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What do you prime fuel filters with?

7K views 15 replies 4 participants last post by  Peach Grower 
#1 ·
I'm kinda new to the diesel pickup thing. Changed the fuel filter today and the owners manual says to put it on empty and start it up. I did that and it died. Called a friend and he said to prime it with ATF so I did. Still took a lot of cranking to get it running and when it did start it stunk and made all kinds of smoke.

Anything else good to prime the filter with? I'd use diesel fuel if I thought it was clean but I'm leary about pooring unfiltered fuel into the clean side of the filter.

How about priming it with diesel injector cleaner?
 
#3 ·
Always prime with diesel fuel,what i do is fill the filter about half full before i install,usually runs rough for about to or three minutes, untill it purges out all the air,atf is what made the smoke and stink,but it should clear up.
 
#4 ·
That is a good idea use the fluid used in the next piece in the drive train so if the unit has a manual transmission do you use 50W or 75/90 synthetic or just dyno oil.
I personally use diesel fuel to prime a diesel fuel filter, but then I am a mechanic and never learned the new way to do things.
 
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#12 ·
Maybe the ATF was a local thing? When I worked @ some of the local auto parts stores (I worked at a few) often somebody would come in asking for ATF. When I asked what kind they often told me that it was to prime their Fuel filter on their John Deere or whatever.

I thought about Diesel but I'd hate to pour unfiltered fuel into the clean filter and get dirt on the clean side. Assuming that bottled ATF would not have any contaminants in it.
 
#5 ·
I use 50/50 diesel and lucas injector cleaner/ fuel conditioner. I've also filled with power services which you can get at walmart.

Piece of advice on the old ford fuel pumps. They like lubricity. Use powerservices or some kind of lubricity additive and your pump will thank you. The newer high sulfur fuels lack the lubricity of the old fuels.

Johnp3...what all does your wife sell?? We own a peach orchard and my wife has started going to nearby farmers markets with our peaches. Hope to have purple hull's soon.
 
#6 ·
The wife sells 100% Canadian, 95% from the Okanagan, fruit, and vegetables, she has a dollar type store and gift shop as well.
Myself or my son do most of the pick-ups, she knows a lot of the growers and is very picky as to the products she sells, any problems she sends it back.
 
#7 ·
We would gladly buy produce from the US growers, when you buy the permits and brokerage fees and all it is not worth it unless you are a large company.
I go to Orville all the time and they have great produce and the people are great.
 
#8 ·
Our market we go to you must grow it. It would be cool to have a stand though. My wife enjoys the market. The people at this one are very nice and try to learn from one another. Its not competitive at all. There are some around here that folks won't ever look at each other its so competitive.

We are a little south of you...an hour from the TX/AR line...lol. We are starting VERY early on drought conditions. Been watering corn and squash for 4 weeks! Hope our peaches make it through the next three varieties.

I'm sure its high to come across the border...I never have understood the difference though. Isn't it cheaper to come here than for you guys to get it their?? Or is it pretty even across the border?
 
#9 ·
I drove a truck and was a roadie for my uncle in your area in the middle 60's.
There are always restrictions and Personally I believe there is a lot of BS as to produce crossing the border. I buy almost all our chicken and pork in the US. Even though I can buy US produce in the grocery store in Canada I can not bring it across.
The wife does the fruit stand she knows every variety, of every fruit, she loves to talk to the tourists from all over the world. She knows all the local children and their names.
We actually use to send Canadian produce across the border with tourists, then someone made a new rule, every year it will change.
My favorite story from the border was a few years ago when the mad cow BS was going on the US did not allow any Canadian beef into the US. I was at the US customs desk, and they had a very old couple there after searching their motor home, and finding cans of beef stew, they were reaming the guy out, about the cans of stew and how it could destroy the US cattle market. I must admit I was listening in, I looked at the can and on the bottom it said product of the USA. I butted in and showed the old guy that. The boarder guard still reamed the guy out but put the cans in a bag and let them leave, with the cans.
I buy all my major auto Parts threw Rock Auto, also tires some things are away cheaper some are not. I buy all my diesel in the US.
I cross mostly every week, you have to know the rules and you will have no problems.
 
#10 ·
Rock auto is a sent from Heaven I believe...lol.

I remember the "mad cow" scare. The worst thing was how uninformed the media was which led to the population being uninformed. I have been an agriculture teacher for 9 years...voag...ffa...going to start in a few weeks full time at my father in laws shop.

Mad cow desease is what whitetail deer get tested for randomly down here. Chronic wasting desease. Its found in the spinal cord and brain tissues. Which COULD be used in hamburger/spam/bolagna/hot dogs/ etc....but is NOT in steaks, briskets, ribs, etc. They had people so wigged out about beef it wasn't even funny. Then on top of that the cows the showed EVERYTIME on the news were holstein dairy cows. Older ones that go through a sale and are below grade and many times utility grades...those grades normally go for dog food and the such anyways.

It really is alot of political junk that lawmakers in washington decide will help us. They (majority) have never stepped foot on a farm, slaughter house, or been involved in ANY agricultural endeavors but then want to makes laws that protect those interests...same with the EPA/DOT and trucking. Common sense is thrown out th window for political interests and the lining of pockets.

I'll get down now...lol
 
#11 ·
I do believe the media has learned their lesson on our side of the boarder when the cow in California was found a month ago, it was reported and left alone.
When the Cow in Alberta was found, 5 years ago, it was hyped every day for months in your media. It changed a lot of peoples eating habits, on both sides of the boarder.
I must admit I buy all my own beef locally, grass fed, no hormones.
 
#13 ·
The reason ATF had been used is it has detergents in it that would (clean) the injectors or so believed. It also adds to the lubricity....but only at that first initial start.

Something I do with my old Ford 4000 and 3000 tractors (69 and 71 models) is add around 8oz of two stroke oil with my fuel. Fuel has changed ALOT over the years and the benefits of lubricity we used to have are not what they were. I know people call alot of those additives "snake oils" and that is probably partially true...but our pumps need lubricity and the high sulfur fuels just do not lubricate as well as the old fuel did. I will always add some type of lube to my fuel...whether it be 2 stroke oil, powerservice, lucas, ATF or whatever.
 
#14 ·
There is a lubricity chart, that was published on this site and the very best lubricity was 2% Bio fuel. To my knowledge there are very few places that do not use a certain percentage of Bio in the diesel fuel it is a natural octane booster.
ATF has metallic compounds in it Molybdenum for one, adding anything to the fuel system to me is a waist of time and gives people a false sense of security.
Personally I will spend extra money on changing my fuel filter more often and the engine oil. That is something that does work and I save my ATF to put in the engine oil about 1/2 hour before I change it, that works, it is a great flush.
The study should come up if you search Lubricity Additive Study Results
 
#16 ·
Probably about what I do in the old tractors. I add 5 gallons at a time...around 6-8 oz when I do...use old hydraulic fluid jugs.

Just like John said...change filters....I probably change my fuel filters more than I should....milage wise and or hour wise...but I change them every season on all my engines. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.

I've also used a quart of diesel...or a can of seafoam to flush an engine like John is saying. I had an old 77 F150 with a 400 in it. Had been sitting a LONG time. Had a slight tick...I figured I would give it a shot. Used a quart of diesel in my oil right before my second oil change. Idled for a half hour or so...oil on the stick went from clear to BLACK...tick went away...sticky lifter I figure. Although one has to be aware this can loosen the wrong thing and that wrong thing floats and gets stuck in the wrong place...and then something bad happens...
 
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