My fuel filter started to leak a few weeks ago at what appeared to be the bottom "O" ring seal. It was leaking probably only a few drops each minute but made a strong smell in the cab. Tightening the bottom ring/filter seemed to sloe it down but it quickly got worse. As the filter is only a couple on months old, this morning I took it off but did not find any tear or anything in either the top or bottom ring seals. I found the seals from an old fuel filter, put them on and the leak has stopped, at least for now. Has this happened to anybody else??? Anybody know if this could be due to the make of filter (seals), low sulfur diesel or just a fluke? Thanks, Dwid. 93 F250, 7.3 factory turbo, stock fuel filter.

 

Its happened to me a week after I changed filters, twice now in two years. I had to retorque the filter and base both times, then had no further problems. First time the o-ring seal rolled out of the side of the bottom of the filter base. I also wondered if this was due to non motorcraft filter or ??. The base of the after market filter that the bottom screws on to seams to loosen up after some use. Anyway my next filter change I will make sure there is some lube, clean engine oil on the seals before I install them to prevent them from "rolling" when I install the filter, and will probably use a strap wrench to give it an extra torque. I then have marked the filter top, filter and base cover with a felt pen to make sure it isn't unscrewing!! Good luck, will be interesting to see how common this problem is. Anyone with torque specs on these filters 93 F-350 7.3!

 

Thanks for the response Kevin. Like you suggest I guess the seal could have rolled. It did not seem to leak for the first month or so but I replaced it in the summer and my windows were often open. Also I was not at home and had to replace the fuel filter outside a Lordco parts store, made sure the seals were wet with diesel but no other lubricant. This time I used a little lubriplate grease and that may have done the trick. The reason I wondered about low sulfur fuel is that when I searched some of the posts they suggested that was the culprit, but if I can remember right the posts were about power strokes. On one post someone said not to use the brand of fuel filter I have now (Fram) but did not say why.
Thanks again, Dwid

 

I had the same problem last month so i bought a new one. 2 weeks later it started to leak again. Turns out it started to come loose on its own.

 

Fram makes crappy filters is the best reason I could think of.
I use Purolator air and fuel filters, Fleet Guard oil filters.
Oil the O rings on both the top and bottom of the fuel filter and oil filter when I install them, hand tight works well on the fuel filter, hand tight plus 1.5 turns on the oil filter.