Newbie screwed up first Fuel Filter Change

[cparks72]

Ok here's what I did....2002 F-250 7.3L 83K
I changed my fuel filter for the first time(just got it used) I put the rubber gasket in upside down. It drove fine for a while the started running real rough...Was real hard to start but did ok when it got warmed up. I put about 100 miles on it until I figured out what I screwed up. I got the rubber gasket in right and it runs fine...HOWEVER it is really low on oil...I have put 3 QUARTS in and the dipstick is barely wet....I am pretty sure my oil level was good before my fuel filter F-up. Is it possible that the this 7.3L good burn a bunch of oil like that or do I have other problems too??
Thanks

[Matt P]

Thats way too much oil to be burning just normally, a normal amount to burn is like 1 quart every 3,000 miles Im pretty sure. The only time I've seen diesels engines eat up that much oil is due to bad injector o-rings. when mine were bad I went through a gallon of oil every 300 miles, but it would seem odd that that is your problem after only 83k miles. Check that fuel filter again and see if it is completely black cuase that means the oil is going into your fuel

[vitalidle]

You have an oil leak somewhere. Look in the valley of the motor between the heads and see if you have any oil there.

[cparks72]

No evidence of any oil leak. Since I did not have a proper seal on the fuel filter cap, I am thinking that what was causing me to run rough and blow some white smoke...Now I am just worried that I did some permanent damage.

[wesjones]

might be the oil pan gasket, you wouldn't see that from under the hood.

did you fix the fuel filter? Two things are important.

1) part of the seal that gasket makes is by an expansion reaction with the diesel fuel, its important to soak the gasket before putting it on.

2) the filter should be nice and snug...the owners manual will tell you to torque it to 15 lbs but i have done that and had it weap out...dont tighten it like crazy like a normal bolt, but hand tight is definately not enough.

thats all i can give you

[redstroker_2002]

look for oil leaks because thats alot of oil!