i picked up a WIX fuel filter at the parts store and it is the 33960EX filter.
the 33960 is a paper media filter and
the 33960EX is a glass media filter, but there both rated at 4 microns as far as i can find.
is this right ? if so , why did i pay extra?? lol
i thought glass media was a better filter, like 1-2 microns, this is why i picked it up.
thanks

The media is thicker, and therefore the "XE" versions can typically be used for a longer period of time.

Curious as to where you got it (was it on the shelf) and what did it cost?

following

AMSOIL sells these too now. I can tell you they have it listed retail at 58.70. Must be good:)

ya i got it for $59 at the local Mid-west parts store.
any one know what the new GM filter is for filtering micron wise? i keep hearing 2 or 4 microns but can't find any info on it.
thanks

ya i got it for $59 at the local Mid-west parts store.
any one know what the new GM filter is for filtering micron wise? i keep hearing 2 or 4 microns but can't find any info on it.
thanks

4 microns is the Racor Coalescer filter.

We carry both the Wix 33960 and the Racor PFF50216. If you the customers want the Wix 33960 XE let us know and we will start carrying it. It is availble through or Wix supplier. It would be the same price as the Racor at 35.99

The micron ratings are essentially the same on all the filters in question, BUT, the glass media filters perform better with biofuels, AND, offer a longer service life, as the glass media offers a larger surface area in the same size package. The glass media also absorbs almost ALL water in the fuel better (the suspended water in the fuel that the glass media absorbs is called "coalesced" water, as it is chemically bonded to the diesel, as opposed to being simply stirred up or mixed into the diesel).

Biofuels carry a significantly higher concentration of coalesced water. Also, diesel with less or no Sulphur carries mor coalesced water than high sulphur content diesel.

The glass media, coalescing, elements are preferred to give longer service life and much better water protection. The OEM GM and the Racors had this technology first, and WIX now offers it. Gm now recommends the glass media filter in all the Dmax trucks, and they have phased out the older part number. I suspect that WIX will phase out the paper only filter shortly, which sucks for them as they just tooled up for it. But, they do offer the glass in the same housing. The 33960 and 339690EX are unique in that it's diameter is smaller, aiding in installation and removal, vs the OEM/ Racor filter.

http://www.launchrun.com/RacorCustomers/7717%20Rev%20A%20(PFF50216%20GM%20Duramax%20Diesel %20Fuel%20Filter).pdf




So, Cliff notes...........

All the Dmax filters offer excellent solid material (dirt) filtration, BUT, the glass media filters offer better water removal AND longer service life.


In the days of old, when injection pressures were lower, coalesced water in the fuel was less of an issue, but water is more abrasive than diesel, and ANY water will erode injector tips faster on high pressure systems.

I'd agree with everything except one concept ...

Glass media does not absorb water, at all. Full glass media filters do nothing to absorb water, as the media itself is not porous. (I am making a distinction between the concept of the media fibers themselves verus the media pattern, here).

Cellulose media (what is typical of most fuel and oil filters) is actually able to absorb moisture. Glass is not.

Glass media fitlers are very efficient and can be created with greater depth, thereby having a significantly long life span, moreso than with cellulose media. The "pattern" (for a lack of a better term) of the glass media is more uniform and can be controlled better. However, the media itself is similar to fiberglass (hence the term) and therefore it does not "hold" water. It can slow water down, but it cannot store water in it's actual media structure. Cellulose can.

Think of fiberglass insulation versus a paper towel and you'll understand. If you were to pour a gallon of water into fiberglass, you'd eventually get the whole gallon back out (I'm excluding the reality of some evaporation for the example). But cellulose will actually absorb and swell to hold the moisture. Glass can't as its fibers are not porous. Glass media cannot "wick" moisture uphill, but cellulose can. Touch the very tip of a papetowel into water and just watch!


However, most of the filters we're discussing (such as the "XE" Wix) are actually "glass enhanced" filters. They are a hybrid with both glass and cellulose. There are a couple different methods. One is to meld the two at the forming stages before the pleating. Another is to simply use two elements; one of glass, one of cellulose. Kind of the best of both worlds. If you look closely at the link heymccall put up, you can clearly see the differences in the illustration. The first line of moisture defense if simple gravity; the flow is slow enough to typically encourage the water to fall out of suspension and go to the bottom of the filter, towards the drain. Then, the glass media slows down what remains, and finally the cellulose filter can trap what is entrained.

Yeah - I'm nitpicking. But knowledge is power, as they say.

Thank you for the clarification. I certainly meant to say that the glass media filters prevent the passage of water better, not "absorb the water".

We use $30-50k of fuel a month here, and by now using glass media filters on my transfer tanks, water in the seperator bowls on the heavy equipment has dropped significantly, and the filters on the machines last tremendously longer. For a while there, I couldn't get fuel filters to last between oil changes, 'til I switched my transfer tank filters over.

Mind you, I'm running 30 or 50 micro glass media filters on the transfer tanks themselves.

As for micron ratings, there is no industry standard to measure it, so one brands 4 micron CAN filtrate differently than another brands 4 micron filter.

No problem; you're right from a layman's perspective. I just wanted people to understand the difference. Glass media promotes water removal by having it drop out; cellulose actually absorbs it from the fuel. Small but subtle distinction.

I really like that filter you posted up. Very nice construction and good concept. Best of both worlds.

wow thanks guys, this is what i was looking for!
i like the WIX so far, easy to change out, and its plastic, i don't put that many km's on my truck so if it were to sit for a couple days with any water inthe bottom of the metal filter , not to sure if it would cause rust, but just incase, plastic seems better as a case to me

Very interesting information. I run B100 biodiesel in my LBZ and several other VW TDIs and have been making biodiesel for over 5 years now. I've been using the standard WIX 33960 fuel filters but this glass media looks to be a real advantage especially when using biodiesel as it could aid in removing water. I've been wanting to try the newer "coalescing" filters and see if there would be any noticeable difference.