Fuel Filter interval.

[CToney]

I just did my first fuel filter change today. I was not impressed with the under hood filter assembly. It wasn’t fun to change. It presents more of a risk to contamination than not.

I had 24,000 kms and 1% fuel filter life when I changed the filters. The filter under the hood looked almost like new. The rear had some discoloration to it.

What are you guys changing the filters at? My truck mainly tows.

 

[AH64ID]

15K miles. They are probably good for longer, but it's not worth the warranty risk.

The 4th gen under hood filter is hard to get to than the 3rd gen one. I have the small socket from Geno's and it really helped on the last change.

 

[Topzide]

A 28mm socket and a wobble extension to get you above everything works really well! With the wobble, allows just enough angle without too much like a universal joint does. 15K or once a year pending on how much you drive. Just like doing oil change. I do both oil and fuel at the same interval. Easier to keep track of and have filters ahead of changes! The rear filter does the first round and will look the worst but the front catches the small particles that can create issues! Like @AH64ID said, not worth the risk! We've made big investments in our trucks, maintenance is a small price to pay to keep them running!

 

[CToney]

One would get more contaminants in the under hood filter housing by changing it in my opinion. Why couldn’t they have the filter housing out another 1/4 inch or so?

My fuel is filtered out of my bulk tank.

Should start a pool on when one will get a new CP4 on My Ecodiesel or 6.7L. Probably hit 300,000 kms on the ED before they install one.

 

[Topzide]

My fuel is filtered out of my bulk tank.

This is the same thing that I do with transfer tank in bed. Also allows me to get fuel when I find it CHEAP! Extra filtration doesn't hurt either! You can always hit the area with an air blower nozzle to knock any loose debris away from housing. Depending on the weather and driving conditions prior to changing the fuel filters, I'll spray some diesel (those refillable aerosol cans are great) then hit with air to clean area first.

 

[bcbender]

15K miles. They are probably good for longer, but it's not worth the warranty risk.

I thought it was 15k or 12mo same as the oil. I will need to recheck the OM as I am a few days overdue for my annual and I was planning on doing both, but I am only at 24k right now and as said not worth the warranty risk.

 

[kthaxton]

Not sure if it changed for the gen 4.5, but for gen 4, fuel filter is 15k or 1 year. Oil is 15k or 6 months.

 

[AH64ID]

I thought it was 15k or 12mo same as the oil. I will need to recheck the OM as I am a few days overdue for my annual and I was planning on doing both, but I am only at 24k right now and as said not worth the warranty risk.

Yes it’s the same as the oil.

Filters age out as well, even if the volume of fuel thru them is low.

Look at it this way, if the filter is trashed at the change interval then the change interval is too long. In a perfect world the change interval occurs just as the filter starts to reduce flow.

 

[monovasia]

I change my fuel filter at 10k.... for no specific reason on the early interval... the 28mm socket and the Geno's Billet cap make it easier

 

[CToney]

I run a lot of equipment. Plenty is HPCR 600hour fuel filter interval. I’ll check on what an interval is in an industrial application. Filter media doesn’t rot. Changing the rear one every 200 hours isn’t crazy but engine one is. 2000 hours, 60,000 miles(96,000 kms) 18 months is Cummins recommendation.

My opinion take it for what it cost you.

My MechAg degree was supposed to allow me to know a bit of engineering but yet some practicality to allow for better agricultural equipment development but I’m just a dumb farmer. That’s where I get my point of opinion.

 

[Topzide]

My MechAg degree was supposed to allow me to know a bit of engineering but yet some practicality to allow for better agricultural equipment development but I’m just a dumb farmer. That’s where I get my point of opinion.

Without the "Dumb Farmers" we wouldn't eat! Farmers have to do a lot of fixes on the fly to stay ahead of the weather. Thanks for the job you do.

 

[AH64ID]

Filter media doesn’t deteriorate, at least not fast enough to
be concerned with, but the glue will deteriorate faster. Take it for what it’s worth.

When I had 3 filters on my 05, and no warranty, I went 30K miles or 18 months.

@monovasia changing the filter too often is also not recommended, and Cat has even published a white paper on this. A new filter is less efficient than a used filter.

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

I'm an old USAF aircraft maintainer, and have extensive filter-related mx experience, so I'll also post a "take it for whatever it's worth" opinion. My filter set-up is more complicated than I've got the time to quickly explain, but the bottom line is I only change the 4 in-line filters (each with their own pressure sensor) when the pressure going into the CP3 drops to 5 psi. The USAF also operates off of filter "delta pressure" readings, so I'm long familiar with not changing filters too early.

Can anyone actually provide a link to the mentioned Cat white paper?

Steve

 

[Cummins12V98]

I change my fuel filter at 10k.... for no specific reason on the early interval... the 28mm socket and the Geno's Billet cap make it easier

I get it but the fact is you are wasting a lot of $$$. You are simply NOT gaining a thing.

11 successful changes @ 15k with 1-1/8" 6 point and stock cap.

 

[Tuesdak]

Filter media doesn’t rot.

Look up the OEM for the filter or ask them on shelf life and years in use vs. hours/miles of operation.

Cummins Fleetguard has refunded my money on 7 years old from production date fuel filters for a "vintage" Diesel Cummins Onan generator because they agreed with their own "shelf life guidelines". You may get the "dirt" out, but, water is the remaining problem. The coating that deals with water has the shortest limited shelf life. (So does everything else in the filter, but not as short as the water separator treatment.)

The made in the 1960's filters I got as part of a rare "kit" off the ads for something else are decorations on my shelf. The foam air filter was just "dust" in the package.

Filters also have specified time in use. Air filters for example: Some FRAM are 12 months. 12,000 miles. Our Cummins pickups (2018) have a 2 year life stated in the owner's manual. I have had air filters fail from the glue being too old in time or miles. GM Revised the owner's manual for 2008 to "replace at 50K miles" and Donaldson revised the air filter with a "X" molded in the plastic frame to keep this from being sucked into the turbo on filter failure. Also maybe to support the element to prevent failure in the first place... Didn't move the filter restriction in 57K miles, but, dusted the rings in less than one year old...

Factory filter now has the "X" cast here.

Like so:

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

Did anybody get a chance to see if they could provide a link to the previously-mentioned Cat white paper?

Steve

 

[AH64ID]

Did anybody get a chance to see if they could provide a link to the previously-mentioned Cat white paper?

Steve

I have briefly tried to find it, again, and cannot. It has been a long time since I read it and while the internet won't ever forget those inappropriate college spring break photos it may have forgotten about filter maintenance