All you experienced guys, I want to add a fuel filter to my Duramax. I am about to pay $3000 to get it out of the shop. Which one do you think is the best- easy to install, easy to drain water and replace element. Thanks

Jack
I'm getting ready to install Racor fuel filter kit
RK-32313. There is no fuel filter easy to install,drain & replace elements. They all require a little work. I checked most of the fuel filters out there and found this one is the best for me. I did like the Vormax Fuel filter but when I talked to the Co. they talked me out of there unit. So the RK-32313 will be installed on my
Duramax. I'm just waiting until I have about 7500 miles on it. Every one out there has his or her preference on which one is best. Keep looking on the Diesel Place and you will find other reports on a lot of different fuel filters. Just pick one out that is best for you. As they say two is better than one.Edited by: GMC-DMAX

Jack, the frame and engine mounted filters are very easy to change. There are several frame mounted to choose from. Greg Landuyt at Lube Specialist has several different kits. Later! Frank

I will be going with the Racor RK32313 kit. I think the frame mounted filter kits located near the fuel tank are more difficult for GM service techs and SM's to discover. Discovery could lead to warranty issues.


Question:


Is the OEM fuel filter heater always on with the ignition or is there a thermostat that controls it's operation during cold/warm weather?


Since the Racor RK32313 kit has a 200 watt fuel heater, I will be looking at ways to add some kind of thermostat so the heater will not be in operation during warmer weather. My truck also has one of those underpowered 105 amp alternators, so unnecessary power consumption is an issue. Does anyone else share the same concerns?

The OEM heater has a thermostat- comes on at I think 57 degrees. The diesel supplement book in your glove box talks about it.


Does the Racor filter separate water and where can you buy one. Been searching the internet but can't find one.

Jack,

Talk to Greg at Lube Specialists (he is in the registered vendor forum), or get with Oregon Fuel Injection. Both carry a Racor kit although I believe that Greg's is a bit better engineered than the Racor RK 32313. A friend of mine who is a jet turbine mechanic installed my RK 32313, and frankly without him I'd have been lost. I believe that Greg's kit provides the same thing, at a lower price, and is a cleaner install. Besides, Greg is a really great guy.

Mark

Jack,


I believe the heaters, both the Racor and the OEM, come on at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, IIRC...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


Greg offers the kit in various incarnations while Racor only comes in one flavor, with heater and WIF.


Greg's kit is $295.00 including the guard, but I don't think shipping is included. Oregon Fuel Injection is the only place I found the Racor kit. They charge $307.50 for the kit and the guard is $36.00, shipping is free on any purchase over $250.00.


As far as mounting is concerned, they both mount in the same place, the difference is in the flexible line material and where the cuts are made in the fuel line to install it, and Racor's guard is a more substantial one that Greg's. Greg says his wiring harness is cleaner, but since I've not seen one, I don't know exactly what that difference is.


I actually like Greg's flex line material better, and the kit is less money, but rumor has it that the Racor kit is or will be GM approved. That's still not confirmed however. On that basis I showed my Service Manager the Racor product bulletin and he said okay, but he's been difficult to work with so that's why I went with Racor. Greg provides a copy of the Racor bulletin with his kits which state that you should contact your Racor distributor or local GMC truck dealer for installation assistance.


OFI has been really good to deal with, and I ordered a few things from Greg the other day, I wouldn't hesitate to buy something from either one of them. The reasons I went with the Racor kit, is the service bulletin, the more extensive guard coverage, and the fact that the differences in the two installations could be determined if one wanted to look. That is strictly a concession to having a less than helpful Service Manager to deal with.Edited by: Zeeb

I don't want to be a big jerk here, but Jack didn't you post that GM is charging you because of water in the fuel?


Why will the after market Racor stop water any better than the factory Racor water separator? Is it made of different material?Edited by: Bronco

Bronco


I don't know if racor is better. That's what I'm trying to find out. Water is inevitable in any tank. Whenever there is condensation on the outside of the truck, there must be some inside too, especially in the humid area where I live. If water is so detrimental to these fuel systems, then someone has to find a way to stop it or GM needs to make a big change. I will not spend $ 3000 or more everytime I happen to get some water in my fuel. I like my truck and would like to keep it, but gotta make it cost effective for me.

Zeeb did you install yours yet?

Zeeb did you install yours yet?


Not yet. When I ordered the kit, the guards were backordered and so I just got the guard a couple of days ago.


That and I don't have access to a heated shop right now....http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif


We've had a cold snap around here lately as well, so I've not been too anxious to crawl under the truck and get diesel fuel on me while it's in the upper 20's to low 30's around here. Going to try and get it on next week, weather is supposed to be into the 50's then.

Jack, The Racor will remove water as well as the OEM, which is also Racor. However, you can't rely on them to do it all. You must open the drain now n then and you'll be way ahead of the game if you use an additive in the fuel. Doesn't seem like you should considering the cost of the truck but them's the facts!


Zeeb, suck it up man. I put my Racor in last weekend. The temp in my shop was a blistering 28 degrees. Warm enough that I didn't even turn on my lil space heater! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif

With all this talk about water, I wonder if anyone has ever thought of putting a dessicant cartridge on the system. Whenever we need super dry solvents, we just filter it through anhydrous sodium sulfate, and there it is. I am sure the engineering difficulties would be moderate, but I wonder if anybody has ever looked into that. Maybe George has seen/heard of a paper on it? Just a crazy thought.

I have seen posts on this forum from a couple of indivduals that said their dealers told them the reason for their mechanical troubles was water in the fuel. In both those cases they remarked that the OEM wif sensor apparently wasn't working, and gave them no warning. BTW, these guys had posted that warranty will not cover damage to engine from water in fuel.


That is the best argument for the Racor 32313 or Greg's Kit. At least with two wif sensors maybe one will be able to provide warning that water is in the fuel system.


Also, make sure your Racor 32313 kit is complete before starting your install, as mine was missing the water probe. I called Racor customer service and they shipped the part out the same day at no extra cost. I have an email quote of 253 bucks for the Racor 32313 from a large Racor dealer. Adding the skid plate price to that would make either the Racor, or Gregs kit about the same price.


Hoss

I can't imagine why with some assistance from a lawyer's boot, GM wouldn't pay for water damage on a motor when the WIF sensor not working, which should also be under warranty, is the problem that didn't give warning about the water. Particularly when the manual says only to drain the filter when the WIF light is on, not periodically as routine maintenance/inspection. They need to rewrite the manual if they aren't covering the warranty on the water damage. That's just not right.

Zeeb

Do you have a picture of the Racor rock guard? Does it wrap around 3 sides of the filter? Mine will be back from the powder coater this week. I made them longer so the will work with a 690 and has a radius put on all corners.

Greg

Greg,


No it doesn't wrap around three sides, but it does go lower with a bend in it to protect the wiring and WIF sensor. It wouldn't take much for you to add the material to yours, but it'd be a little more money.


I've not taken a pic of it, but I can do that if this one doesn't work:


http://www.o-f-i.com/sec/Racor_Fuel_Filter_Duramax.pdf


It's the Racor product bulletin and they've got pics of it installed. Let me know if you want me to take some additional pics for you.

Jeeb
Thanks for the pics of the guard. Mine are already made but its food for thought next time. Mine extends down past the filter about and inch so it should be fine.

Greg

I can't imagine why with some assistance from a lawyer's boot, GM wouldn't pay for water damage on a motor when the WIF sensor not working, which should also be under warranty, is the problem that didn't give warning about the water. Particularly when the manual says only to drain the filter when the WIF light is on, not periodically as routine maintenance/inspection. They need to rewrite the manual if they aren't covering the warranty on the water damage. That's just not right.


Well put! I do not understand why we always take it apon ourselves to fix GM's problems for them. I understand to an extent, but after a certain point it is Gm's burden!


Basically, performance modifications and attempts to get us past 100Kmiles should be our burden. Anything under 100Kmiles should always be GM's burden.Edited by: Bronco

Probably not a fashionable statement, but ONE heater/separator/filter that was easy to drain and change was that used on the 6.2 circa '87. I have no idea what the micron rating was, I just drained it whenever I suspected a fuel quality problem and changed it once a year for about $11. If it hadn't been for the body rot {oops, off topic}

From the tests I have run on "before & after" fuel/water separators, we have seen absolutely no difference in entrained water levels with any aftermarket water separator.
Sorry to share the bad news. Several folks are in the process of installing/testing a new setup which is "supposed" to centrafuge water very effectively; however, no real world test results on that setup at this point..
Thus, since there is no effective water separator on the market that I am aware of, one simply has to be very careful where you purchase your diesel fuel and always use an emulsifying fuel additive to prevent water build-up in the system.
George Morrison

George

Won't emulsified water be very difficult to remove even in a cetrafuge? Seems you would have to have a lot of retention time for it to happen. I think it will work very well on free water though.

Greg

Ditto George! I was on a carrier during the Vietnam war. I was in charge of all the ships diesels/fuel. We ran every gallon of diesel through a centrifuge before it went into the various diesel's tank. I think it would depend on the speed of the centrifuge on weather or not it would remove emulsified water. My best guess is that it will based on the fact that water is a lot heavier.


Are you guys buying your kits with the 2 micron element? Later! FrankEdited by: Frank Blum

Georgecls,


Have you tested the Caterpillar # 175-2949 Water Fuel Seperator. My brother in law has it in 3 different pieces of Cat equipment and he says it seems to work quite effectively, but thats in a Cat ( he does drain it biweekly and has seen some moisture on several different occasions). I was Planning on running this setup along with the Nicktane, but now you have me questioning it? Any comments or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks, Fran

Georgecls,


I have seen that Cat filter on Western Star big rigs too. I think it converts to a luber finer number lff-1000. I have found alot of water in both- seems like they at least catch some water.


George Morrison- What makes a filter actually catch water?. Seems like it has to take small drops and make them into big drops to fall to the bottom so they can be drained. Something has got to work. Maybe if we can figure it out we can get rich.


I used Delaval centrigugal purifiers in the Navy too. But they are a large piece of equipment the spins at very high RPM to get the water out. They work but would cost around $20k and would be something to put in your yard with 2 tanks- one with dirty fuel and one with clean fuel. Maybe the GM dealers could buy one and we could all buy our fuel from them.