<H1>Information on Revised Fuel Filter for the 6.6L Duramax Diesel #04-06-04-070 - (Oct 1, 2004)</H1>Information on the Revised Fuel Filter for the 6.6L Duramax Diesel


2001-2005 Chevrolet Silverado


2003-2005 Chevrolet Kodiak C4500/C5500


2001-2005 GMC Sierra


2003-2005 GMC TopKick C4500/C5500


with 6.6L Duramax™ Diesel Engine (VINs 1, 2 -- RPOs LB7, LLY)


A revised fuel filter is planned for release that will service all 2001-2005 vehicles with the 6.6L Duramax™ Diesel. Currently, there are two different fuel filters to service the 6.6L Duramax™ Diesel. One filter is used for 2001-2004 vehicles with the 6.6L RPO LB7, and the other filter is used for 2004-2005 vehicles with the 6.6L RPO LLY. The new filter will replace both the current LB7 and LLY filters.


The new filter is the same length as the current LB7 filter, which is approximately 3/4" (19 mm) shorter than the current LLY filter. The new filter can be identified by a ¼" (6 mm) wide black stripe around the circumference of the filter near the top edge. The shorter length of the new filter will not change the recommended fuel filter change interval of 15,000 miles, as recommended in the Owners Manual for both the LB7 and the LLY engines.


Proper fuel filter servicing and the use of clean diesel fuel that is free of water or contaminants is critical for the longevity of fuel system components of a modern direct injected diesel engine. Adherence to the fuel filter change interval of 15,000 miles will help to ensure that the Duramax™ fuel system will be protected from contaminants and the engine will continue to operate as designed. Purchasing fuel from a high volume fuel retailer increases the chances that the fuel is fresh and of good quality. General Motors does not recommend the use of fuel additives. Additional information on the use of fuel additives can be found in Corporate Bulletin Number 03-06-04-017. &nbsp ; &nbsp ; So what do ya think?

so basically they don't want to make 2 filters anymore so they're combining them... sounds like they are just eliminating the LLY filter and putting a black stripe on the LB7 one... i guess that extra 3/4" didn't justify the extra mfg. cost..


Thanks for the info.. i wonder if LLY filters will increase in value?

Sawz-all time! I wonder if there is a micron rating change too.





Mac

i doubt it as they didn't change the service life... i'm sure its just to cut manufacturing costs to make only 1 filter.. seemed kinda silly to me they made 2 when the only difference was 3/4" in length..

Maybe,


But if that was true why not just use the old lb7 filter on the lly's.I assume it would work if not than my idea is wrong.I think that maybe they are coming out with a superior filter to both that they are replacing.If I was GM I would do it this way so that the general public wouldn't know that they didn't have proper filtration from the start.If this helps with the fuel system problems the consumer wins, except for the possible increase in price of the filter.The last thing GM will say is we put the wrong filter on our trucks and admit fault.The easiest thing to do is to update the part with the fix incorporated in it.This way no consumer complaints after warranty expires for having defective parts that caused the problem.I am not picking on Gm because all the car companies do it.If a person is lucky you get the latest and the greatest before warranty expires great, if not you pay the pricehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif.Did you notice that the third paragraph is all about proper filter servicing and clean fuel,and it is also the longest paragraphhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif.Car companies are like DR's they "practice" on you with your money.

Car companies are like DR's they "practice" on you with your money.


Car companies are no different than any other engineering company. You engineer a product. Go into production and sell the product. As failure reports come in from the field (and trends develop), you implement product improvements. Every engineering company works this way. Some just implement this cycle faster than others.Edited by: OC_DMAX

OC_DMAX


I fully agree with what you say.The problem I see is that some companies appear to do a lot more R&amp;D before a product is released.The cost of R&amp;D is not cheap but can be passed on to the consumer in higher cost but with less recalls.Some of the Japanese companies have done this and charge a premium price and get it.Some companies are willing to accept a higher rate of failure from the field than others.This is not to blame engineers as they do as told.The heads of these companies look at failure rates,sales volumes,profits etc and make a decision.So long as people buy the product,sales increase, profit is made,little money as possible will be spent.I believe GM has a acceptable failure rate in their minds and the odd time there is problem of major significance as with the Dmax fuel injectors it is cheaper to jump in and increase the warranty to appease the masses than to spend the money on R&amp;D in the first place.The other thing they wouldn't be able to give a Duramax away if they didn't.Obviously this is only my opinion in my simplified way of expressing it.Don't get me wrong I still enjoy my truck and think it is "one" of the best to buy but GM could have made it better if they wanted to, and it would have been without question the best.I just would have been happier if I could have paid more up front for better quality,than to be a guinea pig and pay later.


Back on topichttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


I can't wait to see if there is a difference in the media between the filters.

nobull1,


I agree with the above 100%. A company that is really interested in keeping their customers completely satified would immediately redesign components found to have high rates of failure. I fault most American car manufactures for not doing this aggresively.


Example - the "clunking intermediate steering shaft" on the Silverado pickup trucks. The intermediate shaft clunked on my 2000 and 2002 Silverados. The intermediate steering shaft clunks on a relative's 2004 Silverado. GM has finally released an improved intermediate steering shaft. This problem should have been fixed in the 2000 production years so several million Silverado owners in the following years would not have to potentially suffer this problem.


The above example separates a "World Class" manufacturing company and just a manufacturing company.





Have a good one,


Alan

I am shocked to see 15k miles change intervals. I changed mine yesterday after 6500 miles and was FILTHY. It is interesting to read on here that some people are having some warranty work declined due to dirty fuel. Well if I were to have left that horrible filter on for even another 6500 miles, I would guess that my fuel would not have been very clean either. JMO.


Ben

I am shocked to see 15k miles change intervals. I changed mine yesterday after 6500 miles and was FILTHY. It is interesting to read on here that some people are having some warranty work declined due to dirty fuel. Well if I were to have left that horrible filter on for even another 6500 miles, I would guess that my fuel would not have been very clean either. JMO.


Ben

I'm not sure we can infer the consumption of the filter by the dark colored outside. Now no doubt the flow is somewhat restricted, but has it really stopped filtering? Don't know how to judge that.

As to the change of filter, the fact that they are going to a new filter on both the LB7 and LLY and marking with a distintive stripe leads me to think they are changing the inside of the filter. Otherwise they would just do a part number change on the LLY filter and be done with it.
Betcha that when the new part number comes out it is different than the LB7 part number.

Kinda shoots your filter adapter business in the foot, eh , Eric?

JimEdited by: jholly

I guess that even though it was filthy it may/not have been filtering well. I dont feel like taking that chance though. I am changing fuel stations so hopefully time will tell about their quality.


Ben

Yes it would be smart for GM to improve filtering capability but I
don't think that will solve the problem alone. What good will a smaller
micron filter do when we have already proven additional filtration does
not prevent injector failure.



GM/Bosch/Isueyou need to figure something out that will give the fuel
system more reliable service, whatever it is. They get the broken parts
back. They inspect them and make determinations. We get fked waiting
for them to retire and hand the problem off to the next generation of
engineers. At least with how long it takes GM to fix something that's
what it seems like.



Anybody with an 05 with bad injectors yet http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/throw%20up.gif

Yes it would be smart for GM to improve filtering capability but I
don't think that will solve the problem alone. What good will a smaller
micron filter do when we have already proven additional filtration does
not prevent injector failure.


So, Hoot, do the Dodges have injector problems? I don't cruise the Dodge pages. If not, then one has to ask do the Dodge boys buy better fuel, or should we all be fitting Dodge filters on our trucks? I'm not trying to be a smart-&lt;naugthty-word-deleted&gt;, but I'm really curious.

Jim

Right now.. no big injector problems but I do put myself in a similar concern.



I'm not spouting my injectors are better. I could lose one tommorrow.
So far the boards have not shown the Dodges to have an epidemic.



Ask away. We need to stay informed.

Yes it would be smart for GM to improve filtering capability but I don't think that will solve the problem alone. What good will a smaller micron filter do when we have already proven additional filtration does not prevent injector failure.



I think GM has a two fold problem one being injectors which we hope they have figured out,the other being filtration.Remember the mfg of the filter, Racor, came out with a additional filter for "extreme" usehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley24.gif for lack of a better word.This filter is being installed by GM dealers with GM approval.The problem is not everyone is buying one and GM wont give them away.This goes back to they would have to admit fault and that won't happen.So as I said before the easiest thing to do would be to upgrade the filter,charge more to pay for R&amp;D and add aditional life to the injectors.This is what is a win win for GM and a sort of win for the customer.If this doesn't turn out to be what they did than all what I said is blah blah blahhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif.But if I owned GM that is what I would do.This of course is based on the asumption that filtration is causing early failures even on the new injectors, and this info will never surface.So all we are doing is throwing answers at a perceived problem without the facts.

"Remember the mfg of the filter, Racor, came out with a additional filter for "extreme" use"



What's the part number on that one. I must have missed something.

"Remember the mfg of the filter, Racor, came out with a additional filter for "extreme" use"

What's the part number on that one. I must have missed something.



What do they consider extreme use? I think that driving in general is extreme use.

Ben

Well guy's I was too lazy to look up what it said about the filter when I first posted.The term "extreme" was probably not a good one to use in hindsite but I did say "for lack of a better word".So I had to go look up the Racor filter info I had and this is a quote
Dirt and water are practically unavoidable
in stored diesel fuel, causing
microbial growth, corrosive acids,
electrolysis, and rust. These contaminants
can plug filters, corrode
components, decrease efficient combustion,
and can cause engine shutdown
or system failure. You can
help combat these problems by installing
a Racor RK32313.
The RK32313 is useful for those pickup owners
interested in further protecting their investment
and who are suspicious of the quality of the fuel
that goes into their tank.

I guess "suspicious fuel quality " might have been a better thing to say.Which I think most people would think they had received at least a few times.

no part no...hm


kills my spacer thing huh? Good thing I only ordered a 100 of themhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif

This is basicly the Filter Kit that Greg http://www.lubespecialist.com/ is selling. The only difference is that he replaces the 10 Micron filter with a 2 micron. Here are the filter specs:


Specifications:

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="93%" align=left border=0 NOF="TE"><T>
<T>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE id=Table114 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=1><T>
<T>
<TR>
<TD width="49%">


Racor filter</TD>
<TD width="50%">
660R1210</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="49%">


Max Flow</TD>
<TD width="50%">
90 gph / 341 lph</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="49%">


Max psi / kPa</TD>
<TD width="50%">
30 psi / 207 kPa*</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="49%">


Element</TD>
<TD width="50%">
R60T</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="49%">


Drain</TD>
<TD width="50%">
Self venting</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="49%">


Heater</TD>
<TD width="50%">
12 VDC 200 watt</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="49%">


Water sensor</TD>
<TD width="50%">
Deash indicator</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="49%">


Filter guard</TD>
<TD width="50%">
RK32347</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=2>


* Installed on the vacuum side of the transfer pump</TD></TR></T></T></TABLE>


I also think he does the wiring harness as well. It is a nice kit, I have one &amp; it works well.


Bill</TD></TR></T></T></TABLE>Edited by: Redapple

Oh, I was thinking more on the line of a spin on OEM replacement.



I had a Racor secondary filter on my Dmax years ago. Many of us have
secondary filters for some time before Racor came up with that option.

Bottom line is I would still run two filters.......


I wish GM made a 2 or even a 1 micron filter.......I would like to have had a 5-10 micron pre filter and a 2 or 1 micron factory filter.


In any event I have my fuel filtered to 2 microns by the CAT Pre-OEM and my factory one is there for looks......


I am now pressurizing my fuel with a lift pump which should allow for optimum filter use......


So at 40K miles not a stumble or hiccup and all injectors have excellent balance rate and the idle is perfect.....


Best $250 I spent on secondary fuel filtration IMHO.


If I suspect injector issues I will replace both filters the day before I goto the dealer........let them try to find the problem then.....http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif





Thttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gifNY

Bottom line is I would still run two filters.......








Thttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gifNY





I agree 2 is better than one regardless of what GM does to the factory filter.

The only way to get tot he bottom of all of this is to get our hands on the new filter/part number and do some fuel sample testing. Similar to all of the testing that was conductucted early on. This will tell us if the new filter is any better.


I understand the importance of good filters and secondary filters. All of this recent GM talk about 1-4 micron sand and clean fuel goes a long way torward vendicating after market filters such as the CAT/MEGA and RACOR.


It still does not acoount for the vehicles that have multiple injector failures/ failures with secondary filtering and vehicles that brake all of the rules. NO filters, run the tank dry, low volume stations, no additives ect. ect.


I would hate to see GM skate, by playing the dirty fuel card. I am still taking the same old stance I always have, You desined the truck knowing the quality of the fuel being sold. GM is resposible. If they want me to have extra filtering, they should call me in and install one for free. BTW where did the lift pump go GM? Let's not forget about that.

Not right in line w/the topic, but ive never heard or came across where it said what micron the stock filter is...?

no part no...hm


kills my spacer thing huh? Good thing I only ordered a 100 of themhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif








Eric, Don't throw them spacers away just yet. Regardless of the new filter it would still make changing the element easier if it was moved away from the engine a bit. I would be more than glad to take one of those off your hands when you have them available.