Over time, my '91 7.3 IDI short bus has needed fuel filters more and more often. I'm currently on a long road trip, and so far i've needed a new fuel filter every 1000 miles or so. Tanks have been dropped and checked for gunk/algae/rust. Rear tank is totally clean and front tank has some rust but nothing significant enough to cause this issue. There is no in line filter, just the one under the hood.
It's been suggested the issue is a faulty "fuel filter" light, but if that were true, replacing the filter would have no effect. Before the light starts coming on, I begin to lose steam on hills, and my fuel economy slides down from my average of 11.5 mpg to less than 10. When a new filter is installed, this problem is corrected - for a short time. Eventually, it starts happening again, and a while after that I start getting the fuel filter light on startup.
There is a separate "water in fuel" light which isn't coming on. When I prime it, no water comes out, only a healthy stream of fuel.
Any ideas? Please talk to me like I'm 4 years old because that's how long I've had this bus, and that's as far back as my experience with diesel engines (or any kind of engines) goes.
Thanks in advance!
It's been suggested the issue is a faulty "fuel filter" light, but if that were true, replacing the filter would have no effect. Before the light starts coming on, I begin to lose steam on hills, and my fuel economy slides down from my average of 11.5 mpg to less than 10. When a new filter is installed, this problem is corrected - for a short time. Eventually, it starts happening again, and a while after that I start getting the fuel filter light on startup.
There is a separate "water in fuel" light which isn't coming on. When I prime it, no water comes out, only a healthy stream of fuel.
Any ideas? Please talk to me like I'm 4 years old because that's how long I've had this bus, and that's as far back as my experience with diesel engines (or any kind of engines) goes.
Thanks in advance!