I dropped the fuel tank to clean it less than a year ago, and my screen on the bottom of the fuel pickup was broken, so I got a "replacement" from the dodge dealer that wasn't the red plastic, but a steel filter with paper inside instead of screen. I had been having problems lately where the pickup would leave about 5-6 gallons of fuel in the tank that I had anticipated driving on, and it would leave me somewhere. I took it apart, and saw that it took a very long time for fuel to make it's way past the paper in the new filter on the bottom of the pickup. It probably took 20 seconds for it to fill up when (nearly) submerged in fuel! My theory was that when the tank was full fuel would be forced in because of the weight of the fuel above. When it got near empty it would draw air into the lines. I tried to get the paper out with a pair of pliers because I couldn't find a replacement. That didn't work, so I started it on fire in the lawn. I wrapped it with a fine aluminum window screen several times when I put it back together. Do you think it will work?

 

Most likely.

 

My dealer said the replacement would cost $33.45....
For a PAPER filter ????

Mine was separated from the plastic so I got some plastic epoxie, spread it over the plastic and ~ 1/4" of the mesh.

Whenever the ice and snow let up I'll get it in and let you know how it holds up to diesel.

 

cool. I still have the smaller filter inside of the pickup. I think they gave me the wrong part at the dodge dealer.

 

I think you're right. I can't fined it just this moment but I remember when I bombed my fuel pick-up assembly, I read somewhere in the FSM that the gas and diesel pick-up screens are different and as such are made with different colored plastic.

 

I think this setup will be better anyway. Now that I put it all back together my fuel level gauge isn't working. It reads empty, but my low fuel light isn't on. Dropping tank again tomorrow. lol