Is it really necessary?

I searched and couldn't find the answer, so if someone has already asked, please let me know.

My heater element plug on the fuel filter is leaking, but only when the truck is cold. After a long trip, it does not leak at all.

I'm thinking about just disconnecting the plug to prevent the leak until I can get it replaced/repaired.

Any reason NOT to disconnect it? Any better ideas?

 

Unless you are in arctic areas you don't need it.

 

If you are talking about the preheater- the one that is mounted to the side of the block, I took mine out, its been gone for about two years and everything works fine. If you do a search on this there are many that have done this. Often the elect. plug melts or like yours leaks. You can find step by step instructions for removing it.

 

If you are talking about the little black rubber thing on top of the fuel filter housing with the two heavier gauge wires coming out of it, mine was leaking around it yesterday. You have to get the whole assembly fron CHRYSLER if you want a new one. The unit is soldered in from the bottom to the element and element bracket. No worries though because it's easy to fix yourself. Drain your fuel filter and remove the whole assembly (2 10mm bolts, remove fuel lines and unplug both harnesses). When you take the canister apart look on the underside of the top half. You will see three torx-head screws (t-25 if I remember right). Take these loose and press the heater out from the top of the housing. You will now see what I mean about it being soldered to the round bracket plate. Once you get the black part of the heater out you will see an o-ring that makes it seal in the housing. That's where mine was leaking, the ring was mashed flat. I ended up just cutting the two wires mid way so I could get the old ring off and a new one on. After this just clean everything up and put it back together and solder your wires back so everything is safe and secure and put it back on the truck. Fixed mine, hope this helps.

Adam

 

I have removed the preheater from my fuel plumbing for a couple years now. I recently had to replace my lift pump and found the preheater casting that mounts to the block acts as a spacer for the lift pump. I cut the spacer part off the preheater so that the preheater could be completely removed. It has gotten in the low teens where I live and no problem cranking with no preheater and the grid heaters disconnected.......not plugging in the block heater either.

Waylan

 

Thanks for the replies. As the weather has gotten colder here (10 degrees the other morning) the leak has become steadily worse when the truck is first started.

It appears that if the fuel filter heater element is not heating, then it doesn't leak.

I think I may just disconnect the heater and see if that stops the leak until I can actually get it repaired.

 

hi
take it off and file it in the trash !

my truck does fine even at 10 below !

 

We're not talking about the same thing. I think he is talking about the wires in the top of the fuel filter housing. I will be attempting the above fix tomorrow. One problem with mine is that the wires are smoking right at the housing! That can't be good!

later,

 

I want in on this. I live in Idaho, where it can get down to -28, and have no fuel preheater. Mine works just fine as well. So trash the sucker.

 

I think this is a little more of the answer you're looking for...to fix the leak

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=233541

 

Lets make sure what he is talking about, fuel pre-heater "my guess" or the grid heaters, on the intake.
Floyd

 

Is the fuel heater needed? Probably not. However, it's not difficult to fix. My '99 had this problem shortly after I got it. It took less than 2 hours to fix.

 

I did the same but didnt have a new o-ring so I used some silicone and its not leaked fo over a year.

 

The part is not available from Dodge anymore according to the dealership here. I did the o ring repair today along with some silicone. I am letting it dry overnight and will give it a try tomorrow. I think mine was leaking where the wires come out of the plug though. I cut the wires close to the housing and covered the top of the black plug with silicone. Hope this works. JB weld is next!

Later,

 

Things are getting confusing here because the fuel heater on a 24 valve is part of the filter housing.
On a 12 valve it is a separate unit.