Yes, you need to change it as often as they say, especially if you want it to last as long as you think it should. The 6.4 is miles away from the 7.3, dontchya think?

 

The 6.4 is miles away from the 7.3, dontchya think?

Guess it depends on what you are counting. Yes the 6.4 motor makes more power with less mods (from the factory). However, the 7.3 is more dependable, gets better fuel economy, requires less fuel system maintenance, and if it were appropriately equipped from the factory would make as much power as any 6.4 on the market.

 

My god yes, you have too! There are people on here much more wiser than me that can elaberate on it but the 7.3 fuel system is much more forgiving with things like water and dirt in the fuel than the high pressure fuel system in the 6.4.

 

in my cummins i just got rid of i put 70k miles on it (total of 130k) and only put ONE fuel filter in it... anyone run red fuel in a 6.4? as far as i know the only difference between clear and red i s the dye.

 

When you're pushing fuel at 20,000 + PSI for through the injectors, you need the cleanest water-free fuel possible.

I honestly would do the fuel filters in a 6.4 every 5k miles. Its just not worth it when you have to replace injector nozzles and CP3 pumps and even entire fuel systems due to crap fuel and fuel system maintenance neglect.

Or you can just get rid of the crap HFCM that never belonged on these trucks from the get go and replace it with an AD II for better lower micron rated filtration, and far superior water and air separation.

The 6.4s are nothing like a 7.3 or cummins where you can run diarrhea straight from the toilet through the fuel system and it would still run, it just wont happen. I swear these newer trucks sip liquid gold, or so it seems :thumb::thumb:

Now a days off road and on road are the same except for Dye, but it depends, some people can get higher sulfur content fuels, i guess it depends what part of the country you're in. a Buddy of mine ran red fuel in his 6.4 deleted and it want a problem, but that was only because it was worst case scenario on the job (septic excavating company)

 

The 6.4s are nothing like a 7.3 or cummins where you can run diarrhea straight from the toilet through the fuel system and it would still run, it just wont happen. I swear these newer trucks sip liquid gold, or so it seems :thumb::thumb:

When I bought my diesel I was under the impression that they were low worries low maintenance truck, boy was I wrong

 

in order for you to build a 7.3 to have the reliability/power ratio of a 6.4 you would need to sell the 7.3 truck and still put out money to fund it itself. its way too much money

 

10k tops on your filters.

 

Sinner:

It's great having the advise on the site from a profession mechanic. I'm getting ready to take my truck in for it's second service (10k miles) and am definitely going to be following your advise and get the fuel filters changed also.

Thanks for the advise you give us!

 

Change mine every other oil change. For the $10 or so for the filter why not?

 

red fuel really! thats farm diesel and illegal to use on the road so........

 

yes change the filter. like austin said whats $10 and it just takes a few extra mins not a big deal

 

Hell 10dollars were u getting the filters from them things 80 to 100 for fuel filters for 6.4

 

red fuel on the ranch.... and driving from place to place it is perfectly legal.

 

long as you dont hit any state roads.

 

If it's registered as a farm truck here you can run red anywhere.

 

but running farm trucks on road is illegal no?

also $10 for a fuel filter? I sure hope youre using OEM filters and changing BOTH fuel filters frame rail and engine bay

this is why trucks get bad raps... improper maintenance, use OEM filters and stick to the change intervals.

 

I think it is legal within a certain radius. $10 for a motorcraft fuel filter, the one that sits in the fuel bowl.

 

Here if you stay away from sale barns you'll be ok. I just get it when using my truck for ranch work.

 

10-15k is recommended and MAKE SURE to use an OEM filter ie. Motorcraft/Racor. The cheaper off-brands are not worth the risk. If you have a fuel related issue, thats the first place the dealer will look and they wont be scared to void your warranty over it.

 

20,000 is the specified service interval.

 

anyway regardless of price change the filters everytime you change the oil better safe than sorry!!!

 

FWIW i change both the fuel filters on my 6.0 at every 3rd oil change. 9k-10k miles.

Never had a problem with 'er, other than the high price of the filters, which pales in comparison to the prices of an injector.

 

Change both filters every 10k or replace the fuel system. Drain the water separator every month or more frequently. Clean the rail filter housing too. I've seen pictures of goo in the housing.

 

YES, YES, YES! These trucks are very picky on the fuel quality so don't give Ford a reason not to fix your truck if there is an issue. It's mucho dinero!!

 

I'll get bashed for saying this, but I got distracted and by the time I remembered, it was at 25K before I changed out my filters for the first time. They didn't look terribly dirty. On the other hand, as long as I've tried draining fuel in the past 2yrs I've had the rig, I've never gotten any water either.

Other than a a few months of truck stop fuel, I've been using Shell and Chevron fuel exclusively--I've never skimped in that regard...

so far, knocking on wood, no issues..

 

There are a bunch of children hanging around here, thats why you fear bashing.

A dirty filter does not pass dirt unless there is a bypass around the filter. The classic symptom of a plugged fuel filter is that the engine quits running or is low on power due to fuel starvation.

By the same method, a dirty air filter does not let dirt into your engine.

Automotive oil filters usually have a built-in bypass which can flush the trapped crap back into the engine if activated.

 

pizza pig Quote:
Originally Posted by n4hhe
20,000 is the specified service interval.

and thats a complete JOKE..... every 10k BOTH fuel filter change or you WILL be replacing fuel system components... they'll drop like flies

:agree:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My bad. I took your comment wrong. I did get a lawyer last year and Ford actually has offered up a few bills but we turned it down cause it was a slap im my face as far as we were concerned. A lot of time amd my money was spent for alternative transportation, down payment, $1200 monthly payments, etc.

 

No worries. Hope u reach a resolution.

 

If you are worried about fuel issues, than I would put an airdog 2 on your truck. The water separator on these trucks is trash. Doesnt work worth a damn, is hard to change the filter, and the filter housing is poorly designed. I am putting an airdog 2 on my truck this weekend. I will report back later just how much more water the airdog takes out of the fuel compared to the stock system. Everytime I drain my water separator I get little to no water in the fuel. I find this very hard to believe so thats why I put an airdog on the truck.