Replacing the Fuel Filter on a Diesel Engine is probably the most overlooked yet easiest maintenance item on your truck, it is similar to replacing the spark plugs on a gas engine. A good fuel filter is essential to having an engine that performs well. A dirty fuel filter can lead to lowered vehicle performance, and lower fuel mileage. Changing the Fuel Filter takes less than 30 minutes to do yourself. So instead of paying your dealership big bucks for them to change it, you can do it yourself for under $15.

This is all you need to change the fuel filter on your Truck:
One Fleetguard FS19579 Fuel Water Separator
One 12 inch crescent wrench or a 1-1/8 socket wrench
One section of ¾ ID hose approx. 18-24 inches long
One plastic container or an oil drain pan
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The fuel filter canister is located on the driver’s side of the engine right under the fuel rail.
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The arrow points to the end of the drain tube for the filter canister. This is where the ¾ ID hose comes in handy to extend this hose so you don’t get your front end covered in fuel. As you see the ¾ ID hose fits nicely over the existing hose. The hose I have extend to just past the bottom of the front chunk.
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Place the plastic container, or drain pan under the hose.
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Then open the valve to drain the filter canister like so.
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Once the fuel has drained take your wrench and remove the lid to the filter canister. You will feel it is rather tight at first, but then when it becomes easy to move with the wrench you can twist it off the rest of the way by hand.

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Grab the lid and pull straight up.
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The filter is attached to the lid by ‘fingers’
To remove the lid simply pull the two apart in a downward motion and the filter will come out.
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Remove the old o-ring
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The new filter is supplied with a new o-ring as you can see here.

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Before installing the new o-ring, lubricate it with diesel from the lid of the filter canister,
Or by dipping it into the container of old fuel.
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Install the new o-ring onto the lid
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And snap the filter onto the lid. CAUTION: make sure you install the filter the right way. The end with the hole needs to be away from the lid.
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Then drop the new filter into the canister and tighten by hand until you cannot turn it anymore.

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Using your wrench tighten the lid a bit more. CAUTION: DO NOT go HE-MAN on this lid and use the powers of Grey Skull on it, you will break it that way. You only need to tighten it a bit more, between 1/16 and 1/8 of a turn till it is snug.
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ENSURE that you close the valve on the canister like so.
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Remove the drain tube extension
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And look to see how much water was in your fuel. As you can see I luckily do not have any water in my fuel.
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But just incase I do happen to get some fuel with water in it or my filter clogs, I keep the wrench and an extra filter under the seat to keep the silencer ring company.

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Once you have closed the valve turn the ignition to run, but do not start. You will hear the lift pump run for a few seconds. When it stops running bump the starter, DO NOT try for a full start yet. By doing this you are forcing the lift pump the prime the canister. This time the lift pump will run for a good bit longer. When the lift pump turns off bump the starter once again this is to ensure the filter canister is full of fuel. When the lift pump turns off again, go for a full start. It may take a bit longer for the engine to fire off, and when it does run it may run a bit rough for a few seconds. The engine will return to a normal idle once the air has been purged out of the rail. Wile the engine is running hop out and check the canister for leaks, if no leaks you are good to go.

Now go back, relax, and enjoy the thought that you just saved yourself more than $50 by changing the fuel filter yourself.


here is where I get my filters Geno's Garage.

Other filters will work, however I know since Fleetguard is a division of Cummins if anything could go wrong my warranty would not be void. Some Filters are made cheaply, these are not, infact, if you were to go to the dealership to have your filter changed, this is the same filter they would use but it would be remarked with mopar.

 

Perfect timing and well explained... I'll be doing this for the 1st time this weekend...

Thanks Drew!

 

Drew,
Great instructions on this. Appreciate it. How often do you change yours?

 

every 5K or so miles. I can usualy tell it is getting bad when my mileage takes a dive and preformance slacks off a bit.

 

Been coming to the site for a couple of weeks now but never a post. been absorbing waaaaaay too much info, you guys are grand!!
thanks muchas for the insight. changed my oil and air filter today, was talking about changing the fuel with a co-worker just a couple of hours ago. he pretty much told me the same stuff... thanks again!