Rust in fuel bowl??!!

[ibestroken]

Ok... I have a situation with my flatbed. The truck has around 260k on it. I am getting rust in my fuel bowl, or what appears to be rust. How is this possible? I have to clean the bowl out regularly and have put 3 filters on it in 3k miles. Ive worked on many of these trucks and own 2 of them. Any suggestions? Wanna get this straight before I put the new injectors in it.


Thanks, Zach

 

[purpleheart350]

Many times that "rust" is actually algee that is in the fuel tank. So a few thing you can do 1) replace the fuel tank 2) find a different place to get your fuel. I had to do it in my '95 and it was all cleared up. I would also use fuel cleaner (of your choice, I went with seafoam) to try and help clean the lines and pump.

 

[purpleheart350]

I forgot to mention the algee can actually eat through the metal. It ate right through my fuel bowl. It is not very much fun watching you full tank go empty in less than 100 miles.

 

[ibestroken]

I should have mentioned that I've already dropped the tank and cleaned it. It didn't really have nothing in it. I'll get some cleaner like you're talking about and try it.

 

[golfer]

Is this a cab&chassis truck?

the F350/450/550 C&C's with the rear mounted (steel) fuel tank have a major issue with the inside of the fuel tank delaminating.

we install (sell & recommend) Titan polyethylene tanks for C&C trucks which are having this issue.

Years ago, we tried pre pump filtration, auxiliary post pump filtration...but the tank(s) would delaminate so fast that the trucks would continue clogging the filters and running around w/ zero fuel pressure damaging injectors (again).

It's a big investment (the Titan tank)...however it's cheaper than replacing set after set of injectors due to lack of pressure/flow/contaminants.

also note that we've seen C&C trucks have issues with flow from the bowl to the head(s) even after the tank is replaced (and lines purged), due to the fittings in the head(s) which have the inlet screen.

The fitting which is adapts the fuel lines to the heads should also be removed, cleaned/replaced as necessary to ensure fuel pressure at the bowl is actually getting to the cyl heads.

 

[GreenF350]

I had a similar problem in mine. I was told it was the heater in the bowl and while it was still intact, I do think that was the problem in my case. Not sure why since I drained it pretty regularly though. Since it wasn't real bad and I have never had any issues related to fuel quality I just bought the RR I had been putting off and deleted the bowl altogether.
-Aaron

 

[mandkole]

is it rust chips/shavings, or a rust colored debris material? My FILs obs had the filter coming apart and it was from the filter.

 

[ibestroken]

Golfer- No its not a c&C but thanks for the good info. Its a crew cab F350. To the guy that mentioned the heater in the bowl causing issues and another about the filter coming apart. I 99% positive those aren't my issues. I put a good bowl and replaced filter twice in the last 2k miles. And the tank is clean. Is it possible for the metal fuel lines from the tank to the engine to rust? I wouldn't think so. It looks like rust colored chips.

 

[mandkole]

ok, so you've swabbed out the bowl and changed filter 3x and it still comes back? The good news is that its not getting past the filter.

 

[ibestroken]

yea I have. Just gotta find the cause so I can put the new injectors in it.

 

[JLDickmon]

And the tank is clean. Is it possible for the metal fuel lines from the tank to the engine to rust? I wouldn't think so. It looks like rust colored chips.

1. is it a metal, or poly tank?

2. Yes, it is possible.

 

[ibestroken]

I have an aluminum 91gal aux tank feeding the factory poly tank.

 

[Arisley]

Betcha that's where your issue is coming from.

 

[kyle43335]

Is this a cab&chassis truck?

the F350/450/550 C&C's with the rear mounted (steel) fuel tank have a major issue with the inside of the fuel tank delaminating.

we install (sell & recommend) Titan polyethylene tanks for C&C trucks which are having this issue.

Years ago, we tried pre pump filtration, auxiliary post pump filtration...but the tank(s) would delaminate so fast that the trucks would continue clogging the filters and running around w/ zero fuel pressure damaging injectors (again).

It's a big investment (the Titan tank)...however it's cheaper than replacing set after set of injectors due to lack of pressure/flow/contaminants.

also note that we've seen C&C trucks have issues with flow from the bowl to the head(s) even after the tank is replaced (and lines purged), due to the fittings in the head(s) which have the inlet screen.

The fitting which is adapts the fuel lines to the heads should also be removed, cleaned/replaced as necessary to ensure fuel pressure at the bowl is actually getting to the cyl heads.

spot on!!!