Fleetgaurd oil filter LF 3552 good or bad

[AKDrifter]

Previously, I have used the stratapore filters, but last I was in Whitehorse,YT, the cummins shop sold me the fleetgaurd LF 3552 oil filter to replace my old one.



Is this filter good enough or is the stratapore that much better?



Thanks, Paul

 

[MLee]

Originally posted by AKDrifter

Previously, I have used the stratapore filters, but last I was in Whitehorse,YT, the cummins shop sold me the fleetgaurd LF 3552 oil filter to replace my old one.



Is this filter good enough or is the stratapore that much better?



Thanks, Paul

PAUL:

that filter is recommended for the 12 valve engine, it probably can be used in a pinch, on yours, but a 3894 is what is recommended and being sold to the rest of use that have the second generation truck. i went to cummins to purchase a filter and that is what he sold me and it was cheaper than the 3552, with the better case and filter material.



Marv.

 

[B9Mile]

Basically, the LF 3552 has a thinner top plate. The 24 vlv engine develops higher oil pressure on startup.



When its cold out, the relief valve lifts. The oil pump's relief valve returns to the pump's inlet instead of back to the oil pan. The pump is then "self priming". Since there is a positive pressure at the pump's inlet instead of a vacuum, it produces higher discharge pressures.



This initially wasn't a problem with the Dodge ISB until wintertime temps produced thick oil. The higher discharge pressures started separating the oil filter's case from the top plate. Nobody foresaw this problem.



Fleetguard produced a filter with a thicker top plate and a stronger joint between the plate and the scase. The seal was probably improved too.



I used a whole case of the LF3552 filters without any problems. But, it doesn't get that cold around here.



I think all of this was brought forth in one of these two articles (copied from the TDR Index page).



Issue 26, Page 28a-31a (Question & Answer) New Fleetguard filters are available for the 24 valve engine.

Issue 28, Page 44a (24 Valve Engines) Another filter revision has been brought out for the '98-01model trucks.



So, to answer your question, I wouldn't use an LF3552 when the outside temps are really cold, even with synthetic oil.