Introduction
The diesel fuel filters are critical for keeping things like water out of the engine, which will destroy the engine. The fuel filters also keep dirt and grease out of the fuel pump, high pressure lines, and injectors. The Bosch CP4 and CP4.2 fuel pumps used in the Powerstroke 6.7L engine are well known to fail if they are fed any kind of water, dirt or junk.
The fuel filters should be replaced every other oil change, or about every 15,000 miles. The owner's manual says it is required every 30,000 miles - p. 579-585, in the chapter "Scheduled Maintenance." In cold climates more water will condense in the fuel tank. In hot climates, less water condenses.
Parts
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Park the vehicle on a level, clean, dry surface. Shift into park and turn off the engine. Apply the parking brake.
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Double check the fuel cap is on tight. Your owner's manual has a warning about fuel siphoning from the tank leading to a fuel spill.
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Place a 2 gallon / 10 Liter or larger bucket under the body-mounted filter. You will drain about 0.5 gallons / 2 Liters from this filter.
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Open the drain valve. This lets the water flow out of the bottom of the filter where it has collected.
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Let it drain for 15 minutes.
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The wire harness near the drain valve must be detached to remove the body-mounted fuel filter (rectangular)
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2017 PowerStroke engines only: remove the fuel line at the top of the filter housing.
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Pinch the plug and pull it sideways to detach it from the filter housing.
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The body-mounted filter will continue draining.
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This step is prep work, before you do anything to the engine-mounted fuel filter (cylindrical).
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Place one or more shop towels or rags around the fuel filter ports to collect any drips.
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Gently squeeze the tab on each connector and then pull it toward you. Grip the connector, and not the rubber fuel line.
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Grab the top of the engine-mounted filter.
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Twist it 1/3 turn, back toward the windshield (counterclockwise).
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Lift it up at an angle, following the line of the transmission fluid dipstick. Keep the filter upright to avoid spilling anything. It is full of fuel.
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Hold the filter above the bucket from the previous step, then pour it out into the bucket.
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Clean any drips or spills of diesel fuel with a shop towel or rag.
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Even though the new filter has air in it, slide it down into position.
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Rotate it toward the front of the engine (clockwise) until it locks into place.
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Slide the fuel lines on to the filter ports.
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Remove 5 x 8mm bolts
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Remove the filter housing bottom.
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Wipe the accumulated grease+water off the bottom of the housing.
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Install the new rectangular filter.
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Reinstall the 5 x 8mm bolts. Tighten the bolts until they are reasonably tight. Your manual says not to exceed 7 ft-lb or 9Nm of torque.
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Reconnect the electrical plug.
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2017 PowerStroke Engine only: Reinstall the fuel line at the top.
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Carefully turn the ignition to ON but do not start!
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This will power up the fuel pump, and for about 60 seconds you will hear gurgling, especially if you listen closely to the body-mounted fuel filter (rectangular).
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Turn the ignition OFF, then back to ON but do not start!
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Wait another 60 seconds, and you will hear a little more gurgling, especially the body-mounted fuel filter (rectangular).
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Turn it OFF and back ON one more time but do not start!
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Wait 60 seconds (the 3rd time). This purges the air from the fuel lines.
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The drained fluid has water in it, and can't be reused.
Take the fluid to a nearby oil change business, and ask them to recycle it.
Dumping fluids outdoors or in a drain will do serious harm to local wildlife! Please recycle.
Keep the ground under the vehicle clean, and clean up any drips. This lets you know if there are fuel leaks, for example, if you see drip spots appearing a day later that means you have a fuel leak.
