Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 12V Fuel Filtration Change

[Jim Fulmer]

Who has ditched the stock filter setup for a better filter in the 2 Micron catagory like this!



Jim



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[RHebert]

I used the Racor R445 with the 10 micron filter. I kept the stock filter and inserted the Racor between the lift pump and the prefilter. It's mounted just to the right of the master cylinder for easy viewing of the clear bowl. I also installed the WIF sensor to it and removed the wiring from the stock filter WIF over to the Racor. After a filter change, it sure is easier to use the primer pump on the Racor than the one on the lift pump.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

The main reason for the change was because I was trashing injectors using the stock filter setup of 10 micron (according to Cummins) at an alarming rate.



Since the change over I've driven around 1400 miles and everything still works great, prior to that a clean set of injectors lasted about 10 minutes before starting to run rough and smoke more down low.



Jim

 

[Jim Fulmer]

View attachment 64911



View attachment 64912

 

[DonTX]

I prefer the DAVCO fuel pro setup, I put one on the motorhome when troubleshooting fuel problems. Advantages: You NEVER have to change a filter til it actually needs it, you can see at a glance how clogged (or unclogged) the filter is, and you can SEE bubbles in case you are sucking some air someplace. Put it between the tank and the lift pump. I love em, will put one on the truck soon.

DAVCO Technology

 

[Signal73]

Hay Jim does anyone sell them online, and do they flow enough to support the fuel you need in your current setup? Somehow I think I know the answer to my 2nd question but wouldnt mind a comparison to like a 10 mic FS1000 fleetguard which is what im running.

 

[MStrain]

That Davco filter setup looks cool, which fuel filters do you use in it to get 2 micron filtration?

 

[Shadrach]

Where are you going to mount the Davco? Did you know you can buy those from Cummins Filtration ( aka Fleetguard ) as well? There are different models as well as several choices of elements ( with different micron ratings ) Shadrach

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Hey Jim does anyone sell them online, and do they flow enough to support the fuel you need in your current setup? Somehow I think I know the answer to my 2nd question but wouldnt mind a comparison to like a 10 mic FS1000 fleetguard which is what im running.

They rate that filter at 90 GPH! Haven't noticed a difference in performance except it still acts correctly. The filter is long and even though the bracket sets it way out you still have to tweak it to clear the elbow on the stock lift pump setup.



I also have a 2 micron on my aux system.



The filters are hard to find even locally, I'll try again this week, if no luck I'll call I. I.



Jim

 

[CumminsPower98]

The Davco 233 looks like the one for our application with a flow rate of 60 GPH. They list pickups as an application for this model (light-medium duty). The question is where to mount one as they are 16. 5" tall and need 3. 5" for filter change so you would need about 20". You would have to mount this filter in the left front corner of the bed or if there is room maybe in the hollow area of the bed side outside the frame. I really like the looks of them though. I have seen them on piles of semis but didn't know how they worked. If you don't know how these work watch the demo, it's interesting.



Jim, I don't understand how your injectors can be getting trashed so fast. Did you get bad fuel and the filter can't handle it? Seems like a lot of use would be getting in trouble if the filter was this bad. 387k on my originals but they probably could stand to be changed. I did run a big filter off the aux. tank for maybe 174k of those miles but don't know the specs. I used fleetguard part of the time and carquest (wix?) labeled the rest.

 

[DonTX]

I was waiting for someone to reply that has already installed theirs, mounting is a slight problem due to our trucks being so full under the hood, my preferred placement rather than other locations. On the diesel pusher motorhome there was lots of room to mount it.

The best I have been able to plot on my 97, is to basically relocate the coolant overflow tank, and mount in the front right corner of the engine compartment. You would only need 16. 5 inches depth from the hood, since when the hood is opened you have plenty of room to change filters. One may have to remove a portion of the fan shroud as well.

I have had them on my last three diesels, and swear by them. Many people come up with a schedule for changing the primary filter, based on mileage or time. In real life it solely depends upon the quality of fuel you put in your tank, may be a few miles, may be 50k or more. I prefer to change when it is needed, this is the only system that allows you to do that.

 

[CumminsPower98]

I agree with you on the filter change schedule. I personally have a fuel pressure gauge so I go by that and run many more miles a lot of times than a schedule will say.

 

[DonTX]

I am in agreement on the gauges! I have two gauges laying in a box, just waiting to find the best place to plumb them into the system. They sure don't do much good sitting the their boxes.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Jim, I don't understand how your injectors can be getting trashed so fast. Did you get bad fuel and the filter can't handle it? Seems like a lot of use would be getting in trouble if the filter was this bad. 387k on my originals but they probably could stand to be changed. I did run a big filter off the aux. tank for maybe 174k of those miles but don't know the specs. I used fleetguard part of the time and carquest (wix?) labeled the rest.

I'd be willing to bet that there are allot out there with issues and don't know it. The full on power will still be there the best I can tell, but low end responce will be bad or worse that it was originally.



The best way to tell is to pull the injectors and pop test them, what you will see is a spray (small streams of fuel) from the holes and not a fog, also when they are right my bench will vibrate when they pop.



I did a set of 370's last week like this and not only did the fuel come out in streams, the pops were all over the place from 3200-3900.



Jim

 

[CumminsPower98]

Off topic a bit from filtration here but something I have known for a while with my truck is that when I mash it up above about 2300 rpms I get HEAVY smoke. Yesterday I tried it again for the fun of it to show a friend and I got the worst smoke I have ever seen! I fully blocked the road behind me with a black cloud. EGTs are right up there around 1200 or more and boost is also up when I do this. My cousin's truck with same fuel plate (as close as you can get hand grinding) does not do this. His just gives off a light gray and keeps on powering. He has a about 316k on the original sticks. Anyway I wonder if this could be from an injector problem. I have been wondering about the things for a while as it seemed to be running hotter towing this summer than in the past. I also had a pretty significant miss when I came to an idle one day after towing. Let it sit for a bit, started back up and the miss was gone. It has never done that before or since. All I can think was maybe a sticking injector? Anyway I think I just need to save my pennis for a set of balanced 215s. I do feel I may have slightly less power then I used too but mileage is still good. Oh one other thing. My first head gasket job at 247k took about . 012 off the head so the injectors are that much closer to the pistons but I doubt that would make it do this what's is doing. My next HG job due to not enough retorques on the studs showed what my non expert eyes called an ok spray pattern.



My plate is a crude trace of a #5 in stock position with medium AFC spring.

timing is 16 deg. Stock turbo with 4" exhaust and Amsoil 4510 air filter. I also still have the stock gov. springs. When I checked the gov. lever a long time ago it looked to be about right.

 

[Shadrach]

[QUOTE=CumminsPower98;1791333

"The Davco 233 looks like the one for our application with a flow rate of 60 GPH. "

The Davco 233 is 90 gph. The 232 is 60 gph. Shadrach

 

[Shadrach]

That Davco filter setup looks cool, which fuel filters do you use in it to get 2 micron filtration?

If you are using the 233 series (90 gph ) use Fleetguard p/n FS19761 for 2 micron, FS19624 for 7 micron, FS 19727 for 10 micron. For the 232 series use FS19730 for 7 micron, FS 19731 for 10 micron. There is no 2 micron available for the 232 series. Shadrach

 

[DonTX]

I guess everyone understands that the DAVCO is a trash filter, goes on the suction side of the lift pump to protect the pump. Your main filter or filters on the pressure side remain in place.

 

[CumminsPower98]

The DAVCO looks cool but it's not practical to me in this small application as it's so huge. I'm thinking of maybe using a TP filter that will filter sub micronic. Ralph Wood brings you his Motor Guard bypass lube oil filter, submicronic bypass lube and fuel filters, aka paper towel filters,also Gulf Coast bypass filter - courtesy of Ralph P. Wood



Now that I'm not running OTR anymore (RV transporter) I may go to the motor guard for my engine oil as well. Right now it's Amsoil but I know the TP filters do a better job. It's the frequency of change that would have been a problem before but not so much now that I'm home and not putting on a lot of miles.

 

[JWashburn]

For those of you that have bulk storage tanks like I do I have found a 2 micron spin-on to a 3/4" NPT fitting. Since I have 6 diesels around the place it becomes expensive to retrofit them all at once with on-board 2 micron filters.

The brand is Cim-Tek.