I'm using a stock filter for my aux two tank HIH heated WVO system and it works great except for getting clogged at 500 miles. It has a dark film that can be scraped off the element - looks like very fine soot maybe??? I filter to 5 micron and settle before using and it is very clear before going in the tank. Blend is 25% diesel 75% wvo. Tank is new, no issues with crud in bottom; no water evident. Heat does not seem to be an issue because it will clog just as much when warm. Have a rebuilt Holley Blue lift pump; filters last about as long as they did on the old Facet pump.

I have two questions for the experts:
1) What type of filter are you using and how many miles do you get before it clogs?

2) Do you route back to the tank or recirculate the return after the pump and before the ip? I'd like to try this but have concerns about the pump receiving too much backpressure.

Spending $12 for 500 mi (35 gal) is still way cheaper than petro and the filter is easy to change but I'd still like to extend the life as much as possible.

Thanks for any tips.

VO filter life is a direct reflection of your filter process. I had the same problem on my 6.5 when I started. 400 miles on a filter and after tweaking 3000 miles. WHat people forget in filtering is the effeciency of there system. If you only get 85% of 5 mic particles then you have 15% left in the oil. When it was all said and done. I had 1 10 mic nominal, then 1, 10 mic absolute, then 1 mic nominal then 1 mic absolute. My effeciency after that was 99.6%. That is what got me to 3000 miles on a VO filter. Also settling for 1 week min up to 2 weeks is also key. Hope that clarifies

Wow, I thought my 5 micron filtering was becoming a chore- I can see I'm just starting. You must have the process down pat. Are you using sock or cartridge filters? Can you estimate the life of your prefilters? I'm wondering about the cost of 6 filters @ $13 ea (3000 mi vs 500 mi now) vs. the 4 layered filter cost to get the increased mileage.

Thanks for sharing your system with us.

I put a second 2 mic bio-filter on dispencing pump.Big difference.
www.benfordfueling.com.
cim-tek filters are made for bio-fuels,microglass filters do not swell like the standard paper elements do.
I also use one of these on the truck for my pre-filter.

10mic nominal undersink water filter string wound $2.00 Ebay Micron store
10mic absolute spin on Donaldson $12.00 Napa buy the case
1 mic nominal undersink water filter string wound $2.00 Ebay Micron Store
1 mic absolute bag filter $13.00 Filterbag.com

The string wound filters take the biggest hit and last about 150 gals (but they are the cheapest

10 Spin on lasts about 250 gals

1 bag filter lasts about 500 gals.

the key to longest filter life is 1 to 2 wks of settling and pumping off the top down to 6 to 8 in off the bottom of a 55 gal barrel. Also when you heat it up for filtering if you heat it above the max bottom that you will pump to the cold oil traps the particulate and convection does not stur up the bottom prolonging filter life. Also I have gauges on every filter so I know which one is plugging first and allows me to maximize my filters. Something else to condider is if you pass your VO through 3 nominal filters of the same mic is almost as good as through 1 absolute filter of the same mic, You will have to do the math to decide which is most econimical. Hope that helps

Real good advice guys. I found the biggest difference for me is settling. If you can get way ahead in your oil collecting, settle for a month or more. My oil is damn near clear to start with when I can settle it that long. Bashopper states this more clearly than myself and I agree with his method. I have also added the CAT 2 micron filter inline on my truck. It only costs $17 from any CAT dealer and it is huge. This would be the Nicktane Filter or equivalent. Money well spent.

500 miles on a filter doesn't seem bad. That's what I average unless I find some really clear/clean grease.
I like Racor marine filters with replaceable elements. The initial cost of the housing is high, but elements are only $7, and the crud can be cleaned off the elements and elements can be cleaned and reused a few times.

I see some people are rebranding the stainless cleanable Ultrafilter as a WVO filter on eBay. I'd love to adapt the housing and use one of these, except for teh $120ish price. It's a bit high to be experimenting on. Plus, they sell it as a 10 micron filter but the mfr lists it as 30. Iwould think if the mfr improved it to 30 they'd list it on their own web site.

On the other question- looped return- is anyone doing this? It appears popular with the Benz crowd- mostly because it keeps the oil hotter. In my case this would be an improvement because it would only have to pass the filter once, thus improving life. Is anyone doing this now?

If not, I'll be the guinea pig. I just have to clear up some pump issues before i go experimenting again. I've been through a Facet, a Carter, and now my Holley Blue is acting up - leaving me with air pockets after it has been bled. I'm adding in line heaters around the pump and will try the looped return after I get it fixed.

I didn't have much luck with rotary type pumps like the Holley & Carter.
Went with a Walbro plunger type pump and never had any more problems
http://www.autoperformanceengineering.com/html/6000_pump.html

Looks good, and the price isn't that bad - did you go with the 7 or 10 psi?

Walbro has come out with a new series of pumps called FRA, FRB, FRC, and FRD but I haven't heard anything about these yet. They are supposed to have up to 18,000 hours of life before failure.

I went with the Walbro 10 PSI

I'm using a stock filter for my aux two tank HIH heated WVO system and it works great except for getting clogged at 500 miles. It has a dark film that can be scraped off the element - looks like very fine soot maybe??? I filter to 5 micron and settle before using and it is very clear before going in the tank. Blend is 25% diesel 75% wvo. Tank is new, no issues with crud in bottom; no water evident. Heat does not seem to be an issue because it will clog just as much when warm. Have a rebuilt Holley Blue lift pump; filters last about as long as they did on the old Facet pump.

I have two questions for the experts:
1) What type of filter are you using and how many miles do you get before it clogs?

2) Do you route back to the tank or recirculate the return after the pump and before the ip? I'd like to try this but have concerns about the pump receiving too much backpressure.

Spending $12 for 500 mi (35 gal) is still way cheaper than petro and the filter is easy to change but I'd still like to extend the life as much as possible.

Thanks for any tips.


Ouch, I can't believe you guys only get one tank per filter. I thought 1600-2000 miles per filter was a bit much (stock filter). Are you sure you are filtering the oil before it goes in the tank? I had one filter that didn't seat properly in the OMNI-Filter housing that I could see junk going around the filter. I changed out that filter element and the rest appear to be working fine.


I do settle my WCO before thinning it. Average settle time is about a month plus. The tank bottom can be an ugly place especialy in the bulk holding tank.

Do you drive the truck everyday or does it sit for extended periods? Given the poor stability of WCO, having half a tank of fuel sitting around may cause some gumming.

Have you had any problems with waxing?

I had a bucket of WVO sitting in the garage with the paint mixer I was using to blend fuel with, after a week of sitting; I noticed that the mixer shaft had grown wax crystals. This was during the heat of summer (70-80F).

One other possibility is water contamination. Vegetable oil is supposed to be able to hold 1.5% (IIRC) water by volume and still look nice and clear. If you get into the creamy crap at the bottom of the tank who knows what that has in it. Cellulose likes water that may be the root cause of the filter swelling/clogging problems that seem to be pretty common. WCO when heated should not produce any volatiles until it gets up over 150C.

I’ve seen the goldenrod filters down at the TSC store (Tractor Supply Company) one of these days I’m going to get one, right after I pony up $300 for one of those 12 V, high speed, fuel rated transfer pumps, and an inlet grid heater, and second fuel tank, and a fuel tank heater, and…. Aw nuts I’m going to bed.

Al