Diesel pumps and filters

[6sunset6]

I have a MF loader hoe. Perkins 3 cylinder engine. I had a lot of trouble starting it last year , posted somewhere here probably MF.
Some how it gets huge slugs of air in it. I have had a lot of trouble with the lift pump. One guy I got a lift pump from told me he has fishing boat guys who change the lift pumps out every two years , regardless. It just stopped again. not much flow out the bleed screws. So I am fed up with the mechanical lift pump and got an electric one (diesel rated) . Spec on the mech pump is 6-10 psi, this electric one is 10-14. Should be ok the extra goes back to the tank, through the regular engine filter.
So here is my question and the reason it is posted here is that it is sort of generic. The electric pump instructions say it needs a filter ahead of it. So it is a suction filter.
I got a plastic fuel filter, gas , same hose size, 3/8, as the pump. It is a 20u filter.
I was going to use it and then decided Diesel has a higher viscosity than gas and 20 u is probably too fine for a suction filter. I found a Wix 33270 with has a mesh screen and is diesel rated.
That would be a better way to go I think. Anybody do something like this?
I think the mesh works out to 140u

 

[6sunset6]

Got it all installed Works perfect. I don't know what's with those mechanical pumps but hopefully this is a permanent fix. I have to do some more permanent plumbing but I have to pull the tank. It's full now so if
I do some work first then I can pull the tank. I guess I could pump it out. yuk.