I have a 2004 E450 RV and I am having some problems changing the primary diesel fuel filter.
In the tech files and all other sources I could find it shows this filter mounted horizontally to the body frame and IT has a drain plug.
On my rig the filter is mounted vertically and has a knurled **** as the draining device.
When I turn the drain **** fuel comes out, but it will not stop flowing. So I can't risk undoing the filter housing knowing that fuel will continue to run out. This would continue until the tank is empty I presume !!
Is there a way to shut off the fuel from the tank or has someone any other ideas on how to stop the fuel from running into the filter while I change it?
While I am here maybe someone could clarify that I have the proper filter.
My local Ford dealer tells me there are two types of filters for this vehicle, one for the truck and one for van ??
We "guesed" mine was a van so he sold me part# FD-4606 4C2Z-9N184-B4. This has a short, squat primary filter. The other version is taller and skinny??
Here is my VIN if it helps 1FDXE45P44HB02840

The next challenge is the secondary fuel filter, it's in so tight even my wife can't get her hands near it??

 

I guess I'll answer my own question;
Parked on an incline facing uphill and jacked the front driver side up 6".
Even though my Primary fuel filter looks different to all the pictures and diagrams I can find, I just unscrewed the lower plastic bowl, popped out the old filter and pushed in the new one. No fuel leaked out with the vehicle facing uphill.
Put a new "O" ring on the plastic cover cap, screwed back in and all is fine.

Now the engine fuel filter - There seems to be two schools of thought on this, some say from the front, others say from the back (Dog-house side).
I did it from the back and completed the job in 40 minutes with help from my wife.
1) Remove dog-house from inside
2) Undo two 10mm nuts holding a metal bracket that carries a bunch of cables on the left upper side of the engine.
This allows you to get your hand right through and touch the filter cap.
3) Have an assistant pass a 15/16" rachet ring spanner from the front. With your hand going in from the back hold the wrench/spanner onto the cap.
4) While you hold it on the cap your assistant can now undo the cap with the rachet until it becomes loose. Then remove by hand.
5) Cap and old filter can be brought out to the back with a little wriggling.
6) Reverse the procedure to install the new filter - one tip, put the filter into the cap before trying to install it. If you put the filter into the housing first it's not possible to get the cap back because of a metal pipe that runs above the filter bowl area.
Hope this helps others doing this routine, but awkward job.