Leak on top of fuel filter housing - heater O-ring?

[Jim73]

Hi guys,

My 88 is leaking fuel from the fitting on top of the fuel filter header, passenger side of the header top away from the Schrader vent valve,vent, and vacuum switch and facing UP rather than inboard like those others. The wire running from the connector on the fitting looks to me to be power for the fuel heater element, which makes me think that I'll need a new heater O-ring. Rookie diesel guy here needs advice.

Three questions:

First, do you agree with my identification of the leaker?

Second, how do I remove the connector cover/boot/whatever you call it? It's on there pretty firmly and is either made of hard plastic or rubber hardened with age. Don't want to bust the thing, but it looks like my only option will be prying up, rocking it off with gentle pressure under the edge from a thin screwdriver or something similar. That's assuming that the connector is a female plug running on threads like some water temp senders I've seen. Doesn't look like there's room to rotate this thing without jamming against the header casting.

Third, am I correct in assuming that I'll need to remove the filter/sep assembly and unscrew the threaded insert holding the heater to replace the O-ring?

Thanks for any experienced advice yoou can lend!

Jim

 

[Jim73]

Anybody? I could really use some help...

Jim

 

[oldmisterbill]

Would you by any chance be telling s that the fuel line from the fuel pump leaks at the 90 degree elbow where it attaches to the fuel filter?? I'm confused. If that is the correct senerio then you will need to replace the rubber gromet on the end of the fuel line under the nut.Those rubber grommets harden so you wil need to break it off if it is brittlr. Any help???

 

[tenlug]

Been down this road. The heater has 2 O rings, one on the outside of plastic that the connector hooks to and one on the inside. The out side one is easy, but the one on the in side is a little work. The connector tab has a small tang that must be bent flat so you can pull the heater element out of the plastic ring, this is where the inside O ring is. You're correct that you have to remove the filter housing and then the stud that the fuel filter threads onto. There are some pic's in my gallery over on TDS. Type in tenlug and look em over. Also both inner and outer rings are not a common size so you'll have to go to a hydraulic supply house to find em. PS Found one heater that the plastic was black instead of white and it only had an outter O ring. Steve

 

[Jim73]

Misterbill - No, this is a fitting on top of the filter header casting - believe it's the heater. I'm going to go have a look at Tenlugs pics...

Thanks, you guys!