I installed a 2 micron filter and big line kit a while back and just wondering how often are you guys changing the filter? What about stock filter i was changing every oil change but perhaps i can let it go a little longer what do you think?

 

Sorry I can't answer your question, but I am also interested as my bigline kit + 2 micron kit just came in.

Was it a hard install to do by yourself? The kit only included one piece of tubing, so I suspect I'll have to cut into two pieces. Should I cut it exactly in half?

-Chris

 

I changed my stocker every oil change, just for knowing its changed well before it is dirty. With my 2 micron i'm probably going to change it every 10,000.

 

Think about your logic... You're putting on a finer filter to catch more crap that would flow right through a 7 micron filter.... assuming you are using the same amount of fuel, does it not make sense to change it more often?
I know there are engineers that are working oil filters which are .07 micron... yes that is not a typo .07 micron... but the issue he is having, is it has to be changed every 2,000 miles or it plugs and goes into bypass....I believe that the same logic applies, the finer the filter, the more frequent the change.
The only way this would not be true is if the finer filter has a great deal more filter surface (Larger size), then you might get away with same or extended schedules.
All said, clean fuel is one of the best ways to keep your motor running correctly, injectors healthy, etc. The labor to change is nothing, cheap insurance to keep your 50K truck running. JMHO

 

I agree. Seeing that my truck is an 06, and it only has 20,000 miles on it, i'm going to stretch it out a bit. That and yeah the Fleetguard FF5320 is a whole lot bigger than the stocker in the canister. I'm certain 10,000 will be fine. I've had my service truck for 6 months and it has 21,000 on it already. So that thing gets fuel filters quite a bit since I have to fill up everyday. That and it is a 6.4l Ford.

 

change my stocker every 10k, the 2 micron every 20k. if it was getting plugged up i would be loosing fuel pressure and im not so 20k here.

 

Don't cut it right in half. Install the fitting onto the bottom of the stock canister first with the whole length of hose still attached. Then cut that piece to fit. You'll have plenty left over for the remainder between the 2u filter to the CP3. Do it the same way and cut to length. I think I ended up with a good bit left over. If you just cut it in half one length may be too short and the other way too long.

Also before you make the final connection to the CP3 stick the open end of the line in a 2liter bottle and purge the line.

 

That makes sense. Did you happen to use any thread sealant (like permetex 14) on the fittings on the stock canister, cp3, and the two on the GDP filter housing? I'm just wondering if it is necessary.

Thanks,

Chris

 

Install of this kit was way easy cant remember but think i used thread sealent on the fittings just to be sure. Should be able to have this done in just over an hour

 

Do not use thread sealer on the fuel filter housing or the cp3 (they have sealing washers). The only place you shoud use it is at the 2 micron filter head, both sides of it.


Tim

 

I'll just thow this out there for all you scientists to discuss. The 2 mic filters I see are about twice as big as the OEM filter. The increase in surface filtering area should offset the finer filtration and allow you to maintain your service interval.

If you were using a 2 micron filter that had the same surface area as the OEM 7 micron filter, then I would say you need increase the frequency of filter changes.

 

same here.

 

This all depends on where the filter is mounted. I'm assuming most of you are using a "kit" and I can only guess that "kit" puts the 2micron filter between the stock filter and the pump. If you were only using 2 micron (no other filter) you could get by running that for at least 10k, but since your stock one is catching most of the big stuff I can't see why you couldn't go longer. My only worry with those Fleetguard filters is they're made of steel and will rust (Caterpillar filters are aluminum). There is a post about this very issue on here somewhere with pictures. If the filter is high in the engine compartment this probably isn't an issue but if it sees the weather it's going to die young. I bypassed my stock canister all together running 2 spin on filters (a 10micron i believe then a 2micron) they've been on for at least 15k and I'll probably change them at 20. I'm sure they could go WAY longer than that because they're the same filters we use on semis that burn more fuel than my pickup and we change them between 12 and 15k miles and even then the "fuel filter restriction gauge" barely moves.

For example
Semi: 15k miles @ ~6mpg=2500gal
Average pickup truck: 15k miles @ ~15mpg=1000gal

So unless your buying really dirty fuel they should last a long time.

 

leave the stock canister/filter put the mk3 kit on and put your guage inbetween the mk-2 and cp3. when the pressure goes down change the filter.

 

Ok, I run two of the CAT 1r-0749's. They are probably 5 times the surface filtering area of the stock filter, each. So should I go 50,000 miles before I change em'???

























Just kidding... I change them every 15k miles no matter what.....
Probably could extend that quite abit, but ya know about the cheap insurance thing....