fuel filter

[pun]

hey guys i was wondering if i can remove my canister filter and replace it with an inline filter? i have changed the canister filter before and i couldnt get it to seal right.

 

[AllanD]

To do so would involve replacing two fuel lines, the line from the frame
mounted pump up to the filter and the line from the filter up to the coupler on the fuel ail.

As for the cannister remove the cover and let it drain and dry
install a new O-ring (you may need to buy a new filter that
you aren't going to use)
clean off the outside of the housing and the threads of the "bowl" with brake parts cleaner then buy one of those little tubes of Loctite Anerobic gasket maker"

Typically compound 515 or 518

Use it generously on the inside threads on the bowl and the outside of the cannister and screw it on there.... allow it to cure for several hours (preferably overnight)
and it'll seal the cover on the housing

You can NEVER remove this cover again.

as a demonstration once I glued an intake manifold on a saab turbo
engine with Loctite 515 and after allowing it to cure for 24hours
I REMOVED the intake manifold bolts and drove the car around for a week
with ONLY the sealant holding the intake manifold on the engine
(no gasket was involved)

I have also used the stuff to glue the two halves of an old glass fuel filter housing together, this one was installed on a asoline generator with an 8hp Briggs&Stratton engine that generator is still running every weekend fifteen years later
with that glued together glass bowl

Glue. STRONG STUFF.

That all being said you could replace your filter cannister with a
NON-filter "Reservoir cannister" from a junkyard '87-88 Ranger,
just don't mess with the cover.

 

[pun]

i thought it would be as simple as putting the fuel filter in place of the canister, an splicing the return lines with a fuel line. but than again i am not a mechanic.

 

[AllanD]

You Could do it that way, but ford for some reason put the inline style filter downstream of the high pressure pump.

I suspect if you put the later style filter where your current cannister style filter is now that you'll have "issues" getting the fuel through the filter.

there is great potential for the HP pump to cavitate (and self destruct)
if there is an upstream restriction.

I retrofitted my truck to a HP in-tank pump YEARS before I
started converting to a 4.0.

AD

AD

 

[pun]

i've heard that my 86 ranger has two fuel filters. I have looked but only see the canister, am i missing it somewhere?

 

[Cyberbeer]

Yea Pun, its not pretty where the the inline filter is. Follow your fuel lines to the High pressure pump...now follow the line coming out of it up about 2 feet. As the line starts to curve up you should feel the inline filter there.

Its kind of a pain to replace. I ran new fuel line and relocated the inline filter downstream from where it was to make it easier to replace in the future. Its really not all that hard, just trace the line..measure, buy about a foot more length of line and replace it all back to the filter. I would avoid the plastic stuff Ford used, it kinks up easily, and just buy good rubber FUEL line.

 

[pun]

thanks cb i will need to check.

 

[pun]

i checked the frame from tank to the engine and there is on in-line filter. I guessed maybe it go taken out, but it ain't there.