Modifying my fuel return lines...

[DOE-SST]

1994 E350 van, 7.3L IDI E4OD.

My fuel return system has two fuel return lines. One line from the left rear of the engine that goes to the fuel tank, and a line from the left forward engine area that goes back to the fuel filter.

I'm modifying my fuel system, and need to have just a single return line going back to the tank.

Any problem with merging the two lines into a single line at the engine, and then going straight to the tank?

Why did Ford send some fuel back to the filter?

 

[Ataylor]

I got rid of the stock fuel filter for an aftermarket set up. So I do not have a return line running back to the filter. I have a single return line running back to the tank. I have an single tank in the bed so I don't have to worry about the switching unit.

I asked the same question a while back and the response was that as long as the injector return has a path back to the tank it is fine.

However, I have not yet finished the project and got the truck running. So I cannot tell you if the modification is sucessful. I should have it running in a week and will post my results.

I'm not sure why the stock set up has a line running back to the filter- I have always wondered why. Maybe someone else will chime in and educate us.

Archie

 

[Agnem]

You should read my tech article "thoughts on hard starts and air" for an in depth exploration of this topic. However, you are somewhat misguided in your assumptions. Both of your cylinder banks return fuel to the fuel tank. There is a line crossing over from the passenger side to the drivers side, that you just haven't found. The hose coming off of the fuel filter is not to allow the fuel return to go to the fuel filter, but rather to allow air coming from the tank to go into the return lines, and bypass the injection pump.

 

[icanfixall]

Mel said it correct.... The line off the filter is only there to allow air to be returned to the tanks if any is trapped in the filter. My truck never had that return line off the filter... It runs fine too.... You should not have any filters on the return lines because the fuel has already gone thru the filter before it reaches the injectors and returns....

 

[franklin2]

Reading between the lines, it sounds like the return line from the filter may let the fuel system fill faster if you happen to run it dry of fuel.