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Converting "box style" fuel filter

6

6.2Blazer

3/4 ton status
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I've got a '90 with the factory box style fuel filter that mounts on the firewall. Have had issues in the past with a slight leak and having to mess with the filter to get it sealed, otherwise after a day or two it leaks down and I have to rebleed the system. Last weekend I slapped on another new filter (Napa), bled it, started and ran it for awhile and thought all was good. A couple days later (this is a trail only rig) I noticed a small puddle of fuel under it. Pulled the filter and tried reseating it, no change. Pulled the housing off the firewall and tried to look at it but only had a few minutes and couldn't readily pick out where the leak was coming from. The filter is a Napa Gold (made by Stanadyne...it's stamped on the back of the filter).

So anyway, I'm tired of dealing with this and thinking about converting to a standard spin-on type filter housing. Any recommendations?

Looks pretty easy to make something up.

In the meantime, any tricks to help diagnose where the leak is coming from? Plan on working on it this weekend........the trouble is I leave on Nov. 6 for an off-road trip so I dont' have a lot of time, so would prefer a possible easy fix for the current set up and then be able to spend some time converting it after the trip.
 
I've got mine rigged with the Stanadyne Fuel Manager setup. It's a modular system, so you can set it up pretty much any way you want once you have the base mounted. There's a wide selection of add-ons (fuel heater, lift pump, water sensor, etc) and different filter elements to choose from. I'm very happy with it.

Linky: http://www.mwfi.com/Stanadyne_Filter/fuelmanager_diesel_filters.htm
 
I have an 85' and i had a slight leak and couldnt get it to stop. I took the whole assembly off the fire wall and figured out it was the water in fuel sensor (little black thing on the bottom of the backside of the filter "block", held in with two small screws). It fixed my problem. Good luck
 
mill5471 said:
I have an 85' and i had a slight leak and couldnt get it to stop. I took the whole assembly off the fire wall and figured out it was the water in fuel sensor (little black thing on the bottom of the backside of the filter "block", held in with two small screws). It fixed my problem. Good luck
Click to expand...

I can't verify 100%, but I am also suspicious of this sensor. Did you just replace it with one from the dealer, or where did you find it at? I'm at work or otherwise I would call.

I have the base loose from the firewall and looked at it quite awhile with the engine running but can't pinpoint where the leak is, just know that it towards the bottom 1/3 of it.
 
My uncle had an extra sensor lying around that I used. But, I spoke to soon and ginksed myself, I went out today and found a little puddle of diesel on the ground. So, I pulled the filter assembly off again and its still right around the sensor area. I'm not sure what to do next, i'm thinking of just taking the box style right off and putting on an aftermarket screw on type, like what you were talking about or getting a brand new sensor, being that the one I put on in place of the old one was used. The sensor I put on stopped the leak for about a week or so, you might want to try replacing the sensor with a brand new one depending on how much money they are. I'm going away for the weekend and I think when i get back im going to change filter types. Other guys say they work better and they aren't that hard to install. Good luck and let me know what you end up doing
 
longbedder said:
I've got mine rigged with the Stanadyne Fuel Manager setup. It's a modular system, so you can set it up pretty much any way you want once you have the base mounted. There's a wide selection of add-ons (fuel heater, lift pump, water sensor, etc) and different filter elements to choose from. I'm very happy with it.

Linky: http://www.mwfi.com/Stanadyne_Filter/fuelmanager_diesel_filters.htm
Click to expand...


I'm looking at getting a fuel manager sytem, my question is? What package did you get, what micron filter and did you put any addons with it? I am also pretty sure it will go right on the firewall where the old one is, am i correct? Thanks
 
The worst you will have to do is drill holes and put nuts on the back side of the bolts. If you take the plastic guard off of the cowl you can access that area.
 
My truck had the factory canister-style filter on the firewall. The bolts did indeed line up, but I had to put a spacer in between the head and the firewall (I used a piece of 3/4" square steel tube and drilled two holes thru it).

I got the head, a sight bowl, and the 5"-tall 5-micron filter/separator units. I had thought about a 2-stage setup, but with that large a filter it hasn't been necessary. That setup flows plenty for a 6.2 diesel and the elements last a long time. You can see the crud and water buildup in the sight bowl and empty it from time to time without changing the whole filter.

On the head, there are two input ports and two output ports. I put a small fuel pressure guage directly on the unused output port so I could see if there was any dropoff in pressure due to restriction, etc.

To duplicate my setup from that vendor I posted earlier, you would need the following part numbers:

33260 - Head w/ 1/4" NPT ports
31875 - 5.1" 5m filter/separator element
29575 - 150m pre-screen
29899 - Sight bowl
 
Thanks for the info above, as I'm definitely going to look into doing this.

As a quick summary on my issue, I tried just putting the proper size o-ring over each of the barbs/ports (inlet, outlet, drain, water sensor) on the block and then reinstalled the filter. So far this appears to have stopped the leak, or at least slowed it down enough where there is no noticably puddle under the truck after a few days and it starts right up.
 
I couldn't figure out my filter leak and a new water sensor was $113 at the local parts store, so i said screw it and gave up on the stock filter. I just ordered the same stanadyne fuel manager setup as Longbedder, except i went with a 4.3" 30 micron filter. My new filter setup should be here by the end of the week and i'll give an update on how it works out. Longbedder, what did you use as a thread sealer on your connections? teflon tape, pipe dope,..... :confused: Thanks for all the info.
 
Teflon tape works fine. I got the barbs from Home Depot.

Just curious - why did you go with 30-micron? The costs aren't significantly different between the elements, but the smaller the filtration the longer your injector pump will last.
 
Just prefrence i guess and i talked to the a couple of people from thedieselstore.com and they recommended a 30 micron element for a truck with only one filter system on it. They said a 5 micron element is recommended as a second element on a fuel system with two filters. Maybe later down the road when i change my element i might switch to a 10 or 5 micron depending on how everything goes.
 
Just an FYI, we have some very precise instrumentation we splice inline on the fuel system of large trucks that requires a 10 micron filter. We have just a little tiny one place in the line right after the fuel tank and it lasts quite awhile (in terms of testing purposes) before needing cleaned or replaced. I would have to think one of the spin on elements that is 10 times bigger would last awhile longer.
 
As stated above i have ordered a stanadyne fuel manager, it will be here tommorrow. I didn't purchase a heater or any other addons except a clear bowl for the bottom. The bowl will take the job of the water in fuel sensor. I know the stock square style filter has a water sensor, but what else does it have on it? Heater, etc... Thanks
 
Stanadyne Fuel Manager

Well I got the Stanadyne Fuel Manager filter system hooked up. This is every thing I needed:

1- 1/4" thread to 1/4" barb adapter
1- 1/4" thread to 3/8" barb adapter
some 1/4" fuel line
some 3/8" fuel line
couple of hose clamps
teflon tape
2- 3/8"-16 2 1/2" long bolts
a section of 1 1/4' square stock tubing as a spacer from the firewall
also two flat washers on each bolt for a little bit more clerance

So far all is good and was a simple install. Thanks for all your guys help. 6.2Blazer I hope you figured out you fuel leak, if not I also suggest the Stanadyne Fuel Manager system. Good luck
 
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