No fuel in my fuel filter why?

Not sure of your exact filter style/design, but this will give you an idea.
Edit: Oops, I didn't read your post well enuf. I see you have the Davco 382,, but pictured is a Davco 234.
Look at your "IN" side of your filter assembly. You have a check valve that allows fuel INTO the filter, but won't (shouldn't) allow fuel to go back out (back toward the tank). If this check valve doesn't seat well, it will wrongly allow fuel to leak back into the tank.
The check valve should be built into the intake port (circled in red in pic), and/or there may be an "inline" check valve near the intake port.
Remove the check valve and check it for proper seating/closing. It will allow you to blow thru it one direction, but not the other direction, if it is good.

 

If he is in PA I still think he's on the verge of gelling. It's 17 degrees there after a colder night. The first thing to go is the lines and the filter. The tank takes longer because the quantity of fuel in there. You probably have moisture in your system too. If there was any moisture the check valve wouldn't seat right.

If you haven't treated your fuel you are on the verge of gelling. Treat it with Howes or Power Service according to the directions on the jug. I would also start charging your batteries if you've ran them down. The paper filter is probably gelled over. I would buy kerosene to fill your filter back up. Kerosene is nothing put super refined diesel with little paraffin in it to gel. Then I would remove the air cleaner. While someone cranks the motor carefully give two quick shots of starting fluid to the intake. Don't saturate it but two quick shots. The engine will start but quickly will want to quit. Before it dies give it one more quick shot to barely keep it running. Repeat as necessary and the fuel should pick back up. Don't squirt crazily where the engine races!!

Once you get it running keep it running.

 

Very true & likely, if he's in those kinda temps.
And if so, he'll quickly see how jelled his fuel is by sampling/close exam at his filter unit.

I don't know what you're saying relative to the pic. It appears your complaining how long it took to get posted? Please clarify.

 

Yeah once he pulls the filter off he'll find out.

 

glad we could have been help.

 

That's the way its suppose to do. When you put in the new filter, and fill it with fuel, the fuel level will drop as the egine runs to where you can't see it. As the filter gets dirty the fuel level will rise to clean media. Once the fuel level reaches near the top, its time to put in a new filter.

 

Nice, this tips was really useful for future needs.

 

Anytime you have this issue on a Davco after changing the filter, the first check is to make sure you got a good bowl seal and then check the vent o-ring, as they will occasionally kink.