HFCM Drain Comments
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 426
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HFCM Drain Comments
Hi Guys. I just cracked open my HFCM for the 1st time (just for the heck of it) to let it drain. Couple of comments/observations:
#1 The hex drain bolt wasn't that hard to get at with a regular allen wrench and it came off easy. I was previously thinking about getting the IH one but after servicing the stock one tonight I'm not sure I need to buy the IH one.
#2 The truck was plumb-full of fuel so I was worried about it just draining and draining and...... like has been posted on some of the boards; didn't happen. I pulled the drain plug, it ran for a few seconds, then stopped.
Didn't see any water or other foreign material in the fuel stream either. Truck is about to turn over 10k.
For all you new guys out there (especially with 05s and 06s) don't be afraid of the HFCM drain procedure.
Later.
#1 The hex drain bolt wasn't that hard to get at with a regular allen wrench and it came off easy. I was previously thinking about getting the IH one but after servicing the stock one tonight I'm not sure I need to buy the IH one.
#2 The truck was plumb-full of fuel so I was worried about it just draining and draining and...... like has been posted on some of the boards; didn't happen. I pulled the drain plug, it ran for a few seconds, then stopped.
Didn't see any water or other foreign material in the fuel stream either. Truck is about to turn over 10k.
For all you new guys out there (especially with 05s and 06s) don't be afraid of the HFCM drain procedure.
Later.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
For a more exciting drain procedure, follow these steps:
1. Fuel truck up, plumb full. Takes about half hour, or harpoon it, takes about 25 minutes.
2. Crawl under truck, preferably on creeper, locate yourself directly under HFCM.
3. Affix allen wrench and open that sucker wide.
4. Drop allen wrench under creeper, slide around in your diesel shower and try to locate allen wrench in sea of Diesel.
5. Locate allen wrench and tighten drain plug. This may take time, safety goggles are a good idea.)
6. Examine sea o diesel for signs of water on driveway or preferably in garage.
7. Just ingore significant other brow beating on the diesel stink wafting into house.
8. take wifes car to get several bags of kitty litter, (preferably after changing into clean clothes in garage.)(get upholstery cleaner at same time if ignored first insert)
Note: if neighbors ask you to close garage door during 7 or 8, please oblige. You never know when your neighbor will also get diesel fever and need to change a fuel filter or drain an HFCM.
Its not a pretty sight from across the street!
1. Fuel truck up, plumb full. Takes about half hour, or harpoon it, takes about 25 minutes.
2. Crawl under truck, preferably on creeper, locate yourself directly under HFCM.
3. Affix allen wrench and open that sucker wide.
4. Drop allen wrench under creeper, slide around in your diesel shower and try to locate allen wrench in sea of Diesel.
5. Locate allen wrench and tighten drain plug. This may take time, safety goggles are a good idea.)
6. Examine sea o diesel for signs of water on driveway or preferably in garage.
7. Just ingore significant other brow beating on the diesel stink wafting into house.
8. take wifes car to get several bags of kitty litter, (preferably after changing into clean clothes in garage.)(get upholstery cleaner at same time if ignored first insert)
Note: if neighbors ask you to close garage door during 7 or 8, please oblige. You never know when your neighbor will also get diesel fever and need to change a fuel filter or drain an HFCM.
Its not a pretty sight from across the street!
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 19,098
Likes: 8
From: Great State of Texas
Originally Posted by Maxium4x4
.....but I have the new IH plug in the glove compartment. 
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Mililani, Hawaii
Originally Posted by mhoefer
For a more exciting drain procedure, follow these steps:
1. Fuel truck up, plumb full. Takes about half hour, or harpoon it, takes about 25 minutes.
2. Crawl under truck, preferably on creeper, locate yourself directly under HFCM.
3. Affix allen wrench and open that sucker wide.
4. Drop allen wrench under creeper, slide around in your diesel shower and try to locate allen wrench in sea of Diesel.
5. Locate allen wrench and tighten drain plug. This may take time, safety goggles are a good idea.)
6. Examine sea o diesel for signs of water on driveway or preferably in garage.
7. Just ingore significant other brow beating on the diesel stink wafting into house.
8. take wifes car to get several bags of kitty litter, (preferably after changing into clean clothes in garage.)(get upholstery cleaner at same time if ignored first insert)
Note: if neighbors ask you to close garage door during 7 or 8, please oblige. You never know when your neighbor will also get diesel fever and need to change a fuel filter or drain an HFCM.
Its not a pretty sight from across the street!
1. Fuel truck up, plumb full. Takes about half hour, or harpoon it, takes about 25 minutes.
2. Crawl under truck, preferably on creeper, locate yourself directly under HFCM.
3. Affix allen wrench and open that sucker wide.
4. Drop allen wrench under creeper, slide around in your diesel shower and try to locate allen wrench in sea of Diesel.
5. Locate allen wrench and tighten drain plug. This may take time, safety goggles are a good idea.)
6. Examine sea o diesel for signs of water on driveway or preferably in garage.
7. Just ingore significant other brow beating on the diesel stink wafting into house.
8. take wifes car to get several bags of kitty litter, (preferably after changing into clean clothes in garage.)(get upholstery cleaner at same time if ignored first insert)
Note: if neighbors ask you to close garage door during 7 or 8, please oblige. You never know when your neighbor will also get diesel fever and need to change a fuel filter or drain an HFCM.
Its not a pretty sight from across the street!
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: South of Alvin, TX
Haved drained many times both on a '04 and '06 and it did not matter that it was full, once it drained it stopped. I also collect the drained fuel but only so that I can apply it to the weeds...its a great weed killer. However, after many drains I have not yet been able to do it without getting diesel on me somewhere.
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
Originally Posted by kw5413
Bet it comes in handy when you have to drain all that water out of the glove box...
When I changed the filters on my truck it was uneventful as well. Didn't even get enough fuel running down my arm to get into my armpit. My charming bride did 'mention' the malodorous air of Diesel though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,110
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by rblomquist
Hi Guys. I just cracked open my HFCM for the 1st time (just for the heck of it) to let it drain. Couple of comments/observations:
#1 The hex drain bolt wasn't that hard to get at with a regular allen wrench and it came off easy. I was previously thinking about getting the IH one but after servicing the stock one tonight I'm not sure I need to buy the IH one.
#2 The truck was plumb-full of fuel so I was worried about it just draining and draining and...... like has been posted on some of the boards; didn't happen. I pulled the drain plug, it ran for a few seconds, then stopped.
Didn't see any water or other foreign material in the fuel stream either. Truck is about to turn over 10k.
For all you new guys out there (especially with 05s and 06s) don't be afraid of the HFCM drain procedure.
Later.
#1 The hex drain bolt wasn't that hard to get at with a regular allen wrench and it came off easy. I was previously thinking about getting the IH one but after servicing the stock one tonight I'm not sure I need to buy the IH one.
#2 The truck was plumb-full of fuel so I was worried about it just draining and draining and...... like has been posted on some of the boards; didn't happen. I pulled the drain plug, it ran for a few seconds, then stopped.
Didn't see any water or other foreign material in the fuel stream either. Truck is about to turn over 10k.
For all you new guys out there (especially with 05s and 06s) don't be afraid of the HFCM drain procedure.
Later.
the fuel tank won't drain out, it is not an open line to the fuel tank, only the hfcm will drain.
i thought the same about that stupid little plug until the nice soft brass allen head stripped out. i ended up using a star bit and a hammer and banging it into the brass then unloosing it then replacing it with the better IH plug.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 426
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Originally Posted by bf250
the fuel tank won't drain out, it is not an open line to the fuel tank, only the hfcm will drain.
I can see where the IH plug would be nice, and I can easily see how folks can over-torque the stock plug. I also think the area the truck is used in may have a play whether or not the thing gets jammed in there i.e. corrosion
I had my truck just slightly nose-high and was leaning toward the driver's side a bit.....maybe that's why I didn't take a diesel bath.
New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2003 F-350 Quad predator tuned
Just had my separator replaced.
My light came on and I crawlled under to drain out the water. My 6mm wrench spun in that plug like a tree twisting in a tornado. Fortunately I was still under warranty so I got Ford to look at it and they replaced the entire unit. I said they rounded the plug since they did the last 2 services and they bought it. I'll keep them away from my truck as much as I can.
What is this IH plug you are referring to and where can I get it?
My light came on and I crawlled under to drain out the water. My 6mm wrench spun in that plug like a tree twisting in a tornado. Fortunately I was still under warranty so I got Ford to look at it and they replaced the entire unit. I said they rounded the plug since they did the last 2 services and they bought it. I'll keep them away from my truck as much as I can.
What is this IH plug you are referring to and where can I get it?
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Originally Posted by mhoefer
For a more exciting drain procedure, follow these steps:
1. Fuel truck up, plumb full. Takes about half hour, or harpoon it, takes about 25 minutes.
2. Crawl under truck, preferably on creeper, locate yourself directly under HFCM.
3. Affix allen wrench and open that sucker wide.
4. Drop allen wrench under creeper, slide around in your diesel shower and try to locate allen wrench in sea of Diesel.
5. Locate allen wrench and tighten drain plug. This may take time, safety goggles are a good idea.)
6. Examine sea o diesel for signs of water on driveway or preferably in garage.
7. Just ingore significant other brow beating on the diesel stink wafting into house.
8. take wifes car to get several bags of kitty litter, (preferably after changing into clean clothes in garage.)(get upholstery cleaner at same time if ignored first insert)
Note: if neighbors ask you to close garage door during 7 or 8, please oblige. You never know when your neighbor will also get diesel fever and need to change a fuel filter or drain an HFCM.
Its not a pretty sight from across the street!
1. Fuel truck up, plumb full. Takes about half hour, or harpoon it, takes about 25 minutes.
2. Crawl under truck, preferably on creeper, locate yourself directly under HFCM.
3. Affix allen wrench and open that sucker wide.
4. Drop allen wrench under creeper, slide around in your diesel shower and try to locate allen wrench in sea of Diesel.
5. Locate allen wrench and tighten drain plug. This may take time, safety goggles are a good idea.)
6. Examine sea o diesel for signs of water on driveway or preferably in garage.
7. Just ingore significant other brow beating on the diesel stink wafting into house.
8. take wifes car to get several bags of kitty litter, (preferably after changing into clean clothes in garage.)(get upholstery cleaner at same time if ignored first insert)
Note: if neighbors ask you to close garage door during 7 or 8, please oblige. You never know when your neighbor will also get diesel fever and need to change a fuel filter or drain an HFCM.
Its not a pretty sight from across the street!
OMFG! i was rolling at that one.... the only thing that could have made you want to never do work again is add
"9. not knowing what to do with fuel pour fuel back into the tank"
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 426
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Gopostal
What is this IH plug you are referring to and where can I get it?
http://www.forddoctorsdts.com/articl...icle-05-19.php