Is there any filter you can get to put before the lift pump so it's not forced to swallow and push through all the crap that ends up in the bottom of the tank?

i know my gas cars have a prefilter screen on the pumps to prevent such a thing.. by the looks of what i saw in the filter bowl.. there isn't any such thing on the 6.5..

-- WheatKing

TD might have a pre liftpump filter on his truck. There was a recent post about a cummins filter/water separator that could be adapted to a prefilter and the cost was ~$30 from dodge.

I have had a Racor pre liftpump for over 100K. I really beleive that is what made the lift pump last so long.





Greg

the tank pick up tube supposed to have a screen sock on it that stops the big pieces i guess.

Okay folks I'll throw this out but don't jump on it hard, this was discussed ad infinitum in the 6.6 forum, last year and got a bit heated at times.


My opinion is that GM's filtration is wholly inadequate and based on my experience with shipboard fuel systems and what I've pulled off the web and discussion with various filter mfrs, here is the approach I have taken.


Fuel from the pump isn't always the best it can be, water-biologic growth-and solids from being in ground tank for extended periods are what are possible from the fuel we buy.


You can mitigate the risk some by buying from a place that deals in volume of fuel such as truck stops, some of the better fueling stations have filters on the pump outlet. Condition of your own tank also plays into the contamination scheme, fuel treatments work biologics and also some water dispersion.


The factory fuel filter is a 10 micron filter element, which is according to Racor's web site is good for final fuel filtration of fuel from a known good fuel supply, unless you are buying fuel in bulk and treating & recirc filtering yourself at home, the fuel you buy is a crap shoot you hope you are getting good fuel for your money.


This bit me one day I had "new" fuel filt only 5 K on it but I was losing power on top end, swapped the filt and got power back, it was partially clogged evidently had gotten some bad fuel somewhere even though I only buy at reputable looking places.


Okay what to do about it, as I said went to some web sites and called the tech depts of several filter mfrs, plus been there done that experience feeding fuel to ship & helicopter jet fuel systems. All those systems had a tiered set up; coarse-med-fine fuel filtration, even the fuel manager all in one rigs coming out now take this approach.


Paraphrased from Racor's site 30 micron for primary filtration of fuel of unknown quality, 20 micron as a primary or secondary of fuel known to be of good quality, and 10 or less for final filtration of fuel know to be clean.


The screen on the tank pickup is only good for real solids, fine solids will pass thru(wipe your hand across a piece of rusted steel that red dust on your hand is a "chunk" to the fuel system), stick with me.


The factory system will stop it but it becomes a battle of for how long.


Just what is a micron in filtration, 1 micron =.000039", 40 micron is visible about diameter of a hair. In filtration an important part but not the only consideration of filtration; if you want more in depth info do a google search under micron rating; here is a good starting point http://www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/89-5R.html.


Got off track back to our truck, the fact filt will get everything bigger than 10 micron, but as it collects crud, that too becomes part of the filter media blocking flow, let it go long enough and performance suffers, or in worst case scenario a "hole" gets blown in the filter and raw unfiltered fuel goes straight to the IP/fuel nozzles.


Being on limited budget here is way I have done it; assuming I'm getting fair quality from the pump fuel I installed a Racor 660 (20)micron fuel filter on the frame rail prior to the lift pump, this is to get out the "chunks" in the fuel, it is also equipped with a aqua-bloc coating to keep out the water that might be entrained in the fuel, that I drain periodically via the bowl drain tap.


Some have gone with 445 which is good also, the 45 is gph designation, since I'm setting up for 300 Hp eventually I went with a 60gph rating, it is a larger body with better flow capability.


Flow or actually restriction of it is another consideration in filter choice, just because a filt is x micron rated does not mean it flows the same as another of same rating(nominal and absolute are another piece of the puzzle) more info to grab from

[QUOTE=Turbine Doc]


Okay folks I'll throw this out but don't jump on it hard, this was discussed ad infinitum in the 6.6 forum, last year and got a bit heated at times.


My opinion is that GM's filtration is wholly inadequate and based on my experience with shipboard fuel systems and what I've pulled off the web and discussion with various filter mfrs, here is the approach I have taken.


Fuel from the pump isn't always the best it can be, water-biologic growth-and solids from being in ground tank for extended periods are what are possible from the fuel we buy.


You can mitigate the risk some by buying from a place that deals in volume of fuel such as truck stops, some of the better fueling stations have filters on the pump outlet. Condition of your own tank also plays into the contamination scheme, fuel treatments work biologics and also some water dispersion.


The factory fuel filter is a 10 micron filter element, which is according to Racor's web site is good for final fuel filtration of fuel from a known good fuel supply, unless you are buying fuel in bulk and treating & recirc filtering yourself at home, the fuel you buy is a crap shoot you hope you are getting good fuel for your money.


This bit me one day I had "new" fuel filt only 5 K on it but I was losing power on top end, swapped the filt and got power back, it was partially clogged evidently had gotten some bad fuel somewhere even though I only buy at reputable looking places.


Okay what to do about it, as I said went to some web sites and called the tech depts of several filter mfrs, plus been there done that experience feeding fuel to ship & helicopter jet fuel systems. All those systems had a tiered set up; coarse-med-fine fuel filtration, even the fuel manager all in one rigs coming out now take this approach.


Paraphrased from Racor's site 30 micron for primary filtration of fuel of unknown quality, 20 micron as a primary or secondary of fuel known to be of good quality, and 10 or less for final filtration of fuel know to be clean.


The screen on the tank pickup is only good for real solids, fine solids will pass thru(wipe your hand across a piece of rusted steel that red dust on your hand is a "chunk" to the fuel system), stick with me.


The factory system will stop it but it becomes a battle of for how long.


Just what is a micron in filtration, 1 micron =.000039", 40 micron is visible about diameter of a hair. In filtration an important part but not the only consideration of filtration; if you want more in depth info do a google search under micron rating; here is a good starting point http://www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/89-5R.html.


Got off track back to our truck, the fact filt will get everything bigger than 10 micron, but as it collects crud, that too becomes part of the filter media blocking flow, let it go long enough and performance suffers, or in worst case scenario a "hole" gets blown in the filter and raw unfiltered fuel goes straight to the IP/fuel nozzles.


Being on limited budget here is way I have done it; assuming I'm getting fair quality from the pump fuel I installed a Racor 660 (20)micron fuel filter on the frame rail prior to the lift pump, this is to get out the "chunks" in the fuel, it is also equipped with a aqua-bloc coating to keep out the water that might be entrained in the fuel, that I drain periodically via the bowl drain tap.


Some have gone with 445 which is good also, the 45 is gph designation, since I'm setting up for 300 Hp eventually I went with a 60gph rating, it is a larger body with better flow capability.


Flow or actually restriction of it is another consideration in filter choice, just because a filt is x micron rated does not mean it flows the same as another of same rating(nominal and absolute are another piece of the puzzle) mo

Carey, my bad I typed 10 meant 5 even had that written down in my notes, Baldwin & Wix fuel filters have same 5 micron rating also, since winter is not a big deal here in MS opted out on bowl heater option since the General put one on the engine filter; it can be added later if I need to add it. I put a 3/8" tee on outlet of the filter and threaded the vac switch in one side of the tee. It is a racor part I'll have to scrounge up the numbers of the switch, or if you have time it's on Racor's web site look in the HD truck filter area.