I recently bought a new (to me) 1989 E350 diesel and figured I would change out all of the filters and fluids. However, when I went to put in the fuel filter I noticed a problem. The new one was just a filter element with threads at the top and bottom, the old one has an integral bowl to the bottom so it just threads in at the top. My manual shows that the normal configuration is with the removable bowl from the bottom, but since the PO decided to "upgrade" to the one piece design, I have no bowl to attach to the new filter.

no problem, I thought, I'll just get one from Ford. They would sell it to me for about 60 bucks for the bowl and an additional 40 for the drain valve.

does anyone know of a place online that I can get one of these bowls for something less than 100 dollars? there is no real moving parts, so I would think any used one would work. (I already tried the local junk yards, they don't seem to have any....) or does anyone happen to have a spare around they want to sell?

thanks,

 

So what you now have is the one piece fuel/water separator. If the truck runs the way it is, keep replacing the filter as needed and dont go for the two piece system. The lower bowl wont mke a difference in the way the truck runs. Ford came up with the idea to use the bowl to catch water and to indicate water in the fuel. Watch where you buy your fuel and use stanadyne additive to help lube the injection pump. Good luck and take pride in your ride.

 

alright, so where can I get a one piece filter from? the local stores (and for that matter, the ford service dept) seem to only carry the two piece design? even the online places I know of only show the two piece....

can a place like advance auto/auto zone/napa special order a one piece filter?

thanks
jon

 

You can get them at NAPA... proabbaly around $20. each...

 

Does the one on the van have a drain in the bottom or just a screw on filter with no drain?

If it has no drain it is probably a filter for an 83 - 86 6.9 which costs about 5 bucks at Wal Mart or Advance.

The two piece filter is 20 for just the filter.

 

The one currently in the van has a built in drain and a port for the water sensor to screw in. Everywhere I have been looking the filter that is stocked is the "standard" two piece unit and they only have the filter part, not a problem if I can find the screw on bowl for the bottom, or as was mentioned see if NAPA has the single unit design....

jon

 

Wix carries them in 3 designs two of which do not have the removeable bowl. I will see if I can track them down. They are hard to get info on for sure. But if it is a Wix product then you can get them out of NAPA.

Birken

 

Here it is. See these URLs....

Filter Part Numbers

Technical Info (for interest only on techincal aspect)

NAPA filters are almost always the Wix part number with the first digit knocked off

3217, 3417, 3617 would be it then.

Birken

 

I got a one piece from Wallmart,Its a Baldwin#BF-1222-SP,it has the drain and the hole for the water sens,you have to unscrew the sens from the oem bowl.For one like the oem i have also used GKI#23-3545-2,not sure if that number is a canadian tire one,as that is where i got it.
Ford#E8TZ-9N184-A
Motorcraft#FD-829
Navistar#1813104/C91.The last 3 are same as oem.

 

Can anyone give me more info on this filter. The original one on my vehicle lasted about 5 months. I replaced it and this one is showing water in the fuel in 7 days. I drained it, and I see no water in the fuel. Perhaps it is the water/fuel sensor screwed into the port above the filter.

Thanks
James

 

Ironcola,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.

The water in fuel sensor is in the bottom of the filter.

 

James, where are you buying your fuel? I only had the WIF light come on once, and that's after I accidentally poured some antifreeze in my rear tank (was mixed with the WMO), and when I opened the drain valve what came out was just as dark as the regular diesel/WMO mix, I'm sure there was some water in there but I never saw it come out. The water in fuel sensor is triggered when water collects on the bottom of the separator and becomes a conductor so that it grounds the WIF light, no water means open circuit and therefore no WIF light on the dash. So check the wire going to that sensor for bare spots where it may be touching the engine and grounding itself, if all checks out good you may very well have a fuel quality issue.

 

Also, while we're on the subject - I currently have two 7.3 filters inline, I'd like to replace the second one with a finer one. So I'm looking for a 6-micron filter with a drain valve that will spin on the stock 7.3 filter head, but all I can find are 10-12 micron filters. Would it be possible for me to swap the threaded adapters inside the filter heads so that I can use a 6-micron 6.9 filter on my 7.3 and keep my filter head heater and vacuum switch? Or if someone knows of a fine filter with a 1"-14TPI thread that also has a drain valve?

 

To clarify this after just purchasing a 1990 f250 7.3 - the Hastings FF1039 that James was asking about is the wrong filter. You need the FF1039SP or FF1039-SP. The "SP" is for sensor port which is located on the bottom of the filter. They make both, with and without sensor ports. You take the same "water in the fuel sensor" that is used in the OEM filter with the spin on bottom(eliminate the bottom water bowl) and use the 1039SP filter and screw the sensor directly into the bottom of the filter.

Also, be very careful if you decide to continue to use the OEM style fuel filter with the spin on water bowl on the bottom of the filter. Some of the cross over charts will send you to a filter that works just the same, with the spin on bottom but if you look up inside the bottom of the filter there is no way for the water to get to the bottom of the filter. The water bowl spins on but after you get it on you will not be able to use the water port and the water in the fuel sensor that screws into your water bowl won't work because water will never get to it. I put one on and could not get fuel to come out the drain port. The one I took off I could see up inside the bottom & the one I replaced it with you could not. I replaced it right away with the new one that has the sensor port in the filter. Maybe I'm wrong but a word of caution.