Skip to main content
Topic: 2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage? (Read 501 times) previous topic - next topic

2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage?

During our return on our last trip we had a noticeable power drop in the 8.3.  Going through the fuel system prior to departure I picked up two fuel filters one for replacement and the second for a spare.  When I ran the numbers it turns out the tech who changed them had used a 2 micron WIX 33788 for the primary and a 14 micron for the on engine secondary.  I did not check the numbers when the work was done so I own it.  BUT I dont know these engines well enough to know what to check for that may have been damaged.  Anything I need to check for?

George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: 2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage?

Reply #1
George,

No damage at all.  It is just that the primary fuel filter caught everything and clogged up.

I would replace with the 14 in the correct primary location and a new 2 in the correct secondary location.

Yes, you might be able to move the 14, but a leaking gasket would probably not make it worth the effort.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: 2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage?

Reply #2
That is a relief...another lesson learned.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: 2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage?

Reply #3
George,

Diesel engines use the coarser of the filters for the primary filter with the secondary being the fine (2 micron) filter. The 14-16 micron primary filter rapidly turns into a much finer filter as it's the first filter to see diesel from the tank. The secondary filter traps the smaller particles that get though the primary filter. With the later common rail injection systems with their very high injection pressures, clean fuel is mandatory to avoid wear and damage to components with small clearances.

Good article here: Boating: When you have two fuel filters on your diesel engine, should they...

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: 2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage?

Reply #4
Diesel engines use the coarser of the filters for the primary filter with the secondary being the fine (2 micron) filter. The 14-16 micron primary filter rapidly turns into a much finer filter as it's the first filter to see diesel from the tank. The secondary filter traps the smaller particles that get though the primary filter. With the later common rail injection systems with their very high injection pressures, clean fuel is mandatory to avoid wear and damage to components with small clearances.
On the DD engines, ('93 to '95) are the filters both close to each other in the stern compartment, curbside?
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: 2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage?

Reply #5
Mike,

The primary filter is frame mounted at the rear on the passenger's side. Right behind that is the frame mounted hand pump. It generally gets little maintenance so replacement of the two "O" rings is a good idea. The bottom of the primary has a see through plastic cover with drain.

The secondary filter is on the driver's side mounted on the water pump housing just to the left of the pump.

The lift pump is engine driven and is pretty trouble free. To the right of the secondary filter.  It sends the fuel through the DDEC ECU to cool it before it goes into the cylinder heads.

The earlier 96" models with the rear (not side) radiator may have the secondary mounted in a different spot for access.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: 2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage?

Reply #6
Pierce thank you for the link to the article.  Interesting debate.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: 2 Micron fuel filter...collateral damage?

Reply #7

Love this from the article:

Quote
Many modern high pressure common rail diesels and even old Detroit Diesel 2-cycle engines pump over 100 gallons of fuel per hour, per engine, so they do a very respectable job of polishing the fuel by themselves.)

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X