autotech84601
Registered User
I love my truck. Let me start by saying that. I purchased this thing a year ago and have put all kinds of work into it. I wouldn't have been able to get even this far without Gary, Russ, and Mel and everyone else always helping out, (the rest of you know who are)! Today pushed me over the edge a bit though. I tried to purchase a water seperator spin on filter for the truck and it looked a little big. The part numbers I got were from another thread and they were relevant to my truck as it came to me with a spin on fuel filter with no separator. I figured I found what I needed and was going to make this right. I have put less than 2500 miles on the truck since I've bought a year ago and have slowly attempted to get this thing to where it should be. I found the filters did not fit as the gasket mating surface for the fuel filter is a lot smaller on the housing than it should be. Here is the frustrating part..... The fuel filter base that I have in the truck is not the correct one as it is a lot smaller than the part numbers of the filters I ordered for it. (Using wix 33417)In fact after looking at some pictures up close of some other base assemblies, this assembly is missing sensor ports and was rigged in there with a plethora of brass fittings. The only filter that will fit on it is a is a spin on fuel filter that is about the same size as the oil filter on my 86 Chevy gasser with no water separator. I replaced this filter on the truck about one month ago as I found it to be empty after my truck stalled in the middle of the road. (This was explained in another thread and help was received to help diagnose thanks.) Today I pulled it off and found corrosion around the opening of the filter. So now I'm thinking that this whole time that this filter system has been on the truck, the water has been making its way through and ruining the injection system. I proceeded to go back to the store, returned the filters that would not fit, and replaced the fuel filter once again with the stupid spin on oil filter type with no water separator. I did fill it with synthetic atf and ran for about 25 minutes. There was an occasional tapping here and there coming from the engine but overall it got quiet. Ran smooth. I decided it was finally time to use the test strip kit that I bought for the coolant as the owner I purchased the truck from had a reputable diesel shop put in a ford crate motor 60k or so ago. (Still have the original purchase receipt from the dealer from five years ago). The colors on the test strip were nowhere to be found other than the freezing protection. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhh! So I'm wondering where to go from here as the local dealer is unwilling to help me find the filter base I need ( Its too old ) so I can protect what is left of my fuel system. And now I'm worried sick about cavitation. Would anyone happen to have a fuel filter base part number without the sensor ports? Or do they only come with? 89 F350 with ATS 088 turbo. I see some of the sensor wires there but they are currently not in use. And as far as the cavitation goes should I be worried with no protection and probably 70k on the engine? Thanks to everyone that has taken time out to help an idi rookie. Super frustrated but trying to push through. Thanks again!
