Cleaning water separator
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
Cleaning water separator
When I bought the truck I discovered the water separator was bypassed. Today I have taken the unit off and took it apart, very simple to take apart, There isnt really anything on the inside? Lets see if I get this right..
Water falls to the bottom, and when the light comes on the water comes out first then diesel. Is that how it works?
I plan on getting this thing in working order again, I have taken it all apart and I have the plunger soaking in WD-40 and I got the tank filled with purple power cleaner, and letting it sit overnight, tomorrow I will run a little diesel through it and then put it all back together then hook it back up to the truck and check for leaks out the bottom tube then else where on the truck.
Anyone else try this?
Water falls to the bottom, and when the light comes on the water comes out first then diesel. Is that how it works?
I plan on getting this thing in working order again, I have taken it all apart and I have the plunger soaking in WD-40 and I got the tank filled with purple power cleaner, and letting it sit overnight, tomorrow I will run a little diesel through it and then put it all back together then hook it back up to the truck and check for leaks out the bottom tube then else where on the truck.
Anyone else try this?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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usually they started leaking so they were bypassed. Typically people don't get much water in their fuel to matter. But if you are worried about water you can always get a filter/water separator instead of the stock filter... or get filter head from a wrecking yard off of a later model which uses a filter/water separator.
I found a 85 that had replaced theirs with a parker racor 220 filter assy at pickNpull on one so I bought it for $9 then found that the filters cost ~$30+ lol not sure that is worth it. If I used it there would be no need to use the stock filter.
I found a 85 that had replaced theirs with a parker racor 220 filter assy at pickNpull on one so I bought it for $9 then found that the filters cost ~$30+ lol not sure that is worth it. If I used it there would be no need to use the stock filter.
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Posting Guru
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
well I got the water separator all back together and working, I bench tested it, I filled the bottle up with fuel and there was no leaking at the bottom, I then pulled the pin and it all came out. I plan on later to safeguard for if it does decide to leak to put a shut off/on valve on the drain end.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
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if you are talking about the aluminum water seperator that was bolted to the fire wall , they were very problematic ford discontinued them early on
the problem wasnt so much with leaking fuel but they ingested air and made for hard/no starting , ford had a changeover kit to converter to the later design but the kit is long since discontinued
the problem wasnt so much with leaking fuel but they ingested air and made for hard/no starting , ford had a changeover kit to converter to the later design but the kit is long since discontinued
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: McFarland, WI
I had to bypass mine. my truck would die because the fuel pump was sucking fuel faster than the separater could hold. at least thats what i think was the problem. It was all nasty anyways and my truck ran fine once i removed it.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: Joliet, Illinois
If you don't have a water/fuel filter, you are asking for trouble.
And if the truck runs better without a water/fuel filter, fix the problem, don't just yank the whole filter system off!
The stock one that mounts to the passenger side front of the engine with the aluminum screw on bottom cane be replaced with an all in one filter unit.
Also, the stock aluminum filter bottom cap can be rebuilt with new seals and schrader valve.
I have an extra bottom cap I plan on powder-coating inside and out to prevent the water/crap from eating the aluminum and make cleaning it easier.
And if the truck runs better without a water/fuel filter, fix the problem, don't just yank the whole filter system off!
The stock one that mounts to the passenger side front of the engine with the aluminum screw on bottom cane be replaced with an all in one filter unit.
Also, the stock aluminum filter bottom cap can be rebuilt with new seals and schrader valve.
I have an extra bottom cap I plan on powder-coating inside and out to prevent the water/crap from eating the aluminum and make cleaning it easier.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
86 and earlier trucks had a water seperator beside the brake booster.
The big problem was not fuel leaking out, it was air leaking in.
Hard starts and/or low power were the result of the air in the fuel.
When I unhooked the stock water seperator and installed the newer style built into the filter, I was very pleased with more power at higher RPM's.
The big problem was not fuel leaking out, it was air leaking in.
Hard starts and/or low power were the result of the air in the fuel.
When I unhooked the stock water seperator and installed the newer style built into the filter, I was very pleased with more power at higher RPM's.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
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it can
mechanical injector pumps can draw 20 plus inches of vacuum so the smallest leak will ingest air into the fuel system but be so small no fuel will leak out
and all the idi,s need a water seperator and a fuel filter
mechanical injector pumps can draw 20 plus inches of vacuum so the smallest leak will ingest air into the fuel system but be so small no fuel will leak out
and all the idi,s need a water seperator and a fuel filter
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
1988-1994 are the years to look for. You also could get a Racor retrofit kit that spins onto the current filter heard, but I learned the hard way that getting replacement filter elements could be expencive or impossible. Don't know of any online sources for the OEM filter setup, but a wrecker will be cheaper anyway.
Here is the Racor kit that I got: dieselmann's Store: Filters
(4th item down)
The OEM 7.3 style filter is functionally identical and looks the same, except the thread on the top of the filter is different on the 6.9 than on the 7.3. If you still want to have a working water separator light, than you could get the sensor from dieselman's store and wire it up yourself.
Overall its still easier and cheaper to get a 7.3 filter assembly and replace the whole thing head and all. That way you always know that you can get a replacement filter at your nearest parts dealer. Or get a few extra filters if you opt for the racor kit.
Here is the Racor kit that I got: dieselmann's Store: Filters
(4th item down)
The OEM 7.3 style filter is functionally identical and looks the same, except the thread on the top of the filter is different on the 6.9 than on the 7.3. If you still want to have a working water separator light, than you could get the sensor from dieselman's store and wire it up yourself.
Overall its still easier and cheaper to get a 7.3 filter assembly and replace the whole thing head and all. That way you always know that you can get a replacement filter at your nearest parts dealer. Or get a few extra filters if you opt for the racor kit.