NEED SOME INSITE!!

ADAMP02 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 07:05 AM

HEY ALL IM NEW TO THE FORUM AND HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FUEL FILTER PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2003 F-250 WITH A 7.3 POWERSTROKE, I HAD THE PROBLEM OF GETTING DOWN TO ABOUT 1/4 TANK OF FUEL AND THE TRUCK WOULD START RUNNING RUFF LIKE IT WAS MISSING. TOOK IT TO THE FORD PLACE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO EXPLORITORY SURGERY ON TO DECIDE WHAT IT WAS AT MY EXPENSE. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I BROUGHT IT HOME. I PULLED THE TANK AND FOUND THE SCREEN FILTER TO BE NASTY BUT THE TANK LOOKED TO CLEAN, NO TRASH OR ANYTHING IN IT. ITS RUNNING FINE NOW BUT MY QUESTION IS HOW OFTEN IS THIS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE OR IS THERE ANYWAY TO ELEMINATE THIS PROBLEM. THANKS

**Banshee34** · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 07:55 AM

Bumping this up for ya!

Haven't heard of anyone having to clean the tank screen but I change my filter every 10k. Hopefully someone can help!

***alabamafrog*** · #3 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 08:27 AM

You need to do the tank and prepump filter mods I have done to solve your problem and save your injectors if you get a bad load of fuel, not to mention eliminating splash back when filling and it allowed me to get another 7 or so gallons in mine. It will elimante air getting in the system when the fuel is low and makes my truck run much quieter, even the wife noticed. It was easy and only cost me about $35 for the filter assembly and fittings at tractor supply. Look at my pictures of my fuel system to see what I am talking about.

***alabamafrog*** · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 08:33 AM

here is a copy and paste from a post I did right after I did this mod:

just got done modifying my fuel system and I think it is something everyone should do. About $35 and around 4 hours and I now have a much better truck. It definitely runs quieter and I no longer loose fuel pressure when I get on it hard. In my case I have lots more power on my higher chip settings. But best of all I can get fuel anywhere I want without fear of nasty crap ruining my $300 fuel pump or my $30 filter or my $2000 injectors. A spare filter is $5 and it is easy to change so I keep one in the truck for emergencies. I finally got the pictures of the whole process added to my new picture site and tied to my signature link below.
Here is a materials list and brief description of what I did.

Parts=
Goldenrod fuel filter assembly from tractor supply ~$25 (Thanks banjo willy)
Tractor Supply Company - FUEL TANK FILTER
About 4ft of 3/8” and about 2ft of 5/16” rubber fuel line ~$10
Make a bracket/mount for the fuel filter
3/8” compression union
About 6” of 3/8” stainless tubing
3/8” hose barb to 1” pipe fittings
5/16” hose barb to 1” pipe fittings
About 6 or 8 small hose clamps

Tools=
PVC cutter
Tubing cutter
Basic hand tools

I removed my tank and loosened the large plastic nut with a block of wood and a hammer. Make sure to measure the total length of the pickup assembly before removing the white plastic mixing valve thingy. I then removed the screen in the foot and pushed the 6” tubing all the way through the foot past the check valve. Put the compression fitting on the factory tube and cut the 6” tubing so that when you assemble everything it is the same length as you measured to start with. I also used a short hose on the end of the return tube to route it away from the pickup foot but make sure it will not interfere with the gauge float. Use a PVC cutter to snip off the two plastic pipes that hang down into the tank so you can get about 6-7 extra gallons of fuel into it without it spitting out at you when filling. Reinstall the pickup assembly in the tank and tighten the nut, there should be a arrow and a mark on the tank for alignment. Put the 3/8” fuel line onto the factory line and secure it with two small hose clamps. Reinstall the tank and use the factory fuel return line and your new fuel supply line. Find a good place to mount the filter assembly and hook the 3/8” line to it securely. Now use the 5/16” hose to run from the filter to the factory electric pump and secure it all with plenty of hose clamps. This will give you clean, free flowing, and air free fuel.

If you want you can do the FPR (fuel pressure regulator) mod with either the spring out of a California FPR kit for about $25 or just put a BB behind your spring. This mod is not necessary, it just raises factory fuel pressure from around 58 psi to around 70 psi but some folks claim it helps so I went ahead and did it too while I was at it.

Thanks to all the websites and pictures posted by others that helped me with this stuff.