Ok just curious on the overall mindset of fellow owners on what they think about the new fuel filter although we have no real details on what has or hasn't been improved upon.

I'll just use up my last original filter due to the fact that I already have secondary filtration. If I didn't I would install one ASAP. Not sure if the new filter will be a cure all but it should contribute enough to help space out injector failures to where Bosch could hopefully catch up on production and shorten the customer wait. This may be the intention which is to buy a little more time while R&D is in progress.

Does anyone know for sure if this new fuel filter is rated at 2 micron. I get the feeling that they are just buying time and throwing darts.

I plan to buy one of the new filters in case I have to remove my MegaFilter for a vistit to the dealer in the event of an injector problem. My #4 injector currently runs a +5.2 mm balance rate in drive (hot). If I see any exceed 4 (park) or 6 (drive) I'll remove the Mega and install the new Racor and take it to the dealer. From the drawing of the new filter that was posted ealier, the new 2-stage filter most likely has better efficiency at 2-microns compared to the old one.

:)

Does anyone know for sure that this new filter is any better than the ones we are running now or is it just a way to get us to buy new filters and throw our old ones away?

I do think they discovered a week spot, if the filter is actually 2 micron it will help. I think the real issue is the pressures that are required in this generation of fuel injection. Until the material the injectors and valve surfaces are made from improve with subsequent developments.
Just an opinion!

No one as far as I know has opened one up yet to see what it truly looks like, let alone done a fuel sample with one on.

For myself, I'm due for a filter change and want to try out the new design as soon as I can get my hands on one. I've got my spare, but I'll keep that one for emergency purposes when travelling.

My guess is that it does filter better, but my guess still leans toward vacuum vs positive pressure(aka lift pump) and not using the 'full filter' and lubricity.

No one as far as I know has opened one up yet to see what it truly looks like, let alone done a fuel sample with one on.

For myself, I'm due for a filter change and want to try out the new design as soon as I can get my hands on one. I've got my spare, but I'll keep that one for emergency purposes when travelling.

My guess is that it does filter better, but my guess still leans toward vacuum vs positive pressure(aka lift pump) and not using the 'full filter' and lubricity.
I agree and hadn't brought up the lift pump lately because it becomes a sore subject from those who choose not to run one. Only those who run one can realize the true benefits. I also strongly believe there is more benefit within the fuel system than what we see. (media usage) Bringing a liquid beyond its vapor point in a hydraulic system is not good.

For those of us that weren't around, or didn't always read every post, why is a lift pump so much better? I don't always believe GM does things to make it easier, like a vacuum fuel pump. They sometimes delete things like lift pumps to save $$$. Please explain the lift pump and are you running one?

I don't see how a new improved filter will help. There's people here that run two filters now and still have problems.

I personally never put on a lift pump. I'm keeping her as stock as possible now until it's out of warranty. I'm no expert, but from what I've seen with my own cut open filters banding where most of the fuel flow goes.

What this tells me is that the filters aren't staying full when running. Almost seems that as soon as the fuel gets sucked through, some it gets sucked direct without having much flow time since I get the dark stripes all the way up but only 1/3 or so of my filter has darkened.

I honestly think a full filter will perform better than one that never reaches it's full capacity.

So what is the new part number of the new filter? Does the filter fit both LB7 and LLY?

I agree with Saguarokid. There are allot of guys running the 2 micron filters now both pre and post position of the original filter and they are still having injector problems, so I can't see how this new filter will solve the problem. Maybe I'm missing something here but what is the advantage of throwing away out present supply of spare filters just to buy a new one that has not been tested or proved to help yet?

I would like to see some of these new filters added to the fuel sample spread sheet created here at the diesel place. That will atleast tell us if the fuel is cleaner.

Will it help the injectors? Only time will tell.

I think GM is just trying to give it's customers what they want. Better filtering. They are also doing a little CYA.

What I really want is competent technicians and parts availabillaty. This leads to quick turn around times. That is what is really important.

I dont think its gonna be a huge improvement if at all.. and I doubt it will slow down failures. I bet more then half the trucks I have replaced injectors on were all running secondary filtration.. A good idea? Yes, a fix? No.

For myself, I'm due for a filter change and want to try out the new design as soon as I can get my hands on one. I've got my spare, but I'll keep that one for emergency purposes when travelling.

I'm in the same boat. Time to change and would like to go right to the new version ASAP.

It can't be said that secondary filtration doesn't help. Most here installed secondary filtration well after purchasing their truck so you can't expect secondary filtration to FIX previous wear (Before the install). IMO a thorough cleaning of the fuel has to help when shooting fuel through a tiny tip at 23000 Psi. I've seen all too many times where high efficiency filters became the fix on HP equipment metal wash out problems and from my experience in dealing with high pressure equipment we should benefits to some degree in our system. I can't say how much the benefit would be but it should be significant enough for cost justification. (There is no realistic way for the common user to measure) I'll stay on the side that secondary filtration does help. I've just seen too many similar applications benefit substantially. And at the very least it can't hurt.

In my opinion, with GM's recent extended warranty on injectors, why add the secondary filtration which may get the injector life just past the warranty deadline? I figure I'll take the risk that they'll fail with or without the extra filtration and know that I won't be keeping my truck any further than the extended warranty anyway.

Theres all kinds of "other" diesels out there, with no real injector issues. Doubt the filter is the weak link.

My thought.

Anything mechanical will eventually wear out and fail. It's a matter of providing the best possible conditions to maximize the life of the componet untill failure. Even if the big three were to come up with an injector that would withstand pressure extremes and abrasives better, I would still provide all the protection I can as long as I liked the vehicle.

I would NOT put on a secondary filter because I want the injectors to fail within the warranty time frame. A secondary filter could easy put off injector failure until after warranty was up. Then I would have to cover the huge expense of injector replacement. I say NO THANKS to spending money on a secondary filter. Now, I would have a different opinion if I just had new injectors installed and my warranty is up within the near future. Then I would want to do everything I could to save those new injectors.

GM clearly recognized that there was a design problem with their '01 and early '02 injectors and addressed the problem through an extended warranty that replaces all 8 injectors if one goes bad due to a materials failure ... I suspect that they are trying to address (stop-gap or other wise) the failure of their "new and improved" injectors with improved (no matter how slight) filtration ... really looking forward to reports from folks who test these new filters , will be interesting to see if there really is an improvement ... personally, with 3 of the old ones on hand and having a postOEM Mega, I am in no hurry to purchase one for my truck

Jim

Will these new filters be "replacing" the existing one? Or are the new ones an Option?