Shoutout to old Mike at the parts counter, his fuel filter tip saved me a tow

Last Tuesday I had a 2015 Freightliner losing power on I-80 outside Des Moines. I was ready to pull the injectors and check the pump. Mike, been behind that counter for like 25 years, told me to check the fuel/water separator housing for a crack first. I laughed, said no way. He just shrugged. Ten bucks and two minutes later, I saw a hairline crack dripping diesel. Cheap fix, no tow, back rolling in under an hour. Anyone else had a parts guy nail it when you were convinced it was something bigger?

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1 Comment

adams.henry7d ago

That separator housing crack is a real thing, I've seen it on a T680 a few years back. But I have to say, calling it a ten buck fix feels a little lucky. Those housings can be cheap plastic or they can be a pricey assembly depending on the year, and I've had ones that were leaking but not visible until you wiped them down with a rag. Good on Mike for the quick call, but I'd still run a fuel pressure test before I trusted it completely. A hairline crack can also let air in only under load, so you might think it's fixed and then get stranded on the next hill.