Anyone have trouble with the stupid, plastic air bleeder on top of the fuel filter? Evidently mine was cracked adn left me stranded today. Had to get a ride to the Chevy dealer and then bend over and pay $20 for a stupid plastic screw that should be made of brass. This is the second one I've replaced in 8 years. Wouldn't be so bad if you didn't have to loosen and tighten it multiple times, every time you change the fuel filter, but making that thing from plastic is about the STUPIDEST thing I've ever seen!!!!!

Now that my rant is over, does anyone offer a brass or any kind of metal aftermarket replacement for this?

 

i keep mine just tight enough i can loosen it with my fingers

merchant automotive makes one: Stainless Steel Bleeder Screw For Fuel Filter Head

 

good idea... SS would be nice.. i actually never heard of any of them cracking but i guess it can happen..

 

Yes, this guy sells exactly what you're looking for:
6.6L Duramax Diesel Filter Fuel Water Seperator Plug on eBay.ca (item 270387979283 end time 16-Feb-10 10:00:18 EST)

I know the listing expired but email him and he'll hook you up. They're $40 and you'll never have to worry about breaking it again.

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My bad I thought you meant the WIF sensor.

 

Yes, they WILL crack and BREAK. If plastic is not bad enough, they hollowed out the center of the plug (for no apparent reason) which makes it even weaker. And when it cracks or breaks, you're screwed. You won't be going anywhere.... except hitching a ride to the chevy/gmc dealer to pay 20 bucks for a 20 cent part!

Evidently I'm not the only one who's had this problem either.... I called around.... almost every chevy/gmc dealer around keeps 1-5 of these in stock.

Thanks HeavyDuty. I ordered one today!

 

The WIF sensor is also a POS. $120 at the stealer for more plastic.

 

what's a WIF sensor? I've had this truck for 8 years now and put 216,000 miles on it but never had anything other than 1 water pump, 3 sets of injectors and 2 stupid plastic screws break... on the motor. Had one bad u-joint and a leaking axle seal at about 150k miles.

 

water in fuel

 

got it! Never had a problem with that but I could see it happening.