Sorry, late night reply after a too long meeting. I meant HEAD. I think that while we may not like the quality of the filter supplied the head is OK except for the puck which needs to be redesigned or molded in a different material. However they will replace the whole filter head when they recall because there is too much labor (probably too great a potential of screw up too) to just replace the puck. When you get to that point why bother, just put in an existing filter head that has worked before.

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Dave

'06 CRD Limited, Lt. Khaki, MOPAR Slush Mats/Skids, DrawTite Front Hitch, Mag Lite, Yakima Bars, Thule Bike Rack, Fumoto, ORM, 245/70 Revo 2

Wish list: Lift, Boulder Bars, Something Bigger in the Front and Back, More Lights

Two weeks ago I went to an area diesel shop, to get their advice on filters (they are a Stanadyne distributor and authorized repair facility for their injection pumps), and get a feel if they'd be able to handle keeping this beast running for me once I was tired of dealing with DC (like several months ago).

Husband and wife own and run the place, have been in business for quite a few years, and definitely seem to know their stuff about diesels. Working in the back, they had a couple of former Navy diesel techs doing the wrenching and servicing injection pumps. Definitely came away with a warm fuzzy about this place.

The owners are very nice people, and we spent over an hour talking about all things diesel.

While we were discussing fuel related problems, I used a picture of a Stanadyne filter he had to describe the stock fuel filter assembly to him. When I described the plastic puck arrangement to him, his face lit up in recognition. And note, up to this point I hadn't told him about the problems we'd been having with this arrangement.

"I've seen this type of filter before. A few years back another manufacturer used this same type of arrangement on a vehicle we serviced. They had a couple of crappy flat rubber gaskets on that plastic piece that always ended up leaking, and a couple of times ended up leaking thru the heater connection".

When I told him that was exactly what we were seeing, plus the added kicker of the heater actually melting down the plastic puck, he just nodded in agreement. "Doesn't surprise me a bit" he said.

When I was in the middle of describing what I'd set up for a lift pump and fuel cooler, he got a puzzled look and stopped me in the middle of my description.

"Wait a minute - you mean to tell me on that type and size of diesel they didn't put a lift pump and fuel cooler on it at the factory?"

I shook my head NO.

"You mean you had to add on the lift pump and fuel cooler yourself?"

I nodded my head YES.

He got a disgusted look on his face and said "That's just plain stupid".

When we were discussing setting up a Stanadyne filter and problems with entrained air, he offered up the orificed return line on the outlet solution. This was before I'd even came across the Racor pdf on their website.

I think I'm going to be giving this gent quite a lot of business.

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

I already set up a return with a check valve that works well, now a lift pump is in the works, I going to check the use on wiring under rear seat. I would like to be sure it turns off in case of accident and engine stops running. If not would need to set up a ground to an oil pressure switch for safety. All depends on the operation of wiring under rear seat.

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2006 Black Jeep Liberty CRD Limited
K&N, Samco Hoses, Michelin 245/70-16 LTX A/T2, Fumoto F-102, V-Force Muffler, Mopar, Hitch, Trailer Wiring, Skid Plates, Slush Mats, Rear Shelf, Predator Stage 1, Transgo, ORM & CodeReader, Facet 40109 Pump
"IT'S A DIESEL THING, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND"
Certified Services Auto & Truck Repair

I just read on another site that removing the sulfur decreases the vaporization point of diesel fuel by a significant amount. Could explain why were seeing the problem so much this summer and not last.

If that's true, that would explain why in some references I've found the vapor point is listed as 140 F, while in others it's listed as 125 F. Difference could be publication before and after introduction of ULSD.

In one Coast Guard Engineering bulletin I found online, they specifically prohibit their cutters from fueling up with non-marine commercial diesel fuel, due to the lower vapor point, except in Alaskan waters during winter. If they have to head into southern waters with a load of this fuel on board, they list a whole slew of precautions they have to take - no open flame or smoking topside around the tank vents, rigging extra ventilation in the engineering spaces to keep ambient temps below 105 F, extra watchstanders to keep fuel and water pumped out of the bilges and wipe up any fuel spills or leaks, etc, etc.

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

Has anyone found a ready-made orifice for the return line air vent?

Racor literature said it should be 0.020" to 0.040" (0.5 mm to 1 mm).

Hmmm, 0.030" would be about the gap on one of those non-diesel devices they call "spark plugs".

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

PM'd

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05 CRD Renegade

DC can go back to the filter they used before the Bosch, Racor, and send Bosch the bill for 11,000 filter heads.

sounds good to me cowcatcher, just for the "stick it to the MAN" aspect. that RACOR unit looks like a good one too, maybe source it with the clear WIF bowl and 2-3 micron filter, but then for sure the lift pump

good to hear you are warm and fuzzy retmil, that might be the humidity in your fair state though....
makes me think about stopping over at the big diesel joint on the other side of town, with all the log trucks and diesel nuts in my neck of the woods, bound to be some good eggs there.

aside:
I have to knock on wood here, my CRD is an early one, born in february of '05, and no problems as yet. (If you don't count the two limp events.) I am turning about 18K on the ODO, and so far no transmission noises or vibes....knock knock knock. I have only had on visit to the dealer, for a fuel filter and oil drain plug off the parts counter. I have done the three plug ORM so far, still boning up on my soldering skills for the box, and the MAP sensor gets cleaned every couple thousand, but after the EHM I am expecting less soot there next time.

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'05 CRD limited, SEGR, EHM, Magnaflow 18" muffler, OEM skid plates, bug guard, trailer kit, yakima cross bars and basket, CAT filter,
....more to come.....

what are everyone elses symptoms?

i have no leaks anywhere on my filter head but am always able to prime and remove air before driving..
this is my second filter head as the 1st had a leak at the heater plug (suspect this was from myself from overpriming after a filter change)
i read a post that with our type of fuel delivery system we can expect fuel vapour and hence air in the fuel head as its the highest point.
my only symptom of air is very slight hestitation\stuble when accelerating from a steady cruise ie: 60kph and up...

i have ordered a lift pump and will note the difference after fitment if any..would you guys fit a lift pump if you only had the above symptoms or would you leave it alone?

i think this type of (vacum) delivery system will always have air/fuel vapour but sure have not had any of the more serious a problems like no starting\stalling like some people have had here.