1550 diesel fuel filter: difficulty stopping leak ??

Have a nice 1550 diesel. Waukesha engine with 3,800 original hours. On the left side near the injector pump is the secondary fuel filter. Had a NAPA #3165 filter on it when I bought the tractor. I love the tractor, keep it inside and try to take good care of her. I changed the filter about 18 months ago, but found that it always, "seeped," a bit where the filter meets the pot-metal filter ends. This is a filter unit that consists of a base, the filter itself, and an end cap with a brass thumb-screw plug for bleeding air out of the system. The filter, "cartridge," is metal and has integral gaskets on each end, and is merely held in place with a through bolt sucking base and cap together with the filter in between. The gaskets just do not seem to do the job. The filter base and end, being cast metal, I worry about cracking if I tighten too much.

I bought a new 3165 filter this week and a tube of PermaTex sealer. So I'm going to pull the old filter, clean mating surfaces thoroughly, and put a thin film of sealer to, "help," the gaskets. Right now, the slow drip is depleting my diesel fuel from the tank. Has anyone had this problem or have a better way to deal with it than what I plan??? I need to get the fuel system tightened up for winter. Thanks for reading, Dennis in E WA state

did one of the old gaskets stick to the metal base? its not uncommon

Forget the Permatex and solve the problem! That filter is used on several brands. We had a different tractor where it leaked, now I need to remember what we did to solve it.

hd6: No, the old gasket did not stick to surface. I remember cleaning mating surfaces carefully. Good thought though, I've seen what you are talking about before. Thank you.

js: You are right. I'd love to solve this properly. It must have worked OK earlier in my tractor's life - so what's happened? I guess the pot metal, "top," on this setup might be warped? Maybe I should check it with a straight-edge. Incidentally, on the new NAPA filter I got, there is a little printed-on-metal-filter-case exploded diagram and it shows the filter unit mounted, "upright." Oliver chose to mount it upside down allowing air-release vent to be, "on top." When I got the tractor I noticed the printing on the filter was upside down and it seemed funny to me. I actually think it doesn't matter which way the filter is mounted, ... it just seemed odd at the time. I think Oliver needed to do it this way so the fuel system could be properly bled.

I hope you remember how you, "fixed," this problem in your past. I do know you are very knowledgeable from your many helpful posts to folks in the past. Thank you,
Dennis

The large filter seals are two sizes, make sure the larger is in the base groove, and not twisted. The center bolt can be really tight, that's what I've found on the same filter base on MF/Perkins anyway. The center bolt used to be sealed with a washer, late type has an O ring with a steel washer around it to limit the O ring crush. My guess is the center bolt is not tight enough. One other note on the NAPA/WIX filters, the fuel enters at the top outer edge of the filter and must be open. I've made lots of service calls to find the groove has an O ring in it, just because an extra one fit there...

Thanks again. I did manage to tighten it more. Try the simple things before changing filter itself. Will see if it dries out. I just got more aggressive with it than in the past, turning the filter and top together with my gloved hands. No exposed bolt to get a wrench on. I could use a filter wrench too if needed.
Dennis

This may or may not be helpful, but I chased what I thought was a filter housing leak on my 1550 and it turned out to be the injector line just above the filter dripping onto the lines and then down to the filter. Chalked that one up to a lesson learned, always start at the top first.