In line coolant filter

[Gary - K7GLD]

The gimmick would be convincing someone to buy a filter that isn't needed.

I guess the term "need" depends on how much garbage an owner is willing to let circulate and build up in his cooling system... :-laf :-laf

 

[ThrottleJockey]

The gimmick would be convincing someone to buy a filter that isn't needed.

No one 'needs' an oil bypass filter, either, but it's still a pretty good idea.



I got a lotta stuff on my truck I don't 'need'. Shoot, I got a whole list! But there you go.

 

[Signal73]

Maybe My pics didnt show up for you in posts 28+29, but it did a fair job of stopping crap in my cooling system. My truck has 115K on it, and cooling system hasnt been abused by lack of maintenence, and there is still junk in there. After cleaning the filter two times, it looks good after a few hundred miles. Before it was catching all the heavy crap, now its doing more of a "when things dislodge and come through" kind of job. Not bad security for $40.

 

[maxburk]

I called the tech line today to verify frequency of cleaning. He said if you see crud or if the brass gets discolored clean the filter. Just use common sense.

It looks like this a good product for those of us who plan to keep our truck for a long period of time. If you trade them every other year let the next guy worry about the problem.

If it is good enough for the big rigs it is good enough for me.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Not bad security for $40.

My thoughts exactly.



It's fairly inexpensive

Easy install

You can see when it needs cleaning (a huge plus)

Easy to clean



I would not buy up a Perma-cool type canister filter to filter the coolant.

 

[maxburk]

Signal73... ... I also have 115k on my truck. I installed the filter this week and drove the truck about 50 miles yesterday. Just like your pictures I have some dark crap in the filter. Do not know what it is but sure happy it is gone.

 

[Benson]

Ordered one as well. What is the direction of the flow on that one hose pictured? That's in to the heater core right?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I got a few to give away..

Bought 10 constant tention clamps from Mcmaster Carr. About 4 bucks. The black ones like OE on the heater lines. "Wide-Band Self-Tightening Spring Hose Clamp". I just use pliers to get them on-and-off. They work well. Never leaked in 13 years.



"... . The coverage of a wide band reduces leaks while spring action automatically compensates for hose and tube expansion and contraction. Clamps are reusable.

Made of carbon steel with a black zinc-rich plating that has five times the corrosion resistance of standard zinc plating. To install, use wide-band pliers (sold separately, below) to open clamp ends. Next, slide clamp onto hose and over the installed hose fitting. Finally, release pliers to secure clamp to hose. Temperature range is -100° to +400° F. Meet SAE J1508.

Note: When choosing a clamp, measure the outside diameter of your hose with the fitting installed. "





They will give you in-line coolant filter a "Cleaner" look as compared to the worm gear clamps. If anybody wants a couple N/C, let me know. They are 5/8".

 

[Benson]

If anybody wants a couple N/C, let me know. They are 5/8".

Those are the ones I want. Can you order those online?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

McMaster-Carr



In "Find Products"



Enter:

7329K11



21/32" are even cheaper.



Mcmaster delivers quick. Ordered Sunday night, they were here Tuesday afternoon.



I can ship you out 2 N/C if you would like Benson. They'll take a week+ to get there though.



They should fit the O. D of the OE heater hose?

 

[Signal73]

She failed me today.

While Crow does not fit my taste and I hate to admit when I bought into a product that sucks, I figure I could save a fellow TDR member some time on the side of the road by giving him the advice to keep an extra 2' of 5/8 heater line in his truck, with some coolant if he/she plans to run this filter.

I had it off 2 times to clean it, last time was approx. 500 miles ago since then a trip to NH and back, various trips to work/jobsites, etc and without notice she let go on me draining my radiator on the highway. Its only split in one spot, dont know why it did, but needless to say its off my truck now, and will most likely look for a more HD setup then the above mentioned.

Hope you guys have better luck then me with this jobber.



#ad




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[Gary - K7GLD]

OOoooops!



Thanks for the feedback - I was interested in something along the lines of one of those, but didn't like the relatively smallish size of that particular one. I wonder what other alternatives there might be, preferably with a larger surface area?



I did pick up and install one of that outfit's gadgets to counter in-system corrosion, and have seen some indications of it's effect in countering electrolysis and such - I sure would prefer to NOT ever have to go thru a heater core replacement!

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Thanks Signal73



It sucks when a product does'nt pan out. Thanks for being our 'motive power test bed' and saving some of us from the trouble you had.



I wanted one of those, too.

 

[rweis]

I was at my local real auto parts shop this week and asked Tom about the radiator filter. He asked what it was made out of. I described it and he said "I wouldn't, if it can break it will, especially glass". He had an all metal one with a screen, but I wanted finer filtration than about window screen size.



Thanks for the post, it was on my list as well. Maybe someone can come up with a metal cylinder to replace the glass?, and we would be back in business again. I like the concept of filtration of the radiator fluid.



Bob Weis



I know constant tension clamps are the "preferred method of clamping" but...



I had a crankshaft sleeve and seal installed recently. They had to take the radiator out to get to it. Good shop, rarely make an error. I picked her up and went for fuel. While filling the fuel tank the lower radiator hose let go. The constant pressure clamp is really hard to install correctly because there is little room to get the clamp and special tool in there. Of course the 2 gallons of "new" antifreeze went on the gorund. I still like quality gear drive clamps, I can set the clamp pressure and I know it is clamped.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I was at my local real auto parts shop this week and asked Tom about the radiator filter. He asked what it was made out of. I described it and he said "I wouldn't, if it can break it will, especially glass". He had an all metal one with a screen, but I wanted finer filtration than about window screen size.

Bob, was that filter element removable/replaceable? If so, it might be easy to improve effectiveness with the brass screens commonly available at hardware stores in various mesh percentages...



As to the tendency of glass and some plastics to break in more severe environments, remember the plexiglass windows Fast Coolers use to provide in their transmission cooler add-on's - had to stop using them due to frequent failures...

 

[RyanStewart]

I was interested in this when I first saw this post, especially after I changed my thermostat and found a bunch of sediment in the coolant even though I'd changed it only 6 months before. But after thinking about it I thought why not just get a spin on type coolant filter, something like whats used on a semi? Something like this (about halfway down the page):



dieselmann's Store: Filters



Its more expensive of course, but a spin on filter would be a lot more robust and a lot easier to change. I'm thinking about getting one soon.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Signal,

I can't belive that actually cracked. That is thick glass. Make sure you are on the blower w/ them Monday and let them know what happened.



I would like to know.

 

[Signal73]

Me too Bill Its not like I could have tightened it too much, it would have broken then. Not only that but the way force is applied to it tightening it it would crumble first not split. . Ill give em a call this week and see if a refund is in order, dont really want a replacement now:{

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Signal,



Did you get in touch w/ them?

 

[Headshot zod]

Something like this (about halfway down the page):



dieselmann's Store: Filters

I think that one is definitely the way to go.