Anyone else have problems with a 2 micron filter on a fass?

[avvblanc01]

A little info on my set up:
Truck: 2006 dodge ram 2500 Cummins
Pump: Fass 95 series, serial number 3707 (now with the new style base plate)
Filters: Baldwin BF1212 water separator (10micron), and a CAT 1R0750 fuel filter (2 micron).

Ever since upgrading to a the newer style base plate with the 1'' filter fittings and the two filters mentioned above, I have had nothing but problems with my fass. It is getting air in the fuel, and is also making a strange oscillating noise while running. I have checked and every fitting is tight, and the seals/ball and spring for the base plate were replaced when i changed it so I am starting to think its an issue with the filters.

Before I go nuts trying to track down the issue, has anyone else experienced problems with their older 95 series fass when running either of the above filters?

 

[BDaugherty]

Sounds like a leak on the suction side. Better go back and check everything that was apart during the install. Unlikely its the filters themselves unless the 1212 has a cut seal.

 

[avvblanc01]

I was hoping for anything other than that but sadly I think you might be right. the only thing that would steer me towards the filters is that Fass themselves said there had been issues reported back to them with the CAT 2 mic.

Anyone else have issues with a CAT on their fass before I tear mine apart?

 

[JR]

I use the Donaldson P5513 which is nearly identical in ratings to the Cat filter and have never had any issues in the 3-4 years I've been running them.
Sounds silly but make sure the gasket came off of the old filter, a double gasket will very likely cause a leak. Other than that I have to agree it sounds like an air leak somewhere.

I have an Air Dog rather than a FASS, but aren't they the same in that they draw fuel from the water seperator into the pump and then push it out through the secondary filter? If that's the case, the filter shouldn't be causing a loss of prime. The worst it could do is cause a restriction which could be seen as a loss in pressure if you have a gauge.

 

[avvblanc01]

So I went through and re-did all the fittings with teflon thread sealant and made sure they were tight, but I'm still getting air in the system. At this point, its either the base plate that isn't sealing or my fuel line that isn't sealing. My suction fuel line (the one that came with the fass when the P.O. installed it in 2008-ish) has external cracks, but if I look from the inside it seems fine.

Do you guys think I should replace the suction line to the tank pictured below (which means dropping the tank...) or should I try and check the seals in the base plate of the fass first? All the filters are tight and the seals are good. No double stacked O rings either.

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Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr

also I don't have a fuel pressure gauge yet since the part is on backorder from Edge. Whenever that comes, my insight will be up and running and Ill have gauges.

 

[MLee]

I would vote yes replace that hose.

 

[Motorhead]

DITTO on the above answer.... I see a lot of starting, loss of prime and poor running from seemingly good looking suction lines when they actually have porosity issues that allow air in.
Your looks horrible!

 

[avvblanc01]

To be fair, it didn't look quite so bad until I had to take the fass' fittings on and off 3 times or so haha. Fingers crossed that a new line fixes the issue.
Its going to be quite the pain to replace unless I either drop the tank, or somehow shrink my hands to be half the size.

Ill probably replace the whole line all the way up to the cp3, so would you guys recommend doing the same rubber line or going to braided stainless?

 

[SSage]

Thats about the same age as mine on our 3rd gen, but I have no cracking at all, just faded out to light blue. The marine grade hose holds up the best from my experience, I got mine from Larry B's. My 2nd gen has the marine rated hose and it still looks good after 8 years! Good stuff, I use it to replace everything now, works good on the farm tractors too. But, my blue hose that came with the air dog looks fine, no cracking like you show.

 

[AnOldBiker]

If it's a real pain for you to drop the tank, check the hose by throwing on some duck tape over the hose and see if it hasn't improved it any. It's just a check.
Then if it isn't the hose, replace the hose at a better time, and go on until you fix your present problem.

 

[avvblanc01]

got a new fuel line but Im stuck trying to get the "quick" disconnect un-done from the tank. Is there something I'm missing for taking this fitting off???

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Fass not so quick disconnect by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr

 

[BILTIT]

The plastic tools sometimes don't work great, they do make a metal tool that works better.

 

[avvblanc01]

is there a special tool I need to remove it (the metal quick disconnect, not the hose) ?