I seem to only get 3000 miles out of a lubrafiner fuel filter before it needs changed. I limped home last time to change one and I don't want to carry one with me. Should I be draining the fuel bowl more often. I know it all depends on the quality of fuel. I get the most of my fuel at truck stops. The only thing good is that the filter should be getting all the crud before the pump and injectors.

 

If you are only getting 3K miles out of a fuel filter, you need to have the tank cleaned. Somehow you have gottne some crap in your tank, maybe a REAL bad batch of fuel, but there is no way you should be going though a fuel filter every 3K

 

Thats what I thought. I do fuel up almost every day from different places and I did drain the bowl before the last filter change and I do see some water in the fuel. I think i will drain the fuel bowl twice a week and see if this helps first.

 

Are you having problems because of water or crud? Or are you considering water crud?

My truck (and fuel tank obviously) have 150K on 'em. I change my filter every other oil change to every 3rd oil change (between 8 and 15K miles). When I replace them, I know they can always go longer as they still look good when I pull them out. I do run an additve about every 3-5 tanks of fuel as well from the local Advanced Auto, i is called Diesel Kleene (I think) I just know the bottle is silver in color. When I first bought a bottle a couple years ago, I read the label real carefully. But since then, I just pick up the "silver bottle" of additive and throw it in my toolbox, and add as needed. Once I find a product that I like, I do not deviate from it. I have used the same deoderant for 20+ years (silver can of Right Guard, I think it is teh Sports Scent) My truck is silver also, maybe I just buy products with silver in them My Powerstroke was silver, my Chevy gasser was silver, and my Mustang was silver, and I painted my Challenger silver Hmmmmmmmm

 

I've got 109k on 1 and 78k on the other and have never drained fuel bowl except when changing filters every 2nd oil change(15k),it sounds like you need to drop the tank,and try to avoid running near empty.

 

I TRY and run as close to empty as I can, to get all possible fuel out. Since I change my filter as often as I do, and my fuel never stays in my tank any longer than a week, I can afford to run it as low as possible. So, by getting rid of all possible fuel by every time I need to fill up, I really never have to worry about what is in the bottom of my tank. Everyone has an opinion on this, and that is mine.

 

Have you have the vent recall one yet on your 06? If not then this is the source of your 'crud'. If you haven't done it yet make sure you tell the service writer/dealership that you are having the plugging problems with your fuel filter as they should take care of cleaning the tank as well as per the recall. Essentially all 03-06 long bed trucks have 2 emissions fitting that were used for the gas engines on top of our fuel tanks and they are open. They sit in a depression so any water/dirt/mud/crud that collects there while driving gets sucked in through the open fittings as fuel is depleted and a vacuum forms in the tank, once in the tank guess were that crud can go.....Dodge issued a recall for this issue on the 06's (not sure why they didn't for 03+) I already took care of mine but tying the 2 open fittings together with fuel hose and a 'T' then ran a line up near the fuel filler and put a cheap fuel filter on it so that the tank can still draw in air as fuel is depleted but that air is filtered as well as not likely to be near water.


If you need go to this website: Dodge recall inquiry website
Plug in the last 8 digits of your VIN and it will tell you if there are any outstanding recalls.

 

CRXsi is that recall for long bed trucks only or the short beds also. I have a short bed.

 

Here is a copy of the recall bulletin:

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/F19.htm

 

I have a short bed also and received a recall notice for it. I think it only involves early 06's, I got mine in January of 06. Take a look under your truck, you will be able to see if it was done or not.
BTW Dodge's fix is not the best solution. CRXsi has the right idea.

Mike

 

I have some very early pics of my temporary fix in my gallery which was similar to Dodge's fix. I will try and snap some pictures of the permanent fix later. But essentially like I said I used fuel hose and a Vacuum T , ran bot fitting to the 'T' and then a single hose to a fuel filter (not sure what the filter I used was for, some have said late '60 VW bug filers work good). The filter was zip tied under the bed on the rear side of the fuel filler. The filter I used is a can style with both in and out fittings on the top. I also ran a short piece of hose from the open end down and zip tied it to the filter body. My theory with this is the can style would also act like a water separator if an water did manage to get near it. Some people have mentioned just running a hose between the 2 fittings or just capping them off. I would recommend against it as there in no source of air to relieve the vacuum in the tank once fuel starts depleting, this may cause more strain on the lift pump.