Stranded on HWY

[knucklebuster]

So on the way to work and my truck lost power 10 miles from destination. Acted like I ran out of gas, but I had about 10 gallons in the tank. Took off the air cleaner and checked to see if the accelerator pump would squirt. Nothing. Great, its 15 degrees and I was in BFE. Unscrewed the fuel filter and it was loaded with garbage. After dumping the sludge, I tried to screw the filter housing back on, but the rubber gasket would not fit. Seemed to have streched out and was no where near small enough to fit. So now Im covered in fuel, and can't get it to stop. Eventually kinked the line and called a tow. 110 dollars later, I was finnaly heading to work... late. Two questions. 1 this is the second time I have had issues with the fuel filter gasket elongating. I used an autozone brand, is there a better gasket out there that will maintain size?? 2 how can I clean this garbage out of the tank? What is the best method for that? I would rather that this not happen again

[fordman]

take the tank out and dump it. remove the sending unit so that you can get all the junk out. through that hole.

[Redcap]

take the tank out and dump it. remove the sending unit so that you can get all the junk out. through that hole.

When I do it, I also get a new piece of chain and put in the tank. Then shake the crap out of it to break loose all the scale and other stuff. Then rinse with gas and repeat.

[FreakysFords]

Second Redcap with the chain. I have a few short sections of varying sizes just for this purpose at work.

If you've got a tractor dealership / shop nearby, talk them out of a gallon of methanol to do the final rinse with, but make sure to let the tank stand a lil while to allow the methanol to evap before re installing.

[HOWDY69]

I just did mine. I rinsed it with one gallon of gas (shook and turned the tank every which way) and dumped the gas into a clean oil drain pan. Then I filtered the fuel back into a one gallon glass wine jug and poured it back into the tank. Repeat as needed. This way you can see what comes out of the tank and what is left in the bottom of the drain pan and if the amount of junk is decreasing. And it only takes one gallon which is good if you live in a crowded suburb like me.

[JMcTurnan]

I was stranded on highway twice because my dizzy gear got grinded off and didnt catch any cam teeth. I know your feeling, except my cell phone was dead and I had to walk 15 miles .

[knucklebuster]

All done. Removed the seat, then the tank and cleaned it out with the chain trick. Then I used my shop vac to blow dry the inside of the tank completly dry... that allowed for all the loose stuff to easily pour out. Made things easier. Flushed out the lines with compressed air and reinstalled everything. Rplaced the fuel filter with a NAPA pro-series, and it seems to be much better than the purolator I got from Auto zone. Went for a 20 minute cruise on the highway, and didn't have to walk home