Motoristx
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- First Name
- Bryan
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2019
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- Location
- Houston Area, Texas
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 3.0 Diesel
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Hey Guys, this is Eco Diesel Specific, as I broke My fuel Separator on the Rubicon trail.
This is here to share my experience, so that other's may pull from this, if they have a similar problem.
I did the Rubicon trail in my 2020 JLURD last week. First Off, I have 39 inch BFGoodrich KM3s woth a 3.5 inch lift in front, and a 4.5 inch lift in rear. I only have the stock skids. The aftermarket skids I had ordered, did not come in on time for the trip. The trail did seem harder than the last time I did it (2017 in a JKUR on 33's).
At the bottom of Cadillac Hill, moving towards Observation point, there is a bit of a rock slab 2 turn before you start to climb the hill. I bottomed out on a rock slab and it hit in just the right spot. I actually hit the stock skid that covers the fuel filter/water separator. It really didn't hit that hard, but it was enough to stop me. What this did, was push the stock skid, round skid with a "drop" cutout, up. Seeing as the housing for the separator is actually bolted to one of the 3 pieces of the skid, the whole housing was pushed up along with the skids. This ended up pushing the top of the housing into the floorboard of the tub, breaking one of the plastic lines. the line that broke was the line coming from the fuel tank to the housing. As you can imagine, no fuel to the engine, engine shuts off! I had to be pulled about 15 feet to get off of the main trail, and onto the slab.
After I examined the skids and fuel lines, I noticed the skids that support the separator to the framerail are held in with Nutserts. There are 3 nutserts. All these nutserts were loosened by the impact, and required me to wedge a screwdriver in there to get the bolts out.
This happened about 5pm, so by the time I figured out what broke and got off the trail and into cell service, the dealerships were all closed. By the way, I was with a small group, they helped out and didn't leave me.
I got lucky and a dealership in Reno had the part in stock, so I picked it up the next day, as well as parts to bypass the filter to get me off the trail if that wasn't the only problem.
Here are some details about the Fuel Filter/Water Separator housing:
Mopar Part Number 68382328AB
Cost $137 at the dealership
5/16 pushlock on the inlet side
3/8 pushlock on the outlet side
it has 2 plugs: 1 is for a fuel heater, 1 is for the water sensor.
I was told that it can be bypassed, but need to leave the plugs in place so it doesn't throw any codes. This way I could at least drive it off the trail. I didn't end up having to do this, so it is unverified at the moment.
The fuel line pushlock release tools are needed, one in 3/8 and one in 5/16. the little white round ones work best.
Disclaimer: Bypassing the Fuel Filter/water separator housing is for extreme circumstances only, just to get the engine running for towing off a trail, or driving off the trail under it's own power. I do not recommend bypassing the housing for any circumstances where a tow truck would be available pick up the Jeep and tow to a safe location.
Parts to Bypass the housing, just to get off the trail, or in a spot for a tow truck to get it:
3/8 pushlock tubing and 5/16 pushlock tubing, both male ends can be pushed into the fuel lines and a rubber fuel hose and clamps can be used to tie them together. This can be both at just about all Autozone and O'Reilys auto parts stores. May need a tubing cutter for the tubing.
Same thing can be done with brake lines, just make sure one is 3/8 OD and other is 5/16 OD. This will require something to hold the lines in place, like zip ties and chemical resistant tape. If nothing is available to hold the lines in place, in this situation, the lines will pop out due to the pressure. Again will need a rubber hose and clamps to tie them together in a "U".
I bought a couple of fittings from Amazon once I got home, to throw in my kit "just in case":
3/8 puslock to -6an
5/16 pushlock to -6an
-6an to -6an 180 degree fitting
This is here to share my experience, so that other's may pull from this, if they have a similar problem.
I did the Rubicon trail in my 2020 JLURD last week. First Off, I have 39 inch BFGoodrich KM3s woth a 3.5 inch lift in front, and a 4.5 inch lift in rear. I only have the stock skids. The aftermarket skids I had ordered, did not come in on time for the trip. The trail did seem harder than the last time I did it (2017 in a JKUR on 33's).
At the bottom of Cadillac Hill, moving towards Observation point, there is a bit of a rock slab 2 turn before you start to climb the hill. I bottomed out on a rock slab and it hit in just the right spot. I actually hit the stock skid that covers the fuel filter/water separator. It really didn't hit that hard, but it was enough to stop me. What this did, was push the stock skid, round skid with a "drop" cutout, up. Seeing as the housing for the separator is actually bolted to one of the 3 pieces of the skid, the whole housing was pushed up along with the skids. This ended up pushing the top of the housing into the floorboard of the tub, breaking one of the plastic lines. the line that broke was the line coming from the fuel tank to the housing. As you can imagine, no fuel to the engine, engine shuts off! I had to be pulled about 15 feet to get off of the main trail, and onto the slab.
After I examined the skids and fuel lines, I noticed the skids that support the separator to the framerail are held in with Nutserts. There are 3 nutserts. All these nutserts were loosened by the impact, and required me to wedge a screwdriver in there to get the bolts out.
This happened about 5pm, so by the time I figured out what broke and got off the trail and into cell service, the dealerships were all closed. By the way, I was with a small group, they helped out and didn't leave me.
I got lucky and a dealership in Reno had the part in stock, so I picked it up the next day, as well as parts to bypass the filter to get me off the trail if that wasn't the only problem.
Here are some details about the Fuel Filter/Water Separator housing:
Mopar Part Number 68382328AB
Cost $137 at the dealership
5/16 pushlock on the inlet side
3/8 pushlock on the outlet side
it has 2 plugs: 1 is for a fuel heater, 1 is for the water sensor.
I was told that it can be bypassed, but need to leave the plugs in place so it doesn't throw any codes. This way I could at least drive it off the trail. I didn't end up having to do this, so it is unverified at the moment.
The fuel line pushlock release tools are needed, one in 3/8 and one in 5/16. the little white round ones work best.
Disclaimer: Bypassing the Fuel Filter/water separator housing is for extreme circumstances only, just to get the engine running for towing off a trail, or driving off the trail under it's own power. I do not recommend bypassing the housing for any circumstances where a tow truck would be available pick up the Jeep and tow to a safe location.
Parts to Bypass the housing, just to get off the trail, or in a spot for a tow truck to get it:
3/8 pushlock tubing and 5/16 pushlock tubing, both male ends can be pushed into the fuel lines and a rubber fuel hose and clamps can be used to tie them together. This can be both at just about all Autozone and O'Reilys auto parts stores. May need a tubing cutter for the tubing.
Same thing can be done with brake lines, just make sure one is 3/8 OD and other is 5/16 OD. This will require something to hold the lines in place, like zip ties and chemical resistant tape. If nothing is available to hold the lines in place, in this situation, the lines will pop out due to the pressure. Again will need a rubber hose and clamps to tie them together in a "U".
I bought a couple of fittings from Amazon once I got home, to throw in my kit "just in case":
3/8 puslock to -6an
5/16 pushlock to -6an
-6an to -6an 180 degree fitting
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