Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: bigfoot on September 23, 2018, 04:49:20 pm

Title: Filter changes
Post by: bigfoot on September 23, 2018, 04:49:20 pm
Getting all of my Oil/filters, coolant sysyem and water separators and anything I have missed changed. Changed 2 engine oil filters and one generator. Also changed one filter next to leveler rear divers side. Looked like transmission fluid. So now do I have to had trans fluid. Filter only held a small amount so don"t know if I should add since it was such a small amount so that is one thing I need advice on

Next up is the fuel filter 3528. Should I fill the filter before I put it back on or use the handpump? Don't want to get myself in a jam here and not be able to eng restarted

Next have a ? Regarding the coolant filter. Can I just change the filter and put new in place with no problem? The fuel filter that sets up on top of eng was changed by mechanic

So are there any filters or water separators that I have missed. Doing the best I can with the forums help. When I make these last updates I hope I am ready for AZ Trip leaving from McMinnville, Or to Sun City West AZ. Approx 1200 miles. New tires, good breaks, no propane leaks, steering seems solid and air pressure system good and all gauges seem to read appropriate. If I have missed anything please let me know
 I have not checked front wheel bearings so I have that to worry about.
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: John44 on September 23, 2018, 06:53:32 pm
Someone with your engine will chime in but are you sure the engine has 2 oil filters?If you put in what came out on the trans fluid you
should be good,check with your dipstick.Someone will also chime in about your coolant filter,check if you have a shutoff valve to
use while you change it.Did you change the oil or just filters?Do you have the books,some of this info is there.
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: bigfoot on September 23, 2018, 07:21:21 pm
Thanks John. Yep 2 oil filters on the 87 cat turbo. Side by side just off center on the passenger side. Was surprised myself. Changed the oil as well. Learning and hoping to tame this cat. Ha ha
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: Pamela & Mike on September 23, 2018, 07:38:12 pm
When we had the FT with a 3208 here is what I can recall 
Don't remember it having an external trans filter but that was long ago and haven't had one in the shop in a long time either.
As far as the fuel filter I put the filter on dry and used the hand pump.
The coolant filter is determined by what kind of antifreeze you have. If old school you will need to test to see how many SCA filter you will need.  If OAT you will need a blank.
The wheel bearings aren't nothing to loose a lot of sleep over. Unless you overtighten them and burn them up they are pretty robust.  Check them over, check end play, new oil, new center red plug and you are good to go.

Pamela & Mike
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: bigfoot on September 23, 2018, 08:21:17 pm
I am planning on replacing the coolant filter with the same number filter that is currently on the system. Hope the last gal or guy used the right one. Time will tell. Lol
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: red tractor on September 23, 2018, 08:24:53 pm
The only other filter would be the transmission filter that is inside the pan on the transmission. If the oil is bright red then probably does not need to be changed.
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: Bill Willett on September 23, 2018, 08:27:21 pm
If you are unsure of your engine filters, get your engine serial number and call Cat.
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: bigfoot on September 23, 2018, 09:10:35 pm
Good idea Bill. Thank you
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: Old phart phred on September 23, 2018, 09:25:15 pm
Differential oil level check, if there are any signs of leaks. Not hard to check if you can remove the plug. Just stick your finger in there and bend a nukle, if you detect oil your good. Buy an IR temperature gun about $30-40 and the 30 min. driving you can do a walk around shooting tire, axle, brake drum, engine, tranny, radiator etc temperatures. Takes about 5 minutes. As my confidence built i stretched the walk arounds an additional 15 minutes. I would have done the first one at 30 minutes, but i was still in LA proper. Did my first near Riverside where the shoulders we're wider. Now i do two hour walk arounds. Get a bath towel to stuff under the range cover. I drove home with a cooler and all gas appliances shut off. Babyed it for 2 hours until i got to Barstow. Topped the tanks and let her go strut her stuff.
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: Old phart phred on September 23, 2018, 09:34:15 pm
If you are unsure of your engine filters, get your engine serial number and call Cat.
Good luck with that, my serial number comes up non existent. May just be a typo on my paper documents. IDK.
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: bigfoot on September 23, 2018, 10:08:03 pm
Can n9t believe the little problems I am coming up with. I was trying to 7nscrew the water fuel separator looks fairly new. Cranked on it with a filter adapter and started to bent the filter and was making the filter attachment move. So moved the filter taker offer up toward the top of filter, same problem. Last guy must have really put it on, tight.

Put penetrating
 oil on top edge of filter and will try in morning. If that far not work guess I can run a large screw driver close to the top and twist it off.

Could take a touch and heat the top so it will expand. Bet that would work! Of course I am kidding. Sometimes a little levity helps
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: amos.harrison on September 24, 2018, 06:38:35 am
I like to put the fuel filter on dry but leave it slightly loose.  Use the hand pump until fuel starts to drip down the outside of the filter.  Tighten the filter and the engine should start right up.
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: Pamela & Mike on September 24, 2018, 07:50:20 am
Good luck with that, my serial number comes up non existent. May just be a typo on my paper documents. IDK.
Opp,

Did you compare the paperwork with the serial number that is on the engine it's self?  The one on the engine is the bible.

Mike
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: wolfe10 on September 24, 2018, 08:53:00 am
I am planning on replacing the coolant filter with the same number filter that is currently on the system. Hope the last gal or guy used the right one. Time will tell. Lol

That is often an INCORRECT ANSWER. This is the one place that replacing with the same filter can get you in trouble.

If you are using the old style coolant with SCA your coolant filter is both a filter and a means of adding SCA.  All filters "filter"  Additionally, filters come with units of SCA ranging from zero (filter blank) to 16 units.  Keeping the correct concentration of SCA is important.  So before determining the correct filter, YOU HAVE TO TEST THE COOLANT.

Coolant test strips are available at any shop that works on diesels.  They are easy to use-- dip in and compare colors.  The better ones test for: SCA concentration, freeze point and pH.
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on September 24, 2018, 10:22:26 am
I like to put the fuel filter on dry but leave it slightly loose.  Use the hand pump until fuel starts to drip down the outside of the filter.  Tighten the filter and the engine should start right up.
Yes, good to have a plastic bag or container and pump until there are no more bubbles. Then tighten 3/4 turn after filter touches housing. Many filters have instructions on the side and marks for each 1/4 all the way around. If they don't, you can use a felt tip marker to put the quarter marks on it.

Pierce
Title: Re: Filter changes
Post by: Dub on September 24, 2018, 01:05:49 pm
Beam alarm has the oil filter numbers for cat 3208.. I had the filter numbers but gave the folder to the new owner.