Ducato plastic diesel filter leak

[Geoff and Fiona]

Earlier this year we had a leak from the fuel filter and took the van to the garage.
Fiona had looked on the internet and apparently it is a common fault, possibly caused by incorrect technique when the filter element has been replaced.

Despite asking the garage to fit a complete replacement they insisted that they had correctly reassembled it to the correct torque. Not happy that it would not fail again I bought a replacement on Amazon for about £90 to keep as a spare.

The filter the garage "serviced" on the van failed after 3000 miles leaking deisel again.

So two points

Has anyone ever experienced a leak from a plastic filter unit which had not had the element replaced by a service garage?

For anyone worring about a filter leak it is really easy to replace the complete unit, without tools and in approx 15 minutes. Two electrical plugs two diesel QD connections.

 

[2657]

Mine leaked from the connections a few weeks ago which is another common fault with the plastic housings, the filter had been replaced 15 months ago but I am certain that it had been fitted correctly.

Fitted my spare complete unit and all OK again.

 

[Geo]

These filters are very much like wheels, Take a way the Drama Apply a little logic
and all will be come clear
If a wheel falls of 3000 Miles or 18 month after a service it would be reasonable to assume the fitter didn't leave it loose
Same with the filter
When will Fiat ever be blamed for a faulty product

 

[Guigsy]

I've got the plastic paint can fuel filter on my 2007 2.3. I've been in it a couple of times without issues... but I've got the tool and I'm careful to clamp it properly and not over-torque it.

 

[autorouter]

The plastic filter can looks a bit like an oil filter, which is only screwed in hand-tight. The plastic fuel filter, if only tightened firmly hand-tight, will leak badly. It needs to be tightened with some kind of tool. There is, as @Guigsy says, a special tool for the job. I used a bodged-together Heath-Robinson alternative that works just as well. But I'm working on my own vehicle, not being paid by the minute.

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[Landy Andy]

When I bought my MH I soon found out that the fuel filter housing was leaking. I had been informed by previous owner that it had recently been serviced, so between that and the google results wasn’t too shocked. I then tightened the filter housing and cured the leak. This lasted about 8 months and many thousands of miles. But recently I noticed it had again started to leak so fitted my spare brand new unit, which has resolved the issue for the time being. I’m now unsure wether to rebuild leaking unit, with correct tools, buy another spare unit and drive that around with me, or just rely on the fact a brand new unit has been fitted, so will be ok for a few years until I decide that the filter should be changed.

It does appear odd that they last for a long time then leak.

 

[tonyidle]

@Geo - are they under injector rail pressure?

 

[iandsm]

I haven't heard of new housings leaking, only the ones that have had the filter replaced. I will be giving instruction to my garage NOT to touch the fuel filter, I understand they don't need changing at every service anyway.