Gulf Coast Bypass Filter guts...

[StLouisMO]

Just to add my 2 cents. I had one of these on my 2002 F250. Yes, it does add 6 quarts. "hand tight on the lid"..... actually I found that I had to use a box end wrench around the handle to get enough leverage on it because of the huge O-ring in order to keep the lid from dripping oil. When I had it on my ford, I changed my crankcase oil every 5,000 miles and the paper towel filter every 10,000 miles which is way too soon. But, it was just piece of mind for me. And don't be surprised if your oil is just as dark as it was before the GCF. It made no noticeable difference in the color of the oil on my ford. Not sure how it will do on the cummins. I had mine installed on the outer frame rail under the driver's side door.

 

[SAndreasen]

Just to add my 2 cents. I had one of these on my 2002 F250. Yes, it does add 6 quarts. "hand tight on the lid"..... actually I found that I had to use a box end wrench around the handle to get enough leverage on it because of the huge O-ring in order to keep the lid from dripping oil. When I had it on my ford, I changed my crankcase oil every 5,000 miles and the paper towel filter every 10,000 miles which is way too soon. But, it was just piece of mind for me. And don't be surprised if your oil is just as dark as it was before the GCF. It made no noticeable difference in the color of the oil on my ford. Not sure how it will do on the cummins. I had mine installed on the outer frame rail under the driver's side door.

well that kinda counts this one out for me as the fs2500 promises honey colored oil and four the price of these things it should taste like honey 2

 

[sdstriper]

I will be on the prowl for one of these now too! I currently have a Motor Guard but like the idea of much extended drain with that sized unit.

 

[steved]

well that kinda counts this one out for me as the fs2500 promises honey colored oil and four the price of these things it should taste like honey 2

You had better research the FS2500... while they claim "honey colored oil", the posts I have read indicated they don't filter the oil to honey colored... just FYI...



I'm in new mexico now... probably start the install when I get home...



steved

 

[steved]

I installed this a couple months ago... couple things...

The oring under the handle was shot, replaced it prior to use and had no leaks at hand tight. Just replace the element tonight, and had no leaks even hand tight.

I installed my own home-made restrictor orifice that is upsteam of the bypass... got about a quart per minute hot.

I ordered GCF filter elements, they were nothing but fancy rolls of paper towels in a cheesecloth covering (with the plastic holder installed). It wasn't very snug going in and coming out it was completely loose with oil passing around the outside edge... so much for GCF elements. I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if they will take the elements back, because I'm not going use them after this finding. And don't get me wrong, I thought it was too loose when I installed it... its not like I'm surprised.

I "rolled" my own filter tonight... used a Scott Mega-Roll, with about 10 additional wraps. It fit extremely tight into the housing (much tighter than the GCF elements). I also took an oil sample at 8300 miles (going on a trip to UT at the end of next week). It should show me if its working or not within a few hundred miles.

So, from experience, do not use the GCF elements if you have a GCF.

steved

 

[steved]

Couple shots of the install location:



This is looking from the passenger side rear fenderwell forward...



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Straight up from the ground...



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This is a shot of the end looking through the crack between the bed and body...



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steved

 

[05mxdiesel]

Steve, with you on the road constantly, this filter sounds like it should do you the justice your looking for. 15k on dino should be no problem with the extra 6qt capacity and fine filtration. Does paper towels filter as good as tp though?

 

[steved]

Steve, with you on the road constantly, this filter sounds like it should do you the justice your looking for. 15k on dino should be no problem with the extra 6qt capacity and fine filtration. Does paper towels filter as good as tp though?

I believe the paper towels should filter almost as good as the TP filters... the only thing might be the density of the rolls?



I'll be curious to see how actual paper towels fair in the housing (if they "shrink")... the original GCF element did keep the oil visibly cleaner for the first 2k miles, which as you know is a pretty good feat for a 3rd gen truck with the third injection event. I'll be interested to see if the new filter cleans the oil back up...



I'm going to send a sample of oil in with a little more than 8k on it, and later this weekend (after I drive a little bit) I'll resample to see how the "makeup oil" changed the results of the first sample. And then I might stretch things a bit.



steved

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I "rolled" my own filter tonight... used a Scott Mega-Roll, with about 10 additional wraps. It fit extremely tight into the housing (much tighter than the GCF elements). I also took an oil sample at 8300 miles (going on a trip to UT at the end of next week). It should show me if its working or not within a few hundred miles.

I bet that will be a big step in the right direction - that setup really sounds great, and sure will be interested in the analysis reports. Also interested in the number of miles those will efficiently run between element changes.

 

[tgordon]

I have been looking at one of these also along with the Frantz. On GCF web site they recomend changing the element 200 hrs. The interesting part is the only list the 0-1 for up to 250. The 0-2 for 250-500, and the 2xo-2m for 500-1000 hp. Anybody want to find a spot for one of these on a boombed truck?

 

[steved]

I have been looking at one of these also along with the Frantz. On GCF web site they recomend changing the element 200 hrs. The interesting part is the only list the 0-1 for up to 250. The 0-2 for 250-500, and the 2xo-2m for 500-1000 hp. Anybody want to find a spot for one of these on a boombed truck?

When they talk "horses", they are talking true "horses", not the "ponies" we have... :-laf



But really, they are talking an HD OTR trucks, night and day difference to our little pickups...



I ALMOST bought an 0-2... I'm glad I didn't.



steved

 

[DieselJake]

Hi All,



Thought I'd throw in my $. 02. Just removed a GCF from my '01 24V, since I just sold the truck. I have the model 01 and have great success using the brown industrial paper towels, called hard wound, as my elements. Ran nothing but amsoil 15-40 truck and boat, and changed the filter elements every 10K and the oil every 50K. The Stratopore filter was just a safety filter to catch the large chunks, if any, and was changed at 50K. My oil never stayed "honey colored", but it did stay molases colored and see thru. Can't recomend the GCF or Amsoil enough.





BTW, I finally mounted mine in front of the right rear also, but pointed forward. Maybe, pointed rearward would have worked better. But then I only changed it twice. Checkout ebay for a GCF, got mine for just over $120.

 

[steved]

Hi All,



... have great success using the brown industrial paper towels, called hard wound, as my elements...

Can you point us to a source? I've been looking at alternatives, but could not find anything with a center hole small enough...



steved

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

JEEZE - I sure wish you guys would stop talking about those danged Gulf Coast filters - you keep giving me ideas and making me jealous! :-laf:-laf

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Steved,



How does that big roll of Scott Centerpull Towels looks to you? I'm kind of intrigued in these as an element.

 

[steved]

Steved,



How does that big roll of Scott Centerpull Towels looks to you? I'm kind of intrigued in these as an element.

Don't know, haven't seen them...



steved

 

[steved]

I'm going to bring this up since I found the GCF elements too small...

I replaced the GCF element with a roll of paper towels... the oil was black, but clear if that makes sense...

I ran cross country, and the oil lightened with the new filter. Once in the mountains (and blowing loads of black smoke), the oil turned black again. Now, I got back on the road and returned to PA... the oil once again lightened. I had heard of this happening, but had never witnessed it. It was pretty cool to actually see the filter working.

steved

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I'm going to bring this up since I found the GCF elements too small...



I replaced the GCF element with a roll of paper towels... the oil was black, but clear if that makes sense...



I ran cross country, and the oil lightened with the new filter. Once in the mountains (and blowing loads of black smoke), the oil turned black again. Now, I got back on the road and returned to PA... the oil once again lightened. I had heard of this happening, but had never witnessed it. It was pretty cool to actually see the filter working.



steved

That's cool. I would'nt mind one of those. Ralph Wood spoke of the Scott's Centerpull roll being capable of submicronic filtration in your big GCF housing, eliminating the need for a roll of TP stacked with a roll of paper towels.

How long do you think your element will last?

 

[steved]

That's cool. I would'nt mind one of those. Ralph Wood spoke of the Scott's Centerpull roll being capable of submicronic filtration in your big GCF housing, eliminating the need for a roll of TP stacked with a roll of paper towels.

How long do you think your element will last?

They are given a 10k FCI for OTR trucks...



Are you sure about the center pulls for the GCF?? I know I had conversation with Ralph about his MG750 (a modified Fleetguard bypass filter housing) that used two rolls of center pulls, but that's different than the GCF I have...



steved

 

[ThrottleJockey]

They are given a 10k FCI for OTR trucks...



Are you sure about the center pulls for the GCF?? I know I had conversation with Ralph about his MG750 (a modified Fleetguard bypass filter housing) that used two rolls of center pulls, but that's different than the GCF I have...



steved

I thought maybe you could stack 2 rolls in there, too. No dice, huh?



Still, thanks for the pictures and write up. I'll bet seeing that oil clear up was cool.