I am a procrastinator (and very busy with business travel and family). Today I set aside as Duarmax Maint day. Changed oil, filter, lube (all 11 points!). I added a Parker/Racor frame mounted fuel filter (with heater & WIF) when the truck had only 5000 miles on it. We are now around 13,000 miles and decided to change both fuel filters.

Ouch - I wish I had my camera with me. The Racor replacement went very smooth - not a drop spilled. Cut open the filter to take a peek at the element. Holy CRAP! The element was dark grey and black - the WHOLE thing. Much worse than I had expected. That was after approx. 8,000 miles.

I was kinda scared to even look at the filter under the hood. It was the original from the factory. Pulled it off, opened it up - looked very close to one of the other pictures I have seen on this site. Some of the pleats were only a light greyish cream at one end and faded in to black at the other. It is interesting that the contaminates do not collect symetrically around the whole element. No rust in the can though. I run Stanadyne through it year around so that may help any moisture issues.

BTW, I looked at the many methods posted on how to remove the underhood filter. Moving the A/C line was taking more effort than I wanted to risk on putting a kink in the line - so I just pulled the battery. VERY easy to do and "maybe" added 10 minutes to the whole job. That is my vote.

Well, I feel much better now and I am sure the truck does as well. I am pleased with the money invested into the Racor setup. Appears to be doing its job. I wish I had pictures though!

I hear about people having the A/C line in the way, but I've never had an issue with that at all. Is it only on the later models that the A/C gets in the way?

I hear about people having the A/C line in the way, but I've never had an issue with that at all. Is it only on the later models that the A/C gets in the way?
I think your right diesel66 my 01 is not in the way either.:exactly:

I think it was repositioned for '03 and up. I bent mine slightly (per Eric's suggestion) and can do it all from above w/o removing anything now. I'd rather do it this way in case I have to do a filter swap on the side of the road.

That A/C line is a lot tougher than it looks. I had serious misgivings about bending mine. All I could see was a kink in the line and a trip to the dealer to tell them what a stupid thing I had done. Finally I grinned and put my hand on the top and gave it a shove. It took a pretty good reef to move it over a bit and that's all it took to get the 'new test filter' in and out. Bend it once and be done with it.

I started to bend mine, but chickened out. I have spent way too much money and time fixing dumbass mistakes made by using too much aggression (and/or too big of hammer). So, I just pull the battery. Gives an opportunity to carefully check over the battery for leaks at the same time.

I added a Racor 445R R90S pre OEM fuel filter to my '02 Dmax. Insted of mounting it on the frame I mounted it in the place where the second alternator can be mounted. Hope my Dmax is the better for it.................SWH...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/shuffman/002%20RACOR%20FUEL%20FILTER/008RACORR90SELEMENT.jpg

I have been running the Racor frame mounted fuel filter for 25K miles and have changed it out twice at around 10K miles each time. I cut both filters apart the first time - both the frame and engine filters. The frame filter was far dirtier, but that is to be expected since it is first in line. The engine filter was darkest at the bottom (to be expected) and on the side that was facing the inlet, otherwise many of the pleats were still showing some signs of whiteness. Before I got the Racor I had to change the engine filter every 7500 miles or my power and MPG would start to drop.

I didn't have any signs of rust or debries in either filter. I have run Standayne or Power Service pretty much for the entire life of the truck.

I also bent the AC line - works great and haven't given it a second thought since then.

Do you guys, especially those who use Standayne, that never see a little rust at the bottom of you filters periodically drain the water from your filters? If you do, do you find water? How often do you drain the water from your fuel filter and what is the easiest way of doing it?

I also bent the AC line, mine also works great.

I used an old "DoubleJack" oak handle as an "Effort Multiplier", (Pry Bar). Moved the Line in small increments, no scars, no kinks.

Idahofox