Diesel water separator and filter

[MogsAndDogs]

Howdy all. Wondering what options I have for diesel pre filter and water separator. Going on an OM352A. What filter do you use?

Seems to be a common suggestion but I am having trouble finding specific models other than Baldwin 65 & 75 series.

Two related questions:

How do you know what the needed flow rate is for your engine?

I am sticking with metric sized hose - do I need a filter with metric fittings?

Thanks,
Chad

 

[Neil]

I have a Separ Filter / separator on a 1017a with OM 352a engine

It works brilliantly but you need to carry a few spare filters as they can be hard to source.

You can wash them in petrol.

Neil

 

[Joe917]

Started out with a Parker Racor filter. Impossible to find replacement filters in South America, which can be a problem if you go through 3 in a week !
The Mann WK 1040 has a high flow rate so takes a while to plug and is readily available worldwide.
On a MB917AF OM366

 

[DiploStrat]

I just use a Baldwin. Of course I also have a boost/prime pump and that has a small Ford filter as well, so I have three filters in total.

 

[MogsAndDogs]

I have a Separ Filter / separator on a 1017a with OM 352a engine

It works brilliantly but you need to carry a few spare filters as they can be hard to source.

You can wash them in petrol.

Neil

Thank you! Good to know about sourcing filters.

View attachment 715996
Started out with a Parker Racor filter. Impossible to find replacement filters in South America, which can be a problem if you go through 3 in a week !
The Mann WK 1040 has a high flow rate so takes a while to plug and is readily available worldwide.
On a MB917AF OM366

Thanks! Sounds like Mann is the way to go. Now, are they readily available in the US? that is the real test...

I just use a Baldwin. Of course I also have a boost/prime pump and that has a small Ford filter as well, so I have three filters in total.

Another vote for Baldwin! I was worried those would be hard to find parts for outside of the US.

 

[NatersXJ6]

A good rule of thumb for industrial or construction diesels is 10 gallons per hour per 100 hp. Those engines run a long time at steady load. For a vehicle, I wouldn’t know how to size it, but considerably less than for a steady state load.

 

[Iain_U1250]

I run the simple CAV filters - very cheap, and you can get them anywhere here in Australia at least. HDF296 filters are 5 micron, and 45l/hour, which I find is enough for my 200hp OM352A. I see people fitting much larger filters where a replacement cost $100 or more here. I pay $10 for the HDF296 at the local spares shop, and can buy a pack of 10 for $70.

9960 Series Delphi Diesel Fuel Filter 4 Pack, 10 Pack, 50 Pack,100 Pack

This diesel fuel filter is the most common type of diesel fuel filter used on most common diesel engines around the world for trucks,tractors and marine engines.Supplied in packs of four or outer packs of 10 or 50 and 100 filters bulk pack. Prices are nett prices no further discount available.

www.uniclamp.com.au

That means I can change the often and not worry. We once got a tank full of diesel that was dodgy, blocked up the filter within about 20km of filling up. I was able to save the diesel by just transfering it across to the other tank through the filter, took two filters to get the whole lot transferred but $18 saved me 180l of diesel. It pulled out all the dirt and the water. I have a Facet pump upstream of the filter to help prime it, so makes bleeding the air out very easy. The glass bowl shows up any water contamination as well. I normally buy a pack of 10, and have them in the truck, so alway have them on hand just in case. I find that if the filter is blocked, then I start to loose power up the steep hills. The EGT gauge just drops and the truck feels sluggish. It take me about 10 minutes to swap a filter over, I have a small bucket I catch all the diesel in and bleeding is easy with the pump. I put the dirty diesel in the small jerry can I use for as a kick start for campfires. The old filter I seal up in a bag, leave it in the little bucket and throw it away at the next service station.

They should be available worldwide, there are lots of equivalent filters - about 275 according to the fuel filter cross reference website.

• CAV 296 replacement fuel filters
• BOSCH 1457434201
• BOSCH N4201
• CARQUEST 86166
• DONALDSON P556245
• Fram C1191A
• HENGST E75KD42
• HOFFER 4115
• LUBER-FINER L296F
• MAHLE KX23
• MANN P917
• MEAT-DORIA 4115
• TECFIL PC2/155
• WIX WF8018

This is what it looks like on my truck.

 

[MogsAndDogs]

I run the simple CAV filters - very cheap, and you can get them anywhere here in Australia at least. HDF296 filters are 5 micron, and 45l/hour, which I find is enough for my 200hp OM352A. I see people fitting much larger filters where a replacement cost $100 or more here. I pay $10 for the HDF296 at the local spares shop, and can buy a pack of 10 for $70.

9960 Series Delphi Diesel Fuel Filter 4 Pack, 10 Pack, 50 Pack,100 Pack

This diesel fuel filter is the most common type of diesel fuel filter used on most common diesel engines around the world for trucks,tractors and marine engines.Supplied in packs of four or outer packs of 10 or 50 and 100 filters bulk pack. Prices are nett prices no further discount available.

www.uniclamp.com.au

That means I can change the often and not worry. We once got a tank full of diesel that was dodgy, blocked up the filter within about 20km of filling up. I was able to save the diesel by just transfering it across to the other tank through the filter, took two filters to get the whole lot transferred but $18 saved me 180l of diesel. It pulled out all the dirt and the water. I have a Facet pump upstream of the filter to help prime it, so makes bleeding the air out very easy. The glass bowl shows up any water contamination as well. I normally buy a pack of 10, and have them in the truck, so alway have them on hand just in case. I find that if the filter is blocked, then I start to loose power up the steep hills. The EGT gauge just drops and the truck feels sluggish. It take me about 10 minutes to swap a filter over, I have a small bucket I catch all the diesel in and bleeding is easy with the pump. I put the dirty diesel in the small jerry can I use for as a kick start for campfires. The old filter I seal up in a bag, leave it in the little bucket and throw it away at the next service station.

They should be available worldwide, there are lots of equivalent filters - about 275 according to the fuel filter cross reference website.

• CAV 296 replacement fuel filters
• BOSCH 1457434201
• BOSCH N4201
• CARQUEST 86166
• DONALDSON P556245
• Fram C1191A
• HENGST E75KD42
• HOFFER 4115
• LUBER-FINER L296F
• MAHLE KX23
• MANN P917
• MEAT-DORIA 4115
• TECFIL PC2/155
• WIX WF8018

This is what it looks like on my truck.

That is quite helpful - thank you. I definitely like that price point. And I love the large amount of options.

I found a single here with what seems to be the larger glass area. I will do that now and eventually add a pump as you did.

 

[DiploStrat]

Three filters in a week would indicate the need for some dish towel prefiltering. That is only likely outside of North America/Europe.

In my case, the last filter is OEM - been replacing with each oil change, with all of the prefilters, now plan once a year.

The Baldwin with separator is supposed to be drained every six months and replaced? Once a year? Every two years?

The little Ford filter that came with the primer pump can probably be done with each oil change. They are small and cheap.

Bottom line, two years' worth of spares is not a lot to carry.

 

[MogsAndDogs]

Three filters in a week would indicate the need for some dish towel prefiltering. That is only likely outside of North America/Europe.

In my case, the last filter is OEM - been replacing with each oil change, with all of the prefilters, now plan once a year.

The Baldwin with separator is supposed to be drained every six months and replaced? Once a year? Every two years?

The little Ford filter that came with the primer pump can probably be done with each oil change. They are small and cheap.

Bottom line, two years' worth of spares is not a lot to carry.

Good to know, thanks. Do you think the OEM filters can be changed less frequently than manufacturer specs because the prefilter(s) catch most of the stuff?

 

[DiploStrat]

Good to know, thanks. Do you think the OEM filters can be changed less frequently than manufacturer specs because the prefilter(s) catch most of the stuff?

Certainly hope so! The OEM filter is the finest. The Baldwin is coarser, but its main function is to catch water. There should not be a lot arriving at the OEM filter.

In my case, the only real problem was the paper towels in the tank! The Howes ran their Chevrolet Duramax across 50+ countries with just the OEM filter. I like a prefilter to catch big crud.

 

[Iain_U1250]

You guys are pretty lucky up in the North, remote travel for you is about 100-200km from a town? It was one tank of dodgy diesel I got from a pretty remote town in the Outback, nearest other fuel was about 500km away.

I guess either the fuel truck has just delivered the fuel, and possibly stirred up all the crud at the bottom of the tank, or it was the dregs of their tank. I don't know if fuel stations have filters on them, but getting water and dirt in quite common here in Australia, especially during the wet season. If you are re-fueling from a jerry can, then getting some dirt in the tank is easy to do. I've seen a lot of the ex-Army unimogs with the black algae in their tanks, doesn't take much of that to block a filter, hence why I alway have about four or five filters and alway try not to fill up both tanks from the same fuel station.

I have a water separator/ filter funnel which I have used a few times when getting diesel from the dodgy looking places. I try not to get diesel from underground tanks out there if I can, especially in towns that have flooded a few months ago. When they start rolling out the scruffy looking 210lt drums and a hand pump, then I always use the filter funnel

Do I Have a Problem With “Algae” In My Diesel Fuel Tank? - Dieselcraft

Symptoms of algae in diesel fuel, How do you get rid of diesel algae?

dieselcraft.com

 

[MogsAndDogs]

Anyone use one of these? Fuel neck strainer.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Your engine ‘specs should indicate its fuel consumption at some given load.

Flow through the filter can be 2X consumption, or more, when return fuel is included.
Another vote for CAV filters.
I have one after each tank and before the Pollok valve and another after the valve, before the HP pump.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[Neil]

I run the simple CAV filters

Although I don't use CAV filters I have seen this brand for sale throughout South America and now here in Mexico so I think it would be a good choice as it appears to be pretty universal

Neil