Question About Coolant Filters

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Question About Coolant Filters

January 17, 2016, 07:42:23 pm

While I was changing oil in my 1999 M-11 engine I noticed that the coolant filter installed on my engine is a WF-2071. Last spring I had my cooling system flushed and new coolant (ES Complete OAT) and filter installed, so the WF-2071 filter is what they used. The site indicates that my engine should use a WF-2123 filter. These two filters appear the same and are both "water" filters. I have not been able to find the technical difference between them, however, the 2123 filter apparently sells for over twice the price of the 2071.

My question, am I running an appropriate filter or is it somehow inferior?

Thanks, Richard

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #1 – January 17, 2016, 08:04:48 pm

It appears that your filter has additive in it to keep the oat type coolant concentration up to speed. I disagree with using this filter with a new coolant . I have just changed my coolant in May and used my original type filter that states no additive added. Your filter if you look it up states additive added. hope this helps.

Here are the specs for wf-2071

Chemical Additive DCA4+
• Overall Height 105.66 mm (4.16 in)
• Largest OD 93.73 mm (3.69 in)
• Thread Size 11/16-16 UN-2B

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #2 – January 17, 2016, 08:27:27 pm

With the OAT-based coolants, you absolutely need to use a filter "blank":

Fleetguard WF2077/ Wix 24070 "blank" filter

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #3 – January 17, 2016, 09:02:40 pm

IMHO if you switched to a long life OAT coolant you should use the WF2123 which is a higher quality filter that will last much longer. The other blanks are suitable but the replacement interval is much shorter.

EDIT: Actually now I question the wisdom of this choice. Those filters are very expensive and good for one year/150,000 miles. The cheaper filters are supposed to be changed with every oil change or up to 25,000 miles. If you change the oil once a year.... Well might as well use the cheaper water filter if you're not going to put 150,000 miles on the coach. I'll probably switch to WF2077 this year.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #4 – January 17, 2016, 10:10:48 pm

Thank you for your responses. I will switch to the WF2077 "blank" filter.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #5 – January 18, 2016, 08:03:49 am

FWIW, at the Grandvention one of the Cummins tech experts was asked about coolant filters. He stated that after a number of miles(left undefined) there was no value to a coolant filter-it is meant to catch block casting sand. He said you can keep changing them, or just turn the valve off at the filter.

Isn't the WF2123 spec'd for a three year change interval?

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #6 – January 18, 2016, 08:56:18 am

Brett,

In a perfect world, his advice may be just fine. Agree initial filter change is the most important. BUT coolant filters are not expensive and assuming there will never be a flake of rust, small piece break loose, dirt from coolant line replacement....... is just that, an assumption.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #7 – January 18, 2016, 09:33:57 am

Quote from: amos.harrison – January 18, 2016, 08:03:49 am

FWIW, at the Grandvention one of the Cummins tech experts was asked about coolant filters. He stated that after a number of miles(left undefined) there was no value to a coolant filter-it is meant to catch block casting sand. He said you can keep changing them, or just turn the valve off at the filter.

Isn't the WF2123 spec'd for a three year change interval?

Not in the PDF I just read. If it was, that would make it worth it. https://catalog.cumminsfiltration.com/pdfs/product_lit/americas_brochures/LT32599_07.pdf Top of page 9

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #8 – January 19, 2016, 09:35:14 am

Coach in for annual service today. I noticed the check list of things to do included the coolant system filter so it is a standard service consideration.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #9 – January 19, 2016, 10:00:59 am

Mike,

A CRITICAL issue that the tech is not likely to know-- do you have "regular low silicate for diesel with added SCA" coolant or the new generation OAT-based coolant.

They take totally different filters!!! With the low silicate, they will need to test SCA concentration (takes 2 minutes with test strips) and then determine what filter to use (how many units of SCA need to be added).

If OAT-based coolant, the filter HAS TO BE A FILTER BLANK (no SCA).

Brett

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #10 – January 19, 2016, 12:00:11 pm

Ah, great to question them on....thanks. I think it not the oat as each year we test strip but i better visit that with them

Do people change over to the oat based, discard the SCA? Brings to mind which to carry in coach...i carry the red but maybe that not pertinent?

Mike

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #11 – January 19, 2016, 12:05:13 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – January 19, 2016, 10:00:59 am

Mike,

A CRITICAL issue that the tech is not likely to know-- do you have "regular low silicate for diesel with added SCA" coolant or the new generation OAT-based coolant.

They take totally different filters!!! With the low silicate, they will need to test SCA concentration (takes 2 minutes with test strips) and then determine what filter to use (how many units of SCA need to be added).

If OAT-based coolant, the filter HAS TO BE A FILTER BLANK (no SCA).

Brett

Do you have any idea what was going on when this letter was sent to the original owner of my FT?

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #12 – January 19, 2016, 12:10:39 pm

Second letter about the EXTL coolant in my coach

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #13 – January 19, 2016, 12:23:58 pm

Quote from: craneman – January 19, 2016, 12:05:13 pm

Do you have any idea what was going on when this letter was sent to the original owner of my FT?

Not sure that letter is relevant. That was 16 year ago. Suspect if there was a formulation change required it would have been made starting back then (2000). This assumes your coolant is not 16 years old!

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #14 – January 19, 2016, 12:26:53 pm

Quote from: Michael & Jackie – January 19, 2016, 12:00:11 pm

Ah, great to question them on....thanks. I think it not the oat as each year we test strip but i better visit that with them

Do people change over to the oat based, discard the SCA? Brings to mind which to carry in coach...i carry the red but maybe that not pertinent?

Mike

Mike,

If the extra coolant you have is what is in the cooling system, read on it to determine what it is. If in doubt, post what it is. You could also pull out your invoice from when you last had it changed.

This is probably one of the most easily "done wrongs" in the service industry, as many times a tech just makes an assumption about what coolant you have in there. Sure wish color was an absolute determinant, but sadly there is no universal agreement on color/chemistry.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #15 – January 19, 2016, 12:47:09 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – January 19, 2016, 12:23:58 pm

Not sure that letter is relevant. That was 16 year ago. Suspect if there was a formulation change required it would have been made starting back then (2000). This assumes your coolant is not 16 years old!

Brett,

That is the big problem with the lack of records after 2005 maybe my coolant is 16 years old!
I have tried to find test strips for the OAT coolant, but don't know if that would help. There is a mention about an extender to use after 600,000 miles but it is not date related. I hate to change all the coolants in the engine, AH and generator if not necessary.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #16 – January 19, 2016, 12:58:00 pm

Brett, it was April 2012, new coolant and radiator, Red, 50/50-300K Extended Life, filter WF 2077 and that filter has been changed annually since then and coolant tested. Hope that right combination! Interesting discussion it seems. And vital if not thought much about a cooling system having a filter.

mike

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #17 – January 19, 2016, 01:04:31 pm

Mike,

I would go on the coolant manufacturer's website and see what they recommend as far as maintenance. "Red 50/50-300k" isn't enough to tell.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #18 – March 18, 2016, 12:20:04 pm

Sorry so long responding but other things were more urgent and yet this a priority. If dear reader you read back thru this thread you will see that I made comments about me using the "red" coolant and then Bret responded and I became concerned that I did not know as much as I thought, etc. So this is the update....

I carry "red" coolant, concentrated, as it is hard to find in rural spots. On the coolant fluid bottle it lists as compatible with the Cummins I have. And at MOT when we got coolant changed in 2011, they said to be sure to buy the red. Until Brett recent thread reply, I thought the red identified the coolant as SCA or OAT. ( I did confirm that I have the correct filter, blank.)

It turns out as Brett wrote that both of those are red. Ran this by MOT...which do I have because I fear I am adding the wrong red? (I have a bottle of SCA). MOT said I have the OAT, organic acid technology inhibited. So, I got a bottle of the OAT to carry now. However, I as I had added a little SCA on a trip, maybe a quart......that ruin the system to mix?

So...MOT understood my concern, said it was ok and then dug out a technical bulletin from Fleetguard. It states that the SCA and OAT are compatible with each other as well as the the various conventional and OAT coolants of other manufacturers. They do, by the way, check my coolant system wth the OAT strips.

I hope those with more in-depth knowledge of these coolants chime in to correct me if wrong so no one goes off in the wrong direction. And I was only addressing my adding about a quart of SCA to the OAT. It was not anything like just mixing up a batch of both! I would stay with one, for me.

By the way, Fleetguard wrote that with regard to the DCA2 coolant additive, SCA, the potential aggressiveness of it on lead solder and aluminum, they introduced DCA4. If I had the DCA2 additive, I would change but perhaps that has already been phased out? That a whole other subject though.

If you want the Tech Bulletin, I will see if I can scan it into the Forum

mike

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #19 – May 21, 2017, 03:25:03 pm

In process of changing to OAT coolant,am going to add some bars leak for preventive purposes,will be using a blank filter.
Will the filter interfer with the bars leak?Don't want to shut the filter valve off,I thought that would interfere with the air flo,any ideas?

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #20 – May 21, 2017, 05:43:35 pm

The filter shutoff valve is a bypass valve. Shouldn't bother water flow at all.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #21 – May 21, 2017, 05:49:20 pm

Just got thru flushing out 2nd time,put a filter on to get air out of thermostat housing,it worked,still getting green,will flush a few
more times.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #22 – May 21, 2017, 06:02:13 pm

My filter was clogged with crap when I flushed my coolant. I installed a blank and will change it again and see what else it caught. Im running Zerex extended life.

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #23 – June 29, 2017, 04:12:25 pm

RMI-25

Re: Question About Coolant Filters

Reply #24 – July 04, 2017, 10:42:46 am

RMI-25,used it,yes it cleans,it will not filter the debris out.Most of the blank filter makers have a big and a small size filter.The small
one is the size of the ones with the additives,the big one is a little longer.The older 8.3 engines have room for the larger filter.

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