fuel bowl leak
 

I just changed out my fuel filter last week. I smelled fuel 2 days ago. Today i got under the hood and looked in the valley. I saw some diesel fuel and when truck is running it drips around the yellow drain valve. I cycled it a few times hoping it would stop but it didn't. So my question is if i take it to my local shop to fix does ford make rebuild kits with the good O-rings. This way it could be done this week. Or I could order the Drain Valve unit I see on diesel o rings website. I can wait to do it for a couple weeks as long as its ok to drive while leaking. That's the next question, Is it safe to drive with the leak dripping into the valley? If there is a chance of fire etc, ill have the local shop rebuild the bowl this week. If not i can do it myself at my friends repair shop on the weekend after i get the parts. And I would like to order the new drain valve assembly but what other parts would I need so I don't have to re-visit this again in the near future with another leak. The Turbo o rings were all done last year with viton and the new flex up pipes so i think this would seal me up pretty good. I just don't know if i should be driving the truck with it leaking. Thanks Jeff

Tightening the screws on the drain valve a little bit will usually stop the leaking. Then you have time to order o-rings.

Thanks, Yep i just tightened the (4) T-20 screws on the drain valve. I got about 1/8 turn on each. Hopefully this will stop it for a little bit anyway. I will check in the am. I plan on ordering a new drain valve that, so i wont have to get back into it again and the o ring kits for the other areas as well. I posted this worried about fuel in the valley as i drive it. thanks for your help. Jeff.

It takes a heck of a lot more than engine heat to ignite diesel fuel, other than a mess and the stink I don't think there's any danger

It takes a lot of heat to fire off diesel fuel, but just how much seems to vary based on differences in fuel chemistry/quality...

References:

Ignition Temperature of Diesel Fuel

No.1 Diesel, autoignition at 177-329°C, or 351-624°F
No.2 Diesel, autoignition at 254-285°C, or 489-545°F


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoignition_temperature
Diesel, autoignition at 210°C, or 410°F

thanks, I checked today when it was 15 degrees out this am. No leak after I tightened the 4 screws a little bit. So as of now no leaks while I wait for my fuel bowl rebuild kit and supplies to arrive. I ordered them from Diesel o rings. I may just put on the new drain valve part for now to hold me over until warmer weather arrives or I have access to the Shop to work inside. Thanks for the tips... Jeff

Agree shouldn't be a problem. Mine leaked way longer than I should have let it. Great after rebuild. Only other issue I have seen was so much diesel leaking it got into the starter and killed it. I think there was an issue with the passenger side line leaking also, so look into the fix for the clamp below the relays.