasket would eventually pop out.

Went with a different brand and the filter is night and day fitting wise. I dont have the stock cap so i opted for a locally available filter that was an all in one.

I would get the motorcraft setup and dont waste your money on anythinanything. Amazon has a lot fakes for these trucks.

 

good idea, i'll give it a try

 

Had pretty good luck with amazon here. We live out in the sticks and driving to town is a real chore. I might just have to return them and get my $ back. Too bad, cap was real pretty.

 

nice and clean!

 

The aluminum cap I posted I got off Amazon and it fits just fine threaded right in with no issues by hand. I get Motorcraft fuel filters from the local auto parts store.

 

I actually like the filters with the integrated cap. The Wix 33818 is my fuel filter of choice.

Also, that center post in the fuel bowl can be gutted to take that valve out. The valve is there to prevent people from running without a fuel filter. The pin to depress that valve should reside in the fuel filter, not the cap.

 

I always used filter with an integrated cap.
Fleetguard,Baldwin and Donaldson.
Zero issues.

I don't have stock bowl anymore.

 

my Excursion had the one piece cap/filter.
it was stuck on so tight, that we had to destroy the cap to get it off.

threw it away, and put on the OEM cap and Ford filters like it came from the factory.

doubt it ever gets anything caught in it, the Wix 24006 is a prefilter in front of the fuel pump.

when we did get the one piece filter off, the Fuel Bowl was as clean, as the day it left the factory, nothing in it, diesel was so clear, we could see the bottom...

that 24006 has been on that truck for decades, the fuel hoses are weeping diesel just enough to catch dirt.

 

after my last post here,
I noticed a new YT video pop up.

this guy likes to put a lot of humor in his videos, he has a lot of PowerStroke experience, and is also an IT tech for some outfit that he never identifies, so he knows his electronics... has a lot of videos on those also.

but here, he posts up the " duh, I let it run out of Diesel, no wonder it won't start "

good entertainment, solely for your enjoyment.
kind of runs along the line of , don't let Air get into the fuel rail system.