The Ford Fuel Filter Fix

For virtually every late-model diesel platform, Fleece Performance Engineering manufactures a product that solves a common OEM problem. After recognizing the factory secondary (under hood) fuel filter aboard ’11-’24 6.7L Power Strokes has a propensity for cracking—causing a mess in the engine bay, not to mention being a potential fire hazard—the company set about developing a permanent fix. Now, Fleece’s engine mounted fuel filter assembly has hit the market. It’s a permanent solution that offers direct, drop-in installation, a heavy-duty, billet-aluminum filter cap that won’t become brittle or crack, and that maintains easy fuel filter servicing. Here’s everything you need to know.

What Fails On The Factory Fuel Filter

The factory style secondary fuel filter element on your 6.7L Power Stroke is contained within an assembly that’s made from thin plastic. The top of the filter assembly is notorious for becoming brittle in short order, and small, hairline cracks can develop. When this happens, fuel can leak (and even spray) into the lifter valley, where the V-8’s inboard exhaust manifolds are located. You may have even heard a few horror stories about late-model Super Duty’s burning to the ground due to a cracked under hood fuel filter. If you look closely at the factory fuel filter pictured, you can see that two separate cracks have developed, and spread across the top of the unit.

Corrosion-Resistant Cap

Eliminating the plastic cartridge style fuel filter altogether, Fleece replaces it with this. It’s a filter cap made of heavy-duty, anodized billet-aluminum that will never become brittle, crack, or break down. The cap is equipped with equally heavy-duty (also anodized for corrosion resistance), billet-aluminum quick-disconnect fittings, which preserves factory-like, ease of replacement when it’s time for a new fuel filter. Fleece’s three-port, billet-aluminum base for ’17-newer 6.7L Power Strokes is shown here.

The Difference Is Clear—The Fitment Is The Same

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Fleece replacement under hood fuel filter assembly is its direct drop-in design. It consumes no more space near the left valve cover than the factory filter, and the factory-length fuel lines seamlessly connect without issue. A further improvement the Fleece piece holds over factory is the use of stronger, aluminum fittings (as opposed to the plastic inlet and outlet on the OEM-style fuel filter cap).

What’s In The Box

When it shows up on your doorstep, this is what you’ll find inside: the aforementioned heavy-duty, anodized billet-aluminum filter cap with accompanying anodized billet-aluminum quick-disconnect fittings, and two (yes, 2) high quality, 9-micron, Donaldson spin-on fuel filters (PN: P555095). Fleece includes a second fuel filter so you’re already prepared for that next change interval. Also, don’t be surprised to find a pair of complementary Fleece stickers and a koozie in the box.

Superior Quality

With everything unpacked (the stickers presumably already on your toolbox and the koozie keeping a beverage company), this is what you’re working with: Fleece’s in-house-designed and machined filter cap and fittings combined with a Donaldson fuel filter. Each piece exceeds the original 6.7L Ford application in the reliability and filtration departments. Both names are known for high-quality, perfect fitment, and affordable pricing.

Coming To A 6.7L Ford Near You

If you’re a tech who works on 2011 to present Ford Super Duty‘s, get used to this view under the hood. Fleece Performance Engineering’s under hood fuel filter assembly will be widely accepted by 6.7L Power Stroke owners, and we have no doubt that it will soon be on thousands of trucks. It’s worth noting that the company’s system works in conjunction with trucks equipped with the popular S&S Diesel Motorsport DCR Conversion kit or the S&S Disaster Prevention Kit (for the factory CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump).

Written by Mike McGlothlin