Dual filter question

Woods CRD · **Joined:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:55 pm **Posts:** 17

I have been thinking of adding an additional racor 2 micron fuel filter in line with the oem filter, mainly because I dont trust the oem filter to do an adequate job of filtration by itself. After seeing what injectors cost for this engine, I would like to take some steps to ensure I get the maximum life out of them. Is there any reason that this would be a bad idea?

I am going to install the kennedy lift pump near the tank, and I plan on checking fuel pressure downstream of the oem filter to be sure I have enough pressure at the pump before adding another restriction in the line. I had thought about just putting in the racor 2 micron in place of the oem, but that involves more expense and wiring to get the heater plug back in place. I can get a racor filter only setup for about half what the filter and heater setup would run.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 10:07 am

I'm sure you will get lots of opinions most of which will likely disagree with me but here goes. IMHO a good quality fuel filter mounted to the OEM filter head will do just fine. When I say good quality I mean WIX, NAPA Gold, etc. and, just my opinion, I don't include the filter whose brand name begins with "F" which I freely admit is personal bias.

That said given that a load of bad fuel can clog a filter it's not a bad idea to add an inline filter but rather than going smaller micron size I'd be inclined to add a small transparent filter, something like the ones Moeller produces. If I did that I'd install it up in the engine bay on the inflow line to the OEM housing. That way it would be easy to see if any significant crud was going into the main filter.

Alternatively if you are concerned just change your fuel filter on a regular basis; like ever or ever other oil change.

Randy B · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 11:07 am

Woods CRD · **Joined:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:55 pm **Posts:** 17

Papadingo:

Do you know if the wix/napa gold are better than the mopar filter? Everything I have been able to find says the wix is built to the same specs.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 4:09 pm

I've used, by personal preference and the recommendation of a friend years ago who owned a parts store and cared about his customers, WIX filters for decades on gas and diesel vehicles with zero problems. I'm about 99% sure the NAPA Gold is a WIX filter with a different paint job since NAPA's part number is essentially identical but you can typically get WIX filters cheaper than NAPA at like O'Reillys.

I don't know for sure but I'm willing to bet a decent beer, not a 6 pack, that the Mopar filter is also a WIX with a different paint job. At least the style and feel of the canister is the same.

NotPicky · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 4:35 pm

I haven't done this to my CRD yet but when I built a electric fuel system for my 97 F350 7.3L Powerstroke I used a pre and post filter system. I had a 10 micron water separator filter before the fuel pump then had the pump push through a 2 micron.

Not sure if still available but that Cat Filter adapter on the stock filter head so a 2 micron filter could be used for the post. Then another filter head (easily found on big rigs) to mount a 10 micron water separator filter before your kennedy pump back next to the tank. :2cents:

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2012 8:38 am

Over 5 years ago I added a intank lift pump solving my air in the fuel problems :seuss:

And no the air leak was not from the original fuel head I still have :juggle:

Recently at 49K miles I started seeing horror stories here on 100k mile CRD's with fuel system problems so I added a 2 micron CAT2 filter between the stock fuel head and the CP3 HPFP :BANANA:

That way I have all the functionally of the original head and the stock 10 micron filter acts as primary filter before the Cat2 :mrgreen:

The line between the CP3 and OEM fuel head is connected to the output if the CAT2 filter and a short piece of 5/16" (7mm) fuel hose connects the output from the OEM head to the input of the CAT2.
The problem was finding a place to mount a second filter :dizzy:

My 1978 VW Rabbit had a 10 micron filter and I wanted better filtration for my common rail system :JEEPIN:

A lot has changed since 1978 :ALONE:

When the CAT2 adapter was available members here had not yet learned of the benefits of a adding a lift pump and the added restriction of the Cat2 compounded air entering into the vacuum system :5SHOTS:

racertracer · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2012 9:24 am

Joe Romas wrote:

I added a 2 micron CAT2 filter

Is this the one you added?
http://pics2.tdiclub.com/video/cincitdi ... all_sm.pdf

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2012 5:28 pm

That's the filter used but I made my own mount and adapter. The mount uses the bolt for the battery hold down and I used a aluminum plate that I machined to screw the filter onto and used brass fittings on the top. That makes it easialy removable for trips to the dealer for extended warranty :SOMBRERO:

I couldn't find a mount locally for the cat filter thread size so I made my own. Here's some pictures but little detail. I was assured mounting the filter horizontal would be fine.

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2012 5:36 pm

Wouldn't it be easier to mount a 2 micron racor filter where the stock goes?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2012 7:55 pm

ChooChooman74 wrote:

Wouldn't it be easier to mount a 2 micron racor filter where the stock goes?

Probably but I have another year on my 7/70 extended warranty and this one comes off with with one bolt and two hose clamps and leaves no trace :SOMBRERO:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2012 8:08 pm

I ran the new style stock filter head until the extended warranty was up and then switched to Racor (although I was having fuel problems at the time and Racor helped)

On the original discussions about this - I remember
The factory manual has one line that recommends a 3 micron or better filter.
Mopar does not publish a filter number.
Wix - says theirs are as good as factory - but they state 10 micron.
(and did not respond to an email quoting the Factory manual)

Cummins had a publication that they were seeing increased injector wear from 5-6 micron particles on the higher injector pressure engines.

the one and only particle test - Old Navy did before/after stock - and it was dirtier after than before - classic sign of a 'paper' style filter that decomposed from water damage ( and consistent with a 10 micron filter)

and last but not least - there's no real industry standard for how to define a filter 'number' correctly it's an efficiency at a particle size.

crawdad-480 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:03 pm **Posts:** 47

I am also considering adding a second fuel filter to my CRD. The first gen fuel filter head finally crapped the
heater connection. So I am going to replace the factory fuel head with the 2nd gen fuel head so I can keep
the stock functionality. As ATXKJ mentioned, I remember seeing a statement that Bosch wanted a 2-3 micron filter
for the CP3.

I plan on adding a Racor 2-micron filter after the factory filter. I added the in-tank lift pump a few years back.
I believe the original in-tank lift pump provided about 9 psi of pressure. (FYI the in-tank lift pump part # has
changed from 5143160AA to RL143160AB.)

Would this still be enough pressure for the dual filter set up or should I consider a lift pump with a bit more
pressure?

wolcott · **Joined:** Thu Nov 10, 2005 4:16 pm **Posts:** 108

I have a CRD with exactly the setup you were considering installing. A Racor filter by the tank, and then a Kennedy lift pump downstream of this. It was installed at 40,000 miles, the rig now has 100,000 miles, and it has worked well. The Kennedy lift pump delivers about 3-4 psi to the stock filter.

I have used dual filters in most diesel vehicles I've owned. They give you a margin of safety in case if a filter housing leaks or a filter is poorly made or installed. It also makes sure all the small particles in the diesel, plus any water are removed. In the case of GM I owned with the ##$$ Stanadyne pump, it insured the pump warranty of 11 years or 120 K miles was valid--the first thing they do with these vehicles is check the filter housing by the engine, and any dirt in this housing would void their warranty.

wolcott · **Joined:** Thu Nov 10, 2005 4:16 pm **Posts:** 108

One thing I forgot to add. One this formum they mention a wire which is under the rear seat which was meant to power a lift pump. I used this as a power source, and it has worked well.

Dual filter question

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