Would you run without a fuel filter in a Diesel?

[tight fart]

I've broken down in Devon, 260 miles from home in the campervan.
Fiat Ducato, fuel filter housing has gone.
Struggling to find one I could get in the morning as I was coming back Sunday.
One option would be by pass the filter and drive back.
The other is relay recovery that I don't fancy.
Would you run a modern Deisel without a filter?

[finlo]

Same happened to our Talbot, bypassed it using a cheap plastic inline fuel filter of the kind available at most petrol stations.

[tight fart]

Thanks that's an option, I've got 2 electrical connections on the filter, I wonder if it will run if the are both disconnected?
Or leave connected to the old one?

[finlo]

tight fart said:

Thanks that's an option, I've got 2 electrical connections on the filter, I wonder if it will run if the are both disconnected?
Or leave connected to the old one?

That's probably a sensor to let you know the filter needs draining of water.

[stevieturbo]

Very common problem, I believe later versions use an all metal setup and you can change to this

If you can buy some sort of inline filter you can adapt, then that would be great. But in a breakdown scenario...I wouldnt worry too much about bypassing the filter to get you home. A friend had to do it from France ! with same vehicle/camper

[DaveGib]

God no would I hell. Have you looked at the state of a fuel filter when it’s changed. It’s your camper to gamble with but not a chance would I risk it. Breakdown cover. Relay isn’t much fun but a damn sight better than hp pump injectors etc.

[stevieturbo]

And the 2 pin plug might be some sort of water sensor...but it could likely be for a fuel heater present in most filter housings.

Again, not of any concern here.

[tight fart]

Took the filter off this morning and took it apart to find the fault, it was to tight to undo by hand but quite loose with a strap on it.
So put it back together and tightened up, now it's stopped leaking so hope it will last 250 miles back home.

[Classy6]

tight fart said:

Took the filter off this morning and took it apart to find the fault, it was to tight to undo by hand but quite loose with a strap on it.
So put it back together and tightened up, now it's stopped leaking so hope it will last 250 miles back home.

Very common for leaking as said. Usually after they've been changed because they're so difficult to be tightened up.

[tight fart]

Classy6 said:

Very common for leaking as said. Usually after they've been changed because they're so difficult to be tightened up.

Yes, but not sure why, people also say be careful in a vice but you don't need to have the vice tight, there's a big lug on the filter so once in a vice you can position it so it can't rotate as you tighten it.
We got my filter off, (it hadn't been touched since I've had the van, 14 months 10k miles)
It felt very tight by hand but wasn't with a strap on it.
Greased the O ring and refitted it and tightened it up, spec says 23ft,lbs30nm. (Not that tight)
It got me home.
New one was £300 from the main dealer or £80 mail order so will get a spare.

[stevieturbo]

Again...dump the plastic one and buy the later metal one. Job fixed.

[tight fart]

I've heard there's a later metal type but not found one?

[stevieturbo]

tight fart said:

I've heard there's a later metal type but not found one?

There's definitely a metal one available....as a friend did fit one to a camper he works at. I have assumed it was from a newer Ducato, but it could be from something else.