I can't locate the water separator to save my (and trucks) life! I have an '86 6.9IDI in a F350. The various illustrations in Chiltons, Haynes and other manuals that I have seen show it where I don't have it. Just like they show the fuel filter down by the fuel pump and mine is up top.

 

IF you still have the water separator on the truck it should be near the master cylinder for the brakes and has a small metal ring on top to pull and drain the water. A lot of owners have run into problems with that system and removed it because it does not seat properly and leaks air into the fuel system, making for hard starting. That separator is replaced by a removable type fuel filter located on top of the engine, passenger side. You should be able to locate the filter by following the fuel lines. Hope this helps.

 

Dont worry if you dont have it anymore,doesn't work anyhow!
Saigon

 

I remember tearing out all the old fuel/water separator filter off my 83' 6.9 and installing a nice 2 micron Racor Unit in its place.

The early Ford Diesel Truck needed did not have a very good fuel filtering system. As bilder12 mentioned by having the fuel filter on the suction of the fuel lift pump there always was a risk of getting air pulled into the fuel system. Not sure what year Ford started putting the filter after the fuel lift pump, mid to late 80's would be my guess.

To find out what is in your fuel system just start by tracing your fuel lines back from the IP to the fuel lift pump to the tank selector switches and to the tanks.

 

I like Hamberger took the original one out of my 84's and installed a Racor one... But I plumbed mine after the lift pump, because it was easeir to purg out air after a filter change... The nice thing about this setup is you now run 2 fuel filters... And really clean fuel is a good thing ....... Took a digital pic of mine but I see you can't post pictures here....

 

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</TD><TD>Is this the Racor unit you guys are talking about?



Racor Interceptor Fuel Filters
Fuel filters for Ford/Navistar diesels from the company that manufactures the Motorcraft fuel filters. Pictured at top is IN BF811--A retofit to eliminate the 6.9 firewall-mounted water separator. The IN BF811 spins on in place of the original fuel filter allowing you to by-pass a leaky water separator while still protecting your fuel system. The sedimate bowl includes a drain and a water-in-fuel sensor which can be wired to the light in the dash (water-in-fuel module required).
Below is IN F4595 which fits the 98 and earlier PowerStroke and IN 4596 for the 98.5 and up. Both are the same filters as Motorcraft's FD4595 and FD4596 without the red and white box.
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I am not familiar with the particular model you have shown. I would check the filtering particle size. Ford for the longest time used to specify 10 micron. Standard nowadays is 2 Micron or less.

I installed a RACOR Model RS45 Filter/Water Separator which came complete with a new bracket which has a built-in hand-pump. I ended up piping it in after the fuel lift pump. (The RS45 and RS60 Racor units are used a lot in boat engines and have a clear plastic bowl at the bottom where you can visually confirm the presence of water) You will know right away if the station you filled up sold you water as the water collects in the bottom of the sight glass.

The little hand pump is worth its weight in gold as it allows me to pump up fuel from the tanks manually and save myself a lot of cranking after a filter change.

On my new 93 (and soon to be on my 91) I have the same set-up but went to the larger cartrige (RS60) which I found to be cheaper and easier to get locally. I also got rid of the old Ford Fiter and bracket set-up and mounted the Racor off my toolbox on the passenger side Fender.

Any marine hardware store or fuel injection place should be able to help you out with the above.

Having said all that, the Racor filter you have shown above should work fine as long as you re-plumb it so that is is fed from the engines fuel lift pump. Check and make sure it is 2 Microns so. Check for water periodically by opening the drain valve. I know on mine I had to eliminate the Water in Fuel sensor as it did not work with my Racor setup.

 

'''''Any marine hardware store or fuel injection place should be able to help you out with the above.""""

And that info comes from a guy in the worlds largest water park as of today........ BC

 

I bought my '85 about a year ago and finally got around to upgrading the water separator. Turns out the PO had removed the original and replaced it with a tiny standard fuel filter. That little canister was just as clogged as it could be. I replaced it with a Racor 225R I found on ebay for $40. It's like I have a new truck now. Plus the Racor bolts right in place of the original, using the same bolts/holes in the firewall between the master cylinder and the fender.

 

Thanks for all your inputs guys. Idon't why I hadn't thought of e-bay before. I just bought a new Racor 490MAM for $50 incl shipping. Hope the truck likes it better thn tre Fram I bought at Kragen.