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Fuel filter failed

October 27, 2016, 10:46:40 pm

Anyone ever have a fuel filter fail. I dont mean fill with debris. It developed a leak on the outer canister about an inch from the bottom.  We're are traveling across  Texas on the way to Nac and DW says "I smell fuel". I pulled into a rest stop and checked in back and sure enough, there was diesel on the ground, in the engine compartment and on the toad.  I started looking around and could see the fuel spurting out the side of the filter.  Luckily, I had a spare with me (Thank you Neal for delivering the spares when we met up in Pennsylvania). The old filter was very reluctant to leave its spot but I finally got it.  I followed the priming procedure to restart and got it all back together.  We were back on the road in about 3 hours.

the filter was a fleetguard ff215 and fits in a cummins 8.3.  I replaced it with a napa equivelant.

Anyone have any idea why a cartridge filter would fail this way?

 

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Re: Fuel filter failed

Reply #1 – October 27, 2016, 10:53:08 pm

All I can think of is a drop of water rusting thru.

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Re: Fuel filter failed

Reply #2 – October 27, 2016, 10:56:35 pm

I've seen filter freeze and split, but not in Texas.

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Re: Fuel filter failed

Reply #3 – October 27, 2016, 11:35:04 pm

Ive had many filters fail due to a crease in the metal. Shipping damage, dropped during installation, manufacturing defect, whatever caused it, it failed on the damage. Oil, fuel, etc.

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Re: Fuel filter failed

Reply #4 – October 28, 2016, 01:17:30 am

Any device may fail, was it made in China?

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Re: Fuel filter failed

Reply #5 – October 28, 2016, 01:20:46 am

If you haven't thrown it away try to open at the leaking area and check for rust. water settles to the bottom.

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Re: Fuel filter failed

Reply #6 – October 28, 2016, 09:43:28 am

The flaw could have happened in the manufacturing process. Possibly a  nick in the stamping punch, flaw in the steel, etc.
I have seen a steel bolt flattened inside a 20mm cartridge case, 1960 Fords start rusting right after leaving the factory (due to Ford using scrap metal with rust in/on it), a glass coke bottle with fishing line inside, and a bunch of other things that happened during manufacture and weren't caught.
I would notify Fleetguard and save the filter for them to analyze as to failure cause.

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