Radiator Coolant Filters

[Transit]

Are radiator coolant filters worth the effort? Reading through the documation and seeing the photos of the trapped crud they look impressive. The trapped crud is flakes of sand from the engine castings than were not flushed and some gasket material. I think the sand would keep circulating and do no harm but the larger chunks of gasket could block the radiator tubes.

Gano Auto Coolant Filter Company
Coolant Filters

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I think just changing the coolant and flushing should be good enough. The passages are all pretty good sized and won't get clogged unless the fluids aren't changed as often as they should be.
Your money should be spent on good filters for fuel and oil is my thoughts.

 

[ModMech]

There are some engines that most definately do benefit from external coolant filtration, most notable of all is the 6.0L (VT365) because of the oil cooler design which can plug with debris more easily than anyone would like.

Then of course, there is the pink elephant, how did that debris get in there? Honestly, poor maintenance practices by the owners or repair shops, not the factory. Few people take the care they really should to ENSURE they do not introduce debris into the cooling systems by using CLEAN funnels, CLEAN (filtered) drain coolant etc. Most operators and shops simply drain the coolant, make the repair(s) and pour all of the coolant, debris etc, back in thru a dirty funnel.

There are also TWO different types of "coolant filter"; a) Those intended for use on DIESEL engines with WET SLEEVE LINERS containing "DCA" or "SCA", both addatives to prevent liner pitting and b) Actual FILTERS designed to remove small particles from the coolining system.

I am a BIG believer in the addative type filters, "a" above and NOT of the filter types, "b" above. Why? THE thing that will most easily damage an engine in terms of the cooling system is not small amounts of debris in the system, it is overheating. Adding a filter to the engine adds a LOT of places for leaks due to loose clamps, hose abrasions, hose deterioration and corrosion due to dissimilar metals (AL, FE, Brass, Cu, etc). If the coolant gets low you will wreck the engine and the temp light often will not indicate a problem because they can't read air temp!

IMO, proper maintenance with quality fluids and filters performed in a clean environment in a workmanlike manner goes a LOT further than any add-ons or product substitutions ever could.

 

[Transit]

Now how much of a problem is residual sand leaching from the engine castings? Small amounts of sand will constantly "Sand blast" the cylinders, water pump vains and pump seals. Yes, taking pains not to contaminate the coolant in the first place is without question the way to go. Flushing the cooling system is easer said than done if the contaminants stay in suspention and are dumped with the coolant. If the contaminates settle to the bottom of the radiator it may be near imposable to flush them all out, and what about next week when more sand breaks lose from the engine?
Contaminants, sand, that have settled to the bottom of the radiator will circulate each time the thromistat valve opens from the surge of coolant.

I have been reading that over the road class 8 vehicles, busses, construction equipment use such filters, and these filters are a big hit with Mustang owners from the chit-chat on their forums. Read one blog where the filter cought slivers of wood?

Gano has a clear high temperature housing filter that allowes visual inspection for survice and you can see the coolant flow. I do not think the extra hose clamps will cause much of a problem.

Thanks for your point of view, keep them coming. :thumbsup:

 

[Skyco]

There are also TWO different types of "coolant filter"; a) Those intended for use on DIESEL engines with WET SLEEVE LINERS containing "DCA" or "SCA", both addatives to prevent liner pitting and b) Actual FILTERS designed to remove small particles from the coolining system.

Some diesels without liners also call for the additives- the 7.3L Powerstroke being a notable very common example
Don't know about the later Powerstrokes but they may also, I stay on top of it on my 7.3L since I'm shooting for 500,000 miles or more. I'm amazed at the number of Powerstroke owners I've met that haven't a clue about the additive needed...they never even read the manual

BTW some of the coolant filters do double duty, filter debris and meter the additive.