b.lee

Good or bad?

Its on my 96 12v and I'm new to the diesel crowd.
I need to know how to change a filter on it and i know nothing about it.
Do I have to fill the new filter w/ diesel before I install it?
I just got this beauty, and I dont want to mess it up by my own mistakes.

I tried google, and searching.

atthepark

The filter on the 12V is hard to get to. I use a web strap filter wrench that a 1/2" ratchet drive fits into (I got it at Advance Auto parts for about $7). You have to remove the drain tube from the bottom of the filter and then unhook the electrical connector for the water sensor on the filter. You can drain some of the fuel from the filter by pushing up on the plunger on the bottom of the filter (have a cup under it to catch the fuel). Then slip on the strap wrench and spin the filter off. Replace in reverse order, put a thin film of oil on the gasket and remember to change the o-ring on the threaded stud that the filter screws onto. You will also need to fill the filter as full as you can before you put it back on. The Haynes manual for the this truck has a good description of the process.

I looked into the Primeloc kit and never got one because it was nearly $200. I can change alot of filters for $200.

Hope this helps. Congrats on the new truck!

infidel

Changing a Prime-Loc is much different than the directions above and the procedure is obvious.
If you prefill the filter you risk introducing unfiltered contaminants. Unless you have a source of of clean fuel just prefill with a diesel fuel additive like Power Service.

The other option is to pump the primer button a hundred times or pressurize the tank with air, 10psi max, to fill the filter and purge air.

Every person I know with a Prime-Loc has removed it once they know the easy trick to changing the filter on a vacuum brake assist truck. The Prime-Locs end up getting in the way all the time.

The trick is you just remove the two nuts that hold the brake master cylinder to the the booster. Even though it doesn't look like it the master will swing easily towards the driver's side giving you a ton of room to work.

b.lee

I need to go to cummins school.

TxDiesel007

Not so much so..

LOL, if u have questions PM me or look up some of my old posts, i love to help new guys out.. heres some hints to change the fuel filter on a cummins...

If you are long and thin with long thin arms, it helps alot (i stand 6,2 or so and have 36 inch sleeves) Make sure that the engine is cool and that you have a fuel filter wrench, strap wrench or something to remove the filter with, u can see the filter right away, and the first thing id do is reach under there (be careful with all the vaccum lines, ZIP TIE THEM with little zip ties to reduce chance of pullin them loose ) and undo the water in fuel sensor, once that is undone, you can stick a filter wrench in there easily and pull twist off the filter, remember to turn it as if you are lookin at it upside down (which in this case is clockwise) and simply break it loose with the wrench then remove it..

ONce it is removed, i usually just put the new one and prime the system till it starts, I press the little button bout 100 times or so, or you can just crank the engine till it fills with fuel and starts, BUT it will have picked up some air so do expect some rough runnin in either case. Some people fill the filter before puttin it back on, ive done all three methods and recommend priming the system then starting it up, and runnin it till the air is out of the system...

Ur done, ive gotten this down to where it takes me all of 5 minutes to change one out from the time i get my tools to restarting the truck....

PM me if you have anymore questions...

Thanks!

Rick

b.lee

so whats the deal with the little hose coming out of the bottom of the fuel filter? its some kind of drain?

do you need to use the drain before removing the filter?
what is it there for?

thanks,

infidel

The hose is connected to the valve that allows you to drain water from the bottom of the filter. My drain hoses have been long gone for years, just get in the way. I never use the valve anyway. In over ten years and almost a half a million miles have never had the water in fuel light come on.

b.lee

so i just un-screw the filter, put a new one on and hit the prime button 100x?
the new filter seal/o-ring has to be lubed up with diesel first right?
or what do you use to en-sure the filter seals good?

b.lee

i just got my first water in fuel light on today...
merry christmas to me....

waldersha

Yes. Or you can loosen the bleed screw on top of the filter housing then use compressed air through the filler neck on the fuel tank to prime it without having to pump the button. Not very much air though (10 psi or less). Takes 10-15 seconds that way.

I usually just grab a little bit of oil and lube the o ring, (like you would do with an oil filter) Just tighten the filter BY HAND until it's tight. I have never had one leak that way, and they seem to tighten in use.

Looks like you got this one figured out from your other post in the HELP section.