I know this is one of those questions that's going to prove how diesel-ignorant a person can be and still qualify for a driver's license.
Mine has a Fleetguard FS1251. It has a 1.4" long nipple-end and a small diameter (.310"-ish ID) drain. The parts stores call for a 1232 Fleetguard filter. It's made different. No nipple-end, and a much larger hole for (I guess) the drain. Is there a 1232 filter hidden somewhere else that I'm missing?

I'm just trying to figure why all the part stores call for something other than what I have.

 

I am not sure what your truck is set up for and do not know the filters by number , but I venture to guess is that , what you have is a normal fuel filter with a water drain on the bottom , and what they are telling you to use , is like mine filter , the larger hole allows for the water sensor [ not sure if you truck had that in that yr. ] and a drain in one unit , so when I change my filter , I remove the sensor / drain and install into new filter .

 

Just order the fleetguard FS1221 and get rid of the water in fuel sensor all together. It's a longer filter and when I was looking I found that it was actually cheaper then the stock style filter that belonged on my truck.

 

Call me old fashioned but isnt it a good thing to know if you have water in your fuel?

 

Sounds good. But mine has that 1.4" long nipple-end on the end that faces up. All the others I've seen had a threaded hole. This nipple appears to be made to the filter. Maybe the nipple came out with the filter. I've been afraid to be too rough on trying to remove it, until I know I have a correct replacement. The nipple goes through the plastic electrical thing. (fuel heater?)
I appreciate all the help.

 

That nipple is suppose to stay on the filter housing. When I first changed mine the nipple came out I used a "strap" wrench that I had lying around from a faucet set that I bought and put that on the treads held the filter and twisted the nipple right out and then I used the same strap wrench to tighten the nipple back into the filter housing. If you don't have a strap wrench I would say go get one from your local hardware store they are pretty cheap.

 

The 1232 is the proper unit for your truck. It should have a threaded hole in the top, and the truck should have a steel nipple that retains the fuel heater and the filter. No idea why somebody would have changed it; maybe he wanted his truck and tractor to use the same filter so he wouldn't have to stock two. Maybe he broke the WIF sensor and didn't want to replace it. I guess it's your choice if you want to get the parts to adapt back to the proper filter, or keep using the other. I'd personally go back to the proper one. Then I'd know the filtration was right, I'd have a WIF sensor, and I'd know a replacement was always easily available.

 

Based on the Dodge diesel 1989 model, the FS1232 is the correct filter. The 3831852S is the drain valve connector assembly that is used in the bottom. The parts store might have pulled the wrong year. The FS1232 has a flow rate of 50GPH and the FS1251 has a flow rate of 19.8GPH.

 

Wow! big difference in the flow rates.
I'll get what's needed to go to a 1232. Many thanks!!!!!!

 

Free89W350 nailed it, the nipple you speak of is the threaded adaptor that is supposed to stay in the cylinder head securing the fuel heater.

If you go and buy the stock fs1232 filter you will need a water in fuel sensor, most likely HIGH dollar from the parts store even if its available via them. Stick with the fs1251 or an upgrade of both filters is fs1221. Longer, slightly better filtering capacity, unknown of the flow rate.