going to change my fuel filter again after 7000 km like always. i never have drained my fuel canister. with all the bad luck it seems that everyone has after draining it, i dont see the point. what is the benifits of draining it??

 

You onlly need to drain a little. Basically so you don't make a huge mess when you pull the cap off.

 

I disagree. your gonna want to drain it, and clean the sensor in the bottom of it.

I dont see why it is such a pain. I put a soda bottle on the front axle, put the hose in it and pull the lever. never spill a drop.

 

pain to drain it? are you serious? It is more of a pain if you don't. There's no way you can pull out the filter and put a new one in without dumping fuel everywhere that is still in the canister...

I have to be missing something here....

 

Guess where the dirtiest fuel is? The fuel filter. You have to drain it all. Just turn the little lever at the bottom of the filter and collect it in a container. Unless you drain it all, you are guaranteed to get some dirty fuel into the injection pump and injectors. That is not good and could be very expensive.

 

I just changed the fuel filter two days ago, just hit the drain until empty then swapped the filter out. I forgot about putting anything under the truck to catch it though.... oops. Good thing I was out in the front yard on the grass!!!hahahaa..
I did have a little trouble getting it started the first time though... Cycled the key several times, but it didnt start. Cycled the key several more times, fired right up...

 

most directions say to cycle the key twice. But Ive been informed to do it about 6 times before starting. I did it yesterday. Cycled 6 times and it fired right up

 

When cycling the key, bump the starter and that will trigger the lift pump to run for 25 seconds, sometimes longer. Turn the key of when fuel overflows the loosened lid, then tighten the lid and off you go.


CP

 

i never said it was a pain to drain it. i said with all the problems that people seem to have been having. like - truck wont start now, or somehow need new pump etc. dunno just seems like people have had bad luck. i will drain cannister and clean the sensor today. never knew there was a sensor. whats it for? could this be why i have low fuel pressure? gonna go find out. thanks

 

the sensor is for water in fuel light. I haven't heard any problems after changing fuel filter, these 3rd gens are extremely easy to get started again...

 

I am in the same boat as the guy who posted this. I have never drained mine and don't have problems. I am trouble free 50k on the last truck and 60k on this truck and not empting the bowl. I would only dump it if I had a water in light show up. I change the filter every 5 or 6k miles so I think we are good. Aaron

 

I had the same question. I asked my brother who has almost 200,000 mi on his 01 cummins and he has never drained his. Hes never had a problem. He told me to change it turn the key on wait 30 sec. and your ready to go. I only have 30000mi on my 03 and I have not had a problem. I think more people have problems waiting to long before they change their filters. My brother and I both truck drivers see alot of problems with fuel filters and probably change our filters more than needed but its better to be safe than sorry.