A crusty old guy at a truck stop in Flagstaff told me my fuel filter change was a waste of time

I was swapping out a primary fuel filter on a 6.7 Powerstroke in the parking lot, doing my usual quick swap and priming the system. This older guy, who looked like he'd been turning wrenches since the 70s, leaned out of his rig's window and just said, 'Kid, you're leaving half the water in the bowl.' I was confused, so I asked what he meant. He pointed out that I wasn't letting the filter housing drain completely before I put the new one in, so any water or junk at the bottom just got mixed back in with the new fuel. Now, I always crack the drain valve and let it drip for a full minute into a cup, even if it looks clear. You'd be surprised how much extra gunk comes out sometimes. What's one small step in your routine that you changed after getting called out on it?

2 comments

2 Comments

williams.sage23d ago

Leaving half the water in the bowl" is such a simple way to put it. I used to be in a hurry and just swap the filter fast too. I figured if the fuel looked clean coming out, it was fine. Then I saw some fine silt in the bottom of a cup after letting it drain longer. Now that extra minute is just part of the job. It feels stupid until you actually see what comes out.

jamie_clark23d ago

Right? That last bit of water holds all the grit. I started using a clear jar to catch the last few ounces. You can watch the cloud of junk settle out. Makes you never want to rush it again.