Cleaning filter canister on '95 7.3 turbo

[7dot3-charlie]

I blew #22 fuse -- engine stopped with no wait-to-start light. After reading your forum I checked the fuel heater and found it had come apart and was touching the plate at bottom of filter. There was a lot of silt-like debris on the plate and at the bottom to the canister. I guess this must be from dirty fuel or some corrosion from the tank. Regardless, I am going to disconnect the heater. Is there some preferred method of cleaning out the bottom of the canister? I don't want the contamination to get into the riser tube. Is this a common problem? Should I be concerned? The heater wire appears to have had a small disc attached to it and it had come loose. I wonder if that made it short out. Is it difficult to replace the fuel heater wire? Thanks in advance. Charlie

[vitalidle]

Originally Posted by 7dot3-charlie

I blew #22 fuse -- engine stopped with no wait-to-start light. After reading your forum I checked the fuel heater and found it had come apart and was touching the plate at bottom of filter. There was a lot of silt-like debris on the plate and at the bottom to the canister. I guess this must be from dirty fuel or some corrosion from the tank. Regardless, I am going to disconnect the heater. Is there some preferred method of cleaning out the bottom of the canister? I don't want the contamination to get into the riser tube. Is this a common problem? Should I be concerned? The heater wire appears to have had a small disc attached to it and it had come loose. I wonder if that made it short out. Is it difficult to replace the fuel heater wire? Thanks in advance. Charlie

Not sure on the prefered method , but you could take the old element out and wipe the bowl clean. Here is a writeup for you so you can either change out the element or mod it to the new element. Fuel_Heater_Mod

[7dot3-charlie]

Vitalidle ---

Thanks for the quick response and the helpful info.

I also noticed as I was draining and cleaning the canister that there was an aluminum cap-type piece in the bottom (a little larger than a dime in dia.). It appears to have come off the water sensor probe that is flush to the side of the canister. Do you know if this sensor can be purchased anywhere other than Ford? Thanks again for your help. -Charlie

[sydeshowbob]

I am in the same boat. except my fuel bowl has a hole in the bottom. All i did originally was remove the filter post (dealio the filter sits on), and remove the heater (which was tore up as well) and start wiping out the bowl, with shop rags, and q tips. then i discovered a hole.. so now i am going have to buy a new bowl and the new element.