Fuel leak at fuel filter head

lgoodbar · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:41 pm

I was driving around Saturday and noticed the Jeep got a lot more instances of air-in-fuel than usual (loss of power, etc). This morning I went to crank it and it would not turn over. Raised the hood and pressed the fuel primer and noticed diesel bubbling at the bottom of the filter head. I last changed the fuel filter about 5,000 miles ago with the Napa 3647.

Should I change the fuel filter? Would the filter seal deteriorate after 5,000 miles? Both plugs are in the filter head, I remember one of them is for fuel heating. Would unplugging it (which one?) help at this point? Or is it a bad filter head? Thanks!

Ajamant · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:07 pm

Have u updated to the new fuel filter head?? Most common cause of air leaks was from the plug on the right that feeds the fuel heater. The new filter head corrects this with a upgraded plug.

Plenty of write ups on it and it's easy to do.

arengant · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:33 pm

The easiest way to tell if you have the new filter head (if you don't know) is to look for spliced wiring into the plug on the outboard side.

lgoodbar · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:41 pm

I think I'm on the original head. Black and red plugs with no splicing.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:49 pm

If fuel is pooling and bubbling where the raised lip of the filter meets the filter head AND you have a 1st gen head then pull the driver's side fuel heater plug and pump the primer bulb, if fuel pours out replace the filter head and pigtail before you drive another inch. If it's pooling in that same place AND you have a 2nd gen head check to see if the filter is on tight and/or pull the filter and see if you forgot to remove the grommet around the center post before you installed the new filter so you have 2 stacked gromments preventing the filter from fully bottoming on the fuel head (this has happened to several). If neither mop up the excess fuel with paper towels or some such, degrease the area with engine degreaser and a GENTLE application of water (no pressure washing water into fittings), let dry, then use a combination of primer bulb and dry paper towels to find the high point of where the leak is occuring. I stress working from the top down as that lip can catch fuel from several higher locations including possibly the air bleeder valve.

"Bubbling" at that location makes me suspect the filter is not properly seated on the head but...

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:43 pm

Quote:

diesel bubbling at the bottom of the filter head.

tighten the filter and see what it does next

if it feels tight - you might pull it off an see there's 1 o ring or 2 on the threads

lgoodbar · **Posted:** Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:14 pm

It's been a bear at work and looked at this last night.
Turned out to be a loose filter.
I made sure it wasn't double gasketed when I changed it in April.
Thanks all.

Fuel leak at fuel filter head

Who is online