So I'm a little new to the whole modification aspect of owning a vehicle at all. My father never believed in it...

So I'm looking at some upgrades in order to improve my engine/truck and its mileage over the many years I intend to own my vehicle.

What is the common rail system exactly? Could someone explain it to me and what systems were in place before the common rail was implemented.

-G

 

The common rail means all the injectors share the same fuel rail for delivery. And each injector is electrically fired, vs fuel pressure popping open the injector pintle as in the older mechanical injection systems. With the old pop injectors each injector had their own dedicated fuel line from the injector pump.

The GM Duramax was the first out with the common rail back in 2001, and the Cummins in 2003.

MikeyB

 

IMO, the first thing you should do is add a 2 micron spin on filter after your stock fuel filter and before your CP3 injection pump. This will help save your injectors from dirt/debris under high pressure.

The CR trucks have a tremendous amount of fuel pressure, like 20,000 psi or higher. It helps them make power but dirt etc. also makes them in turn "sandblast" themselves to death.

..

 

Ok, sounds like that makes sense. Got a website I could look into finding somethin like that?

Thx again.

-G

 

I run the airdog fuel pump it has spin on filters. Been happy with mine.

 

I recommend the GDP MK2+ kit with a Cat 1R-0750 filter.

Many of the aftermarket pump/filter systems can actually decrease your total filtration if you dont add filters or change the filters.

 

makes you wonder why the aftermarket doesnt tackle this issue once and for all?

 

Its pretty silly if you ask me.

 

Can you support that statement with some facts?
How does aftermarket systems (ie Airdog) DECREASE total filtration if you go from, say, a 4 micron filter to a 2 micron?

 

Good question. People say get a 2 micron filter but if you buy an aftermarket fuel pump with a 2 micron filter they say it won't filter good enough. Some people on here confuse me.

 

It's a rating issue.

There's a 2 micron nominal and 2 micron absolute. A 2 micron nominal is a like the drop in Baldwin PF7977 and other filters used on both FASS and Airdog IIRC. It's absolute rating would be @ 5 microns.

A 2 micron absolute is like the CAT 1R-0749 and 0750 fuel filter which would put it's nominal rating below 1 micron.

MikeyB

 

Hey Mikey, now you have me concerned. Are you saying that by going to the something like the Airdog that I have in fact DECREASED the filtering capability on my truck compared to the OE filter?
Do you know if there is is a CAT filter equivalent to the spin on Airdog that will give me a true ! micron.

 

Stan,

FASS and Airdog actually has better filtration than the stock Fleetguard filters and others, taking Baldwin out of the equation. The recommended stock Fleetguard has a 5 micron nominal, 7 micron absolute rating.

I don't know any spin-on for the FASS or Airdog that has the same specs as the CAT 1R series.

MikeyB

 

Sure thing...

Lets start with the OE requirements for filtration on the HPCR. 7um absolute filtration and 95% free and 95% emulsified water separation. Then lets look at what Bosch wants, 5um absolute with the same f/w sep.

So now for AD filters, both the little and big AD use the same filters.
Their f/w sep is a FS19768 its is rated at 140um absolute and 50% free water sep and 0% emulsifed water sep, at 20GPH.
Their final fuel filter (best one made) is a FF5613 it is only a fuel filter and is rated at 5um absolute and 2um at 94% at 60GPH.

So as you can see the FASS filters are not only underrated for the flow of the pumps, but only meet the OE spec for filtration, not f/w separation.

So now lets look at FASS. The 95 series filters are a FF5712 (may be a better one?) is a 10um absolute and 5um at 83% filter at 228 GPH. The f/w sep the same one, FS19768, used by AD.
The 150 series filters are a HF6604, a hydraulic filter, rated at 3um absolute and 1um at 95% at 40GPM. The f/w sep is a FS1023, 100um absolute and Fleetguard didn't ever test its f/w sep abilities... it has a drain and is designated FS, but has no specs on separation or flow.

So the FASS 95 series filters don't meet OE spec at all (I was unable to find a better one used than the FF5712 so if you know of one please let me know). The FASS 150 series filters meet the OE spec on the filtration side, and are great filtration specs, but the f/w side is unknown.

So know when you consider the Baldwin PF7977 is an OE replacement filter and is rated at 5um absolute and 2um nominal, with 98% free water sep and 95% emulsified water sep, at 60GPH the AD/FASS setups don't look as good do they. (this is the reason I have the filter setup you can see in my sig)

So better filters right.. Well the AD uses an oddball thread for the f/w sep and a final fuel filter. The final fuel filter is the best I could find in the Fleetguard catalog, and isn't bad at all.. Other than being rated at a much less flow than the pump can pump (especially the older style with the external return). For the f/w sep there are only 2 filters made by fleetguard that fit that thread/gasket pattern. The one I mentioned and the FS 19594. The FS19594 is a better filter, 20um at 96% and 90% free and 90% emulsified water sep, but still only at 20GPH.

For the FASS 95 series you have the same option as the AD for the f/w sep, and I honestly haven't looked for a better fuel filter. For the 150 series you don't have to worry about the final filtration and for the f/w sep they used a very common 1-14 thread size. Some something like a Baldwin BF1212 can be used, its 20um absolute and rated for 98% free water and 95% emulsified water sep, at 90GPH. The GPH isn't as high as I would like, but in a 1-14 thread size that's about all the flow rating you can get.. its better than 20 GPH.

For true 2um filtration you need to run the Cat 1R series or the Donaldson equivalent.

Hope that helps.. all that data came from emails/phone calls with Cat/Donaldson/Baldwin/Fleetguard. AD and FASS filter numbers were found by data posted by them in threads or on their website. I have made a point to make that data as accurate as possible and only used viable specs.

I will caveat that AD nor FASS have never received any reports of f/w issues.. but who knows, those specs scare me.

 

MikeyB and AH64ID, thanks for the edumakashun. Gee, just when something seemed simple for a change, like filters, you guys show me that there is nothing simple.
So, bottom line is that there are better filters on the market than OE, but my Airdog being better than OE will pass - barely. Right?