Fuel Filter Dirt
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Fuel Filter Dirt
I am a brand new 2002 F250 CC 4x4 with power stroke owner!! I bought the truck with about 50K on it. I am brand new to the whole diesel thing. I am only getting about 15.3 mpg on the highway towing nothing and keeping it below 2000 rpm. (done by hand calculation not computer) I think it should be a little better than that. I read the posts about dirty fuel filters hurting gas mileage. I changed mine today and when I drained the bowl into a coffee cup the fuel looked like someone threw about 2 tablespoons worth of sand and dirt in it. Is this normal or is that filter extremely dirty? The filter paper was completely black. I can see where the guy that had the truck before me used pliars to remove the fuel filter cap so I think maybe he changed it once. Could this be my fuel milage problem? Any insite would help. By the way....this site is great I have learned so much just reading everyone elses problems, hopefully I will have none of my own!
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Freshman User
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Thanks for the reply. I put about 400 miles on it this weekend and got about 1 mpg better than before the filter replacement. How do you suggest cleaning the bowl and screen. Suck it out with a shop vac or clean it with an agent? I did not clean the bowl and screen when I replaced the filter. Should I take the filter out and drain the bowl then put the same filter back in? Thanks for the help so far!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 143
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From: Northern Tip of VA
zog02, I drain the fuel bowl into a gallon glass jug each time before removing the filter and have never seen much of anything in the jug but fuel. You could drain the bowl a couple of times by keying the truck up, back down, and then opening the drain valve again. You will find allot of good advice here that I listened to in 2002 when I bought my PSD, suggesting that you buy your fuel from a reputable dealer that turns over allot of fuel. I also use synthetic oil with extended drain intervals and change my fuel and air filter along with my oil at 10,000 miles. Good Luck with your new 'Stroker. 
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: STL MO
About a month ago, I replaced all my GPs and relay and O-rings of two of the injectors. I also replaced the fuel filter. As I lifted the old filter, I saw a lot of fine sand in the bowl. At the time, I didn’t know how to get the sand out of the bottom of the bowl and clean it up, I just left it alone. After all these works, the truck runs perfectly except dripping diesel at a very slow rate. I only notice a small puddle after I stopped the engine and left it parked for a few hours. You can see the drop is forming very slowly at the bottom of the transmission. I don’t believe how the GP and injector O-ring work I did can cause this. Now, I’m suspecting some sand might be jamming the draining valve of the fuel filter bowl and causes the minor leak. Do you think that this might be the case? How can I clean the bowl? I’m thinking somehow to flush the bowl with a gardening hose without getting water into the up or down stream of the bowl. Please give some light. Erwin
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: gulf coast
If you don't mind spending a few bucks, you can go to a marine supply store and buy a vacuum pump that is used to suck the oil out of inboard engines. They have electric powered ones and manual ones. I have found that the manual pump type is the best deal for the $$$. It works great for sucking that crud out of the bottom of the filter housing...
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
You could use a common syringe (no hypodermic). Most pharmacists will give them away if they have the kind used to measure oral meds.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 776
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From: STL MO
Thanks for the prompt reply. I'll try that. However in the back of my mind, I wonder how much vaccum I need to suck the sand out. I might try to build an extension to my shop vac to suck it out (don't worry, I'll get the fuel out first.) Erwin
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rednekf350
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
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Oct 27, 2003 06:30 AM