WIX Fuel Filter.......

[AH64ID]

The MOPAR brand oil filters for the Cummins (and anything labeled MOPAR) is my understanding.

 

[randall53]

Is this 10 vs 5 micron thing dealing with later model trucks? I have a 2001 and just looked up the filter for it on geno's and the fleetguard filter plainly states 10 micron:

Description
FLEETGUARD FS19855 10 micron fuel filter for 2000-2002 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel trucks with the 5.9-liter, 24-valve engine. Standard 10 micron.

So, this seems to be the same filtering standard as the Wix. Did the standard change for later models?

 

[jhenderson]

Fuel filtration has come a long way. K Requirements have tightened several times in that 15 year span.

 

[randall53]

Fuel filtration has come a long way. K Requirements have tightened several times in that 15 year span.

It sure seems that way. Every fuel filter I've found by any manufacturer for my 2001 states 10 Micron, even the Fleetguard from Geno's:
FUEL FILTER - FLEETGUARD ('00 - '02, 5.9L) - FS19855 I posted above.

Yet the Wix 33585XE that fits this truck says it filters down to 2 microns:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
WIX HD Fuel Filters feature a cellulose/poly/glass media that provides excellent contaminant holding capacity with contaminant removal as small as 2 micron for super clean fuel.
This sure makes things complicated when we're trying to do the right thing and protect our engines.

 

[jhenderson]

No, it says as small as. Doesn't say what % at 2 micron. Look at mfg specs, and filters are rated by x. microns at x percentage efficiency. Usually it's in the 90+ percent range. Wix doesn't have as good a reputation as they used to. More $ into advertising than R and D.

 

[randall53]

I found some information, though indirectly, about the 00 - 02 24 valve engine with the VP44 pump. I kept wondering why all of the fuel filters for these trucks only filter to 10 microns. As it turns out if a filter is used with a lower micron rating in these engines with the VP44 injection pump, this pump can be starved for fuel and cause the very expensive pump to fail. The info was in a note on a Fleetguard fuel filter #FS19856 for '03 thru '07 engines which is a 7 mircron filter:

NOTE: While this fuel filter will fit into the filter housing of the '00-'02 trucks, it is not recommended for use due to the 7 micron rating. This is because the potential for restriction of fuel flow to the expensive VP44 fuel pump can lead to its failure.


I posted this in case some other dummy besides me with an '00 thru '02 stumbles onto this thread from the "Posted Today" link as I did and begins to wonder why our filters only filter to 10 microns while everyone is recommending 5 micron filters.

 

[JR]

I've been running a Donaldson P551315 with a 3um absolute rating for several years. My lift pump has never dropped below 12-14 psi under heavy loads (except when it failed). Bottom line, if you change your filters on a regular basis and don't fill your tank with crude oil you'll never starve your injection pump. There are far more benefits than draw backs to running tighter filtration.

 

[AH64ID]

Yet the Wix 33585XE that fits this truck says it filters down to 2 microns:
.

A screen door can also catch some 2µ particles but not enough to matter.

This is how Wix tricks their customers into thinking they are good filters. I have yet to find a Wix fuel filter that is as good as the cross reference filter it is designed to replace.

The 33585XE is a great example, thou I am not sure where you saw a 2µ rating as wix doesn't list it as that.

What Wix does do is list it as a 7µ nominal filter. 7µ is the minimum filtration rating specified by Dodge; however, it's 7µ absolute and not nominal.

Wix does give us a little more data thou. 20/75=6/8. That tells us that the filter is 95% efficient at 6µ and 98.7% efficient (absolute) at 8µ and therefor does NOT meet the minimum spec for it's application.

NOTE: While this fuel filter will fit into the filter housing of the '00-'02 trucks, it is not recommended for use due to the 7 micron rating. This is because the potential for restriction of fuel flow to the expensive VP44 fuel pump can lead to its failure.


I posted this in case some other dummy besides me with an '00 thru '02 stumbles onto this thread from the "Posted Today" link as I did and begins to wonder why our filters only filter to 10 microns while everyone is recommending 5 micron filters.

While the 2nd gen doesn't need as fine of filtration due to the design/tolerance and operating pressures of the VP44 and injectors I call BS on the statement in red.

A filter, 2µ or 20µ, will not provide restriction to flow solely based on it's micron rating. The filters are designed for a specific flow rating and the amount of media is specific to both ratings.

As long as there isn't contaminated fuel than a 5µ filter is just fine, and even better. If there is contaminated fuel then I really want the 5µ filter.

The OEM 2nd gen (00-02) filter holds 18gr of dirt before it is considered plugged and is rated at 10µ. The 3rd Gen PF7977 is a drop in filter that is rated at 5µ and will hold 25.5gr before it is considered plugged... win win.

The biggest threat to the VP44 is pressure and the OEM lift pump is barely adequate and many consider it inadequate for proper pressure.