What's the longest you have gone or know of someone going before they got around to changing their fuel filter?

Only reason I ask is cause I kinda did something stupid - forgot to change mine until Thursday... it only had 55k Miles on it!

I'm honestly surprised that the truck still ran, let alone the lift pump didn't die! LOL

I don't have a pict of a new filter but I'll try to post a pict of the old one tomorrow - broke my camera when I moved 3 weeks ago, gotta get my son to show me how to use his!

 

My boss's '98.5 ran for about 2 years without a fuel filter change. With the mileage he puts on that was probably around 50 - 60k. The mechanic he was taking it to didn't know the fuel filter was supposed to be changed every other oil change (old school gasser guy). The truck started losing power on hills (really?) so he took it to a diesel shop. The first thing they did was change the filter.

 

friend didnt change the filter on his 98 for 55K miles, paid for it by loosing the fuel pump.

 

I change mine according to the dp (differential pressure) by comparing the pressure before and after the filter. That's the nice thing about the 99 fuel filter housing with the two test ports on the top. I think I've got about 35-40k on the one that's in there now.


I was always going to replace the mechanical gauge with another sender for the Westach and a switch to flip back and forth,,,,,,,,,,,, just haven't got around to it yet.

 

I change mine every 25k or when my highway cruising speed normal fuel pressure drops which has only happened once.
I know one fellow who went 83k on the filter that came with his truck new before it clogged.
Mileage is a poor indicator of when to change, a bad tank of fuel can clog the filter in ten miles.

Many people think their filter is clogged up because it turns black, this is just staining from asphaltines, a normal constituent of all diesel fuel and doesn't effect the flow of fuel.

 

This is a great topic. I recently purchased my used '01 w/22k on it, and upon reading the owners manual, I don't remember this filter being mentioned. Reading this forum has me set to change at lease every 10k or so...however the guage is coming soon, and the filter change will be at the same time as installation to baseline the pressure.

 

I change mine every oil change. Don't have to worry about when the last time I changed it was. It's to easy to change on mine not to change it that often.

 

One of the reasons I went ahead and changed mine - besides the high milage - was that the truck was taking longer to start, usually it first as soon as I turn the key but lately (mostly before the change) it would sometimes take 2 or 3 tries to start it. It's still hesitating a little bit, maybe a second or two after turning the key. Another reason is that something weird has suddenly happened with my milage. After I had my speedo recalibrated for the tire size I was getting 15 to 15.5 miles local city/highway. Last time I checked it was back down to 13.5 which was the same as when I first bought it with the stock 245 tires and 4:10 gears.

***?

I've noticed that my stacks are starting to get a thicker black soot coating as well as the drop in milage..

Any idea's?

When I had it in the shop thursday they checked the pump pressure and it was still like it was when it was new - very high (the mech didn't tell me the actual pressure but he said it was like if the pump was brand new).

 

did replacing the fuel filter fix/help? reason I ask is I have the same symptoms as you. Gauges and filters are getting replaced this week/end but just want a second opnion.

Thanks
bill.

 

I'm on my first full fuel tank now since the filter change and am watching it carefully to see what the milage is when I refill (at friggin $75 a tank!!! ), I'll post a note if there's any change for the worse.


Added:

As far as the delay in starting, it's pretty much ok but once in a while it may take 2 or 3 sec's after the key is turned.

 

Thanks and please keep us posted. I have a seperate thread in the General Diesel area and I'll report as well.

Bill.

 

Well I will say this much since that filter change, WOW!

I had to jump on the pedal while on an onramp cause some jerkoff was behind me trying to figure out a way to pass me via the emergency parking lanes, I just pushed it to the floor and we just took off - I think removing that dead weight spare tire (it was too small compared to the tires I'm running now) this past weekend was a big help too. I was 5 over the speed limit with 300 feet of onramp left to go yet! It was another 3 miles before he finally caught up to me and passed, me and the wifie were laughing big time.

Gee.. and think... if I had turned this into a smoker (that is if I knew how and wasn't worried about CHP writing me up), just what would he have thought then?