Fuel Filter Life

[AH64ID]

Now that I have excessive filtration (linky) I am wondering how long I can run the filters. I have a psi gauge installed between the Cat and the 1R-0750. The gauge was installed with 8K miles on the filters and I now have 18K miles. I haven't seen more than a . 5psi drop WOT since installing the gauge so I safely guessing I don't have plugged filters.



So, how long are filters good for? In those 18,436 miles I have burned 1137 gallons of fuel, and pumped who knows how many thur the filters. Do the filters break down at all? I am 80% sure all 3 filters are synthetic media (have an email out to find out). .



I just read a post where a guy changed 1 filter in 100K miles because he never saw a pressure drop...



So what do you all think?

 

[SHobbs]

I go by pressure instead of mileage. I get the reading between the VP44 and the filter housing. Usually when my pressure at idle drops from 13psi which is normal to say 11 or under thats when I can pull it below 5psi at WOT then I change the filter. I may let it get to around 9psi at idle it all depends on if I can get it below 5 or not. In a nutshell if I can get it below 5psi @ WOT then I know to change it and my idle pressure gives me a hint at times. Not sure about the 3rd gens but thats what I go by for my truck.

 

[JLEONARD]

I am a boater and we use a vacuum gage to determine filter change time. A new filter should read 0 in Hg, and depending upon lift pump design anywhere from 8 to 12 in Hg is time to change. You can also wait for the engine to starve (it will surge) under high load then you know you are at the limit.

Sounds similar to how SHobbs descibed using a pressure gage and understanding how it affects your engine.

All that depends on fuel quality and filter capacity. A large (physically not micron rating) filter and good fuel you may be able to go years.

 

[AH64ID]

Thanks guys. Thats what I figured. . I have no issues going extended intervals on oil, just wasn't sure on the filters.

 

[steved]

I have ran 40k+ on the FASS filters before... they weren't even beginning to plug. I fuel everywhere...

That was also before my in-tank setup... which is a very SMALLish 10u filter. I ran that filter almost 50k before it even began showing signs of becoming restrictive (and that was only in cold weather). I believe its an FS1251?

I doubt you would need to worry about it much before 50k... contrary to popular belief, our fuel is mostly clean.

 

[fox]

I have seen bad fuel plug mine in 3,000 miles. mostly it will go 15-20,000 before I change it. I go by pressure drop.

 

[AH64ID]

I have ran 40k+ on the FASS filters before... they weren't even beginning to plug. I fuel everywhere...



That was also before my in-tank setup... which is a very SMALLish 10u filter. I ran that filter almost 50k before it even began showing signs of becoming restrictive (and that was only in cold weather). I believe its an FS1251?



I doubt you would need to worry about it much before 50k... contrary to popular belief, our fuel is mostly clean.

Yes modern fuel is much cleaner. . I never even get a drop of water from my 2 f/w seps.

I have seen bad fuel plug mine in 3,000 miles. mostly it will go 15-20,000 before I change it. I go by pressure drop.

Yeah, bad fuel wont take long, but on good fuel they should go forever.



And with 30K+ change intervals my fuel psi gauge wont take long to pay for itself.

 

[AABEN]

I change my at every other oil change also the air filter that is 18. 000 miles.

 

[CKelley1]

blackbear you are making a mistake, the dirtier the fuel or air filter get's the better it filters. you are discarding a better filter than you are installing. go by the filterminder and fp gauge only and not the mileage. on the cr let the gauge drop to about 2 psi before change

 

[AH64ID]

I change my at every other oil change also the air filter that is 18. 000 miles.

Are you using a FP gauge?

 

[CumminsPower98]

When I was running OTR and had a 115 gal. tank in the bed with filter I ran as much as 65k on filters. I fueled everywhere (mostly Flying J) and went by pressure drop. Only once did I have to change filters on the side of the road (WY at 12 deg. out). I think this was due to the ULSD cleaning my system as it was around the time it was coming out if I remember right. I also got very little water. I have never had my light come on in the 3336k I have driven my truck.

 

[AH64ID]

An old post, but I wanted to update it.

I changed my filters at 30,272 miles, which was 835 hours and 1841 gallons burned. At a minimum that was 29,225 gallons pumped thru the filters. I had about a . 75psi drop WOT from new. I only changed them becuase 30K miles is plenty for me to get out of the filters, its a 2x life and saves money and injectors.

 

[CKelley1]

call wix and they will verify that the filter filters the best just before it clogs up. they even show both ratings on the web. the truck i drive is just now dropping in pressure it has about 78,000 on the filter. we have ran all of our equipment and trucks this way for the last 43 years. the same go's for the air filter. the class 8 trucks owners manual had a warning not to over service the filter. the reason is the filter media has many different size holes in it. the larger size holes has less restriction and passes more air or fuel as the larger holes fill up the air or fuel now has to flow through the smaller holes. and this also go's for your bypass oil filter. just feel it about every 5,000 miles when it no longer gets hot it is time to change.

 

[AH64ID]

Just don't run wix filters, they believe (and have been told this by more than 1 Wix rep) that absolute ratings are no better than nominal, and they only match to nominal ratings. In fact "good enough" is a term they use, sorry but thats not good enough for me.

 

[CKelley1]

i agree i like fleetguard, baldwin and donaldson but in the forum i usually list napa or wix numbers because they are easy to find.

 

[AWeiman]

An old post, but I wanted to update it.



I changed my filters at 30,272 miles, which was 835 hours and 1841 gallons burned. At a minimum that was 29,225 gallons pumped thru the filters. I had about a . 75psi drop WOT from new. I only changed them becuase 30K miles is plenty for me to get out of the filters, its a 2x life and saves money and injectors.

i change the ones on my fass once a year. which is close to 20k. just curious i have noticed my filters develop rust over time have you noticed the same or not? my truck sees lots of dusty roads and plenty of road salt thru the winter. never to the point i thought it was gonna rust thru but noticable rust.

 

[JohnBoy5]

i have seen a tad of rust around the top of the filter but thats all. i think mine was from road dirt getting up there and sitting then when it gets wet it holds the water a little longer... .

 

[AH64ID]

No rust on my BF1212 (under the truck), or the Cat (but its alum).

 

[JohnBoy5]

No rust on my BF1212 (under the truck), or the Cat (but its alum).

thats a good point. i have not looked at it since i switched over to the baldwin filter. i odnt have the cat filter. what is that number and why did you choose it and also will it fit the fast 150 series pumps?

 

[AH64ID]

It wont fit the FASS, its a 1R-0750.