packratc

My '92 D350 with 148K on it is new to me as I'm just putting the 3rd tank of fuel in it as the new owner. Due to inclement weather I took it to an old friend of mine and let his mechanic do the oil, filter, & grease job. I took him 3 gallons of 5-40 Rotellat and a Fram filter. I wanted him to check out the frontend pieces while on the rack as I knew there were problems. He came back into the office and said he added my oil, it checked low, so he added 2 more quartes & it checked good. My stock oil light has been slow about going out when started but I know the guages are not to be considered the gospel. This morning, after about 5 days of light driving, I checked the oil. It's about an inch above the full mark. At about 40 degrees it seemed thin but ddidn't smell of diesel. I think the thing smokes too much but the PO had tinkered with the pump and I really don't know where it is. All's I've done is turned back the smoke screw some & need to some more. Now I wonder if the overfill is adding to the smoke. My initial reaction is to go back and let him take out two quartes. I'm trying to get a baseline on my new toy & this doesn't help. Will it hurt to drive it as is? I'm going about 400 highway miles this week. Sorry for the long post.Would like some feedback and suggestions. Thank you all, packratc

bgilbert

The oil filter should hold one quart of oil. I'd remove it, dump it, reinstall, run the engine for a minute or two. Then once it's off and cool, remove the filter again, dump it, then pitch that POS Fram oil filter in the trash. Install a new Baldwin or Fleetguard oil filter. The factory fill is 3 gallons. So he is 2 quarts over and that is no good.

packratc

Thanks, Bill, for your reply. I know you don't like Fram filters. But, did the filter cause the false reading for the oil changer? Will it harm the engine to be 2 qts over full? Will it cause it to smoke? Do other folks dislike Fram filters for the Cummings and why? I've used them in gassers for years and have experienced no known problems. packratc

tech-eh

so have i used them in all sort's of engines /jets too whats up ??

DJ Turbo.

Story I heard was our engines have the capability to pull the paperish element out of the frame filter so not good and mine currently has a fram I have a new baldwin just run out of time to change it read up on baldwin and you'll see why they are one of the best!

packratc

Good story on the Fram filter. I would believe that on the air filter. The oil filter is subject to oil pressure. Seems like it can go from 15 lbs to 85 or 90 lbs. Is the inside of a Fram oil filter made of paper? I don't know. What are others made of by comparison? I bought a Baldwin today and am going to install it tomorrow but would still like to know the problem with using Frams in the Cummings. Thanks, Packratc

DJ Turbo.

What he said that link tells you what can happen where the filter element disinigrates and goes through the motor

NJTman

If you guys want to see what's inside of your filters...


Check this site out. They did all the "cuttin open" for you to view...

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil...reference.html

The element surface area, micron filtration capabilities and filter media materials are what's most important.

From what I understand, Fram is on the bottom end of quality. Go to this page, and read "filter's to avoid" at the bottom

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil.../opinions.html

Safe Bets ????

Fleetguard filters. LF3959 or the upgraded filter LF3894 which has the "stratophore" filter media..... whatever that is.......

Assume it's better !


http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/catalog/collectmanufacturer.do?reqCmd=AppLookupDetails&app BackFlag=1&appSearchBack=1&pageNum=1&yearText=1992 %20~%201992



T.

6speedcowboy

The problem that people have had with frame filters is that they have been know to come apart and pieces of the filter plug up the piston cooling nozzles

james1

My FSM says 13 quarts WITH a filter change

93flatbed

I will never run a fram filter on any one of my engines, be it a diesel or gas. I've read all kinds of good stuff about them, I've also read horror stories. My real world experience is all the engines I replace with the fram filter on them. I don't keep track anymore but I had a bunch of repair orders with notes for my records and the numbers of failed engines with the fram filter hanging on it was in the 70% area. Now most cars/trucks that have one of these filters have never been at my dealership, so I cannot testify to their service history but my experience is enough for me not to take the chance or being cheap and saving a few dollars.