Todd. How is the average owner supposed to know the difference between OEM quality and junk? They don’t have the experience or connections you do. What is your recommendation? Run OEM or roll the dice with an unknown supplier based on price?
OEM or private labeled will not stop contaminated fuel form Harming HPCR component's
Now most fuel in America is good, and better filtration will lengthen HPCR component's life.
On a scale of 0-10 on filters, I give the NON-combustion certified filters a 9.5 , I think you and a few others have installed Transfer or auxiliary system, correct if I'm wrong. The Private Label Filters a 5 and the OEM filters (Mopar) a 6.5.
The rear mounted filter is not critical its simply the 1st filter in the direct system, Yes its important but not critical, the Engine mounted filter is. Its dual designed canister is equivalent to any modern day filter.it does allow a small % of unfiltered fuel to bypass, some may find this to believe a new filter allows more unfiltered fuel to bypass. as the filter ages it gets tighter, at some point the filter gets to dirty and this process reverses so it is critical to visually inspect. That's Why I have multi filters on every Dsl I own. and all have fuel filtered prior to the OEM system.
Employee's are NOT allowed to fuel from retail Pumps directly, only from Transfer Tanks or Company Tanks. Yes if the Truck is not equip with the Transfer Tank the Bypass must be turn on when filling with truck running at retail pumps. Why leave your truck running when filling its debatable matter, but here's my take at 700RPms the CP3 returns 300ML PM fuel filter back to tank add another 60ML PM from head to tank , so about a 2 Gallons in 10 minutes, yes you could point out this come at a risk IMO its worth the risk.
Now Fuel that sits for lengthy time frames comes at some risk (Transfer tank) IMO you should install filter head that will allow Aqua-zorb or equivalent encapsulating filter in the transfer.
The more times fuel is filtered the better ,to a Point Example add filtration, don't take it away like some of the popular lift systems advertise (Add to it) keep the OEM setup, the exception would be 700HP+.
After the fuel is filtered VIA bypass 1 to 2 times it can be shut down, and the OEM system is capable of filtering from that point on.
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OK spin-ons unless NON-Certified combustion are just to risky IMO and I don't care who makes them, Canister filter are My preferred filter.
I will give the system at refineries a 10. If you ever have the time and can a tour your local refinery do it ,You will not be disappointed.