Fuel Filter Advise/Opinion Wanted

[Gordon Gould]

I have owned a small Dresser TD7G dozer for a short time. I am still learning my way around it. It has a 239 cu in air asperated 4 cylinder desiel.
One of the daily maintenence items listed in the op manual is to open a petcock in the bottom of the fuel tank to clear water. This is not practical because it is hard to get at so I do it maybe once every 2 months. I don't get any visable water. I use Stanadyne in the fuel.
Anyway, I have noticed that there is no fuel filter element/bowl/screen between the tank and the lift pump. Just a fuel line, tank to pump. The only fuel filter is a spin on between the lift pump and the injection pump. And there is no water seperator but I assume the spin on will do this OK if changed regularly. Is that true?

I have never had fuel or water problems in my tractor so my fuel supply is probably good. But I wonder if this set up on the dozer is OK as it is or should I add a prefilter and/or water seperator somewhere? If so what is the best and easiest way to do it?
Thanks.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have owned a small Dresser TD7G dozer for a short time. I am still learning my way around it. It has a 239 cu in air asperated 4 cylinder desiel.
One of the daily maintenence items listed in the op manual is to open a petcock in the bottom of the fuel tank to clear water. This is not practical so I do it maybe once every 2 months. I don't get any visable water. I use Stanadyne in the fuel.
Anyway, I have noticed that there is no fuel filter element/bowl/screen between the tank and the lift pump. Just a fuel line, tank to pump. The only fuel filter is a spin on between the lift pump and the injection pump. And there is no water seperator but I assume the spin on will do this OK if changed regularly. Is that true?

I have never had fuel or water problems in my tractor so my fuel supply is probably good. But I wonder if this set up on the dozer is OK as it is or should I add a prefilter and/or water seperator somewhere? If so what is the best and easiestway to do it.
Thanks.

It sounds like you haven't had a water problem-yet! Contaminated diesel fuel is a real problem whenever it happens be it due to dirt or water. The filter will collect water but ther's no way to drain it off the filter shell and your machine's operating instruction say drain it at the tank out let which is't convenient so it doesn't get done often.

If it were me, and the installation was relatively easy, I would install a separate water separator between the tank and the fuel filter that was externally drainable. My NH has a water separator right after the tank and then the fuel goes to the lift pump and then to the filter and then to the injector pump. Both filters have drains. Another possibility is to find a replacment filter that has an external drain and use that instead of the one you have.

I had some contaminated fuel once and it was in the winter so it wasn't fun. But it's your $'s and your choice.

 

[Boeing]

Just an idea.....
If your drain petcock is difficult to get to why not add a tube, (rubber/plastic) from the tank draincock down to a place that IS easy to get to. Put a ball valve (cheap) on the end of this tube and leave your tank valve OPEN all the time. You can open your new ball valve daily as prescribed and drain any accumulated water without having to disassemble half the dozer. :thumbsup:

 

[leonz]

About your dozer,

You have been lucky so far But remember
that any water in the fuel willdamage the
injection pump.

I have a Racor 500FG diesel fuel filter that
I filter Kerosene with and it is worth every penny
to me as I never have to worry about crap in the
kerosene.

The FG model has centrifugal fuel filtration system
where the fuel is pulled through the filter by the fuel
pumping action and the dirt and water settle out to the
bottom of the fuel after it is spun through the vanes and
impacts the side of the ploycarbonate bowland drops to the
bottom of the bowl to allow you to drain it.


The clear polycarbonate bowl allows you to see the water
at the bottom of the bowl and drain it with valve in the
base of the bowl.

The 500FG filter also has a drop in filter cartridge that
swells up if any water escapes the drain bolw and the
filter swells up and stops the water from escaping the
fuel bowl.


The 500FG will filter thousands of gallons of fuel before
the drop in cartridge needs to be replaced
unless they swell up from water in the fuel and they
are not expensive to replace.


The initial purchase with the extra filters, transition
fittings and frieght was less than $300 and you can
purchase everything you need from from the Racor
dealer in your area.

We have quite a few posts here on the forum about the
Racor centrifugal filters for you to read if you like.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks for the comments.
Boeing, thats a good idea I hadn't thought of but I think I would feel better with a filter between the tank and the lift pump. I wasn't sure if I could put one there or if the pressure drop would be to much for the pump.
So if I installed this

Universal Inline 20 Micron Fuel Water Separator FS1212-UK

between the tank and lift pump I would be OK ??

Or would I be better off with this

http://www.drillspot.com/products/650588/baldwin_filters_65-w30_pipe_depressurizer_assembly

Thanks

gg

 

[Jerry/MT]

Thanks for the comments.
Boeing, thats a good idea I hadn't thought of but I think I would feel better with a filter between the tank and the lift pump. I wasn't sure if I could put one there or if the pressure drop would be to much for the pump.
So if I installed this

Universal Inline 20 Micron Fuel Water Separator FS1212-UK

between the tank and lift pump I would be OK ??

Or would I be better off with this

Baldwin Filters 65-W30 Diesel Fuel Filter/Water Separator

Thanks

gg

I don't think t makes much difference what you use just so you can easily install it and it's convenient to use. All these devices work. Having said that, the Baldwin unit looks like you can actually see if there is water in the unit to drain off. As I said in my previous post, my water separator is between the tank and the pump and since they are relatively coarse, the pressure drop would not expected to be high.