Removing Ford E-450 fuel filter housing

[roach711]

I've been doing some 100,000 mile updates to my 2000 Powerstroke 7.3L diesel and the fuel filter rebuild is next on the list. Have any of you removed yours from a van chassis? The bloody thing is so buried it looks like I may need some C4 to get it out of there.

[o1marc]

I can loan you some if that will help.

[2planker]

You ever get it out? It is on my to do list.

[Johnny Mullet]

I have done it but not on an E-series. I can imaging it's not going to be easy. Here is a video reference on a truck........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kohInGh3dto

[roach711]

The E-450/7.3L combo finally defeated me.

I started out with a rebuilt fuel bowl and two new head fuel lines to install. I was able to get at the two bolts holding the bowl to the HPOP and (after removing the turbo) could get a wrench on the two head fuel line fittings at the bowl. I could unhook the fuel return line and could get a wrench on the fuel inlet fitting but had no room to actually turn the bloody wrench. I could see the head fuel line fitting on the driver's side head but couldn't get a wrench on it.

After an afternoon of cursing and swearing I finally gave up and left the old parts where they were. I did find where one of the head fuel lines was chafing on the HPOP and put a bit of protection on it so it doesn't wear through and an exhaust leak got fixed at the turbo outlet so it wasn't a total SNAFU but if there's ever a problem with those parts the dealer will get the honor of replacing them.

I've driven vans most of my adult life and the one thing I hated about each and every one of them was working on the effing engines. I think they were created to test our patience and tenacity.


Rebuilding the fuel bowl (once it's out) is a piece of cake. I bought a used one off ebay for forty bucks and rebuilt it so now I've got a spare.

[2planker]

hmmm...think this one just dropped off my todo list, maybe just replace the fuel filter and call it good.

[rspeed]

Yikes. My ‘88 E-350 5.8l just has it zip-tied to a bracket on the left frane rail.

[roach711]

Originally Posted by rspeed

Yikes. My ‘88 E-350 5.8l just has it zip-tied to a bracket on the left frane rail.

The 7.3l fuel bowl is a multi-purpose animal. It does the filtering, water separating, fuel pressurizing and fuel delivery to the heads. On an F series pickup working on it is a breeze but the van bodies make removing/replacing one a royal PITA.

[2martins]

Originally Posted by roach711

The 7.3l fuel bowl is a multi-purpose animal. It does the filtering, water separating, fuel pressurizing and fuel delivery to the heads. On an F series pickup working on it is a breeze but the van bodies make removing/replacing one a royal PITA.

I have a '97 T444e. I can't find the water separator near the fuel filter. Is it because mine is also sort of built into my fuel bowl?

[roach711]

Originally Posted by 2martins

I have a '97 T444e. I can't find the water separator near the fuel filter. Is it because mine is also sort of built into my fuel bowl?

From what I could find online it looks like the T444e normally has just the filter in the fuel bowl for both fuel filtering and water separating. Some trucks/buses had the option of having a separate water separator in addition to the fuel bowl.