Community Forums

fastcat · 03-07-2013, 09:52 AM

My coach has the 8.9 Cummins. The recommended fuel filters are FS1003 and FF5488.

I just changed all the filters two days ago and got a good dousing by the FF5488 since it has to be removed from below.

The FS1003, which is the water separating filter, has a drain on the bottom, which made for a nice dry change-out.

Does anybody know if there's an internal difference that would prevent the FS1003 from working properly in place of the FF5488?

jd956jd956 · 03-07-2013, 10:31 AM

Very likely the micron ratings are different. Typically first filter captures large particles while the second captures significantly smaller particles.

jd956jd956 · 03-07-2013, 10:32 AM

IMHO it would be too risky to go with any filters other than those specified by Cummins.

fastcat · 03-07-2013, 11:12 AM

Yeah, I guess I'd have to agree.

Maybe I can come up with a solution to prevent the diesel bath next time.

I made a tool to punch a small hole in the bottom of the oil filter for draining. That worked well but the diesel will come out a lot faster and still run down my shirt sleeves.

William Willard · 03-07-2013, 12:50 PM

The thread sizes are different -- One is 3/4 & the other is 1/2 inch, so you won`t screw things up - Bill Willard

Barlow46 · 03-07-2013, 01:01 PM

Sounds like a money maker for a filter company to put a petcock on that filter also.

fastcat · 03-07-2013, 01:23 PM

I guess next time I'll put a plastic bag around the filter to catch the diesel. That probably isn't the best solution but it's cheap.

TheJeep · 03-07-2013, 01:41 PM

I loosened it from the bottom. Only 1/2 turn then I stretched from the bedroom access hole to avoid the diesel bath.

RVThere · 03-07-2013, 01:50 PM

When I changed them last year I had Bug512 (who I met on this forum) come over and he dealt with the diesel drip!

So your best solution is to have a friend do it!

Twomed · 03-07-2013, 03:33 PM

It is smaller micron filter. Diesel is good for you that's why they put the thing way up there.

I changed one for a guy that hadf our years old and bout 40K miles on the filter. H enever knew he had two filters...AND his rv dealer "tech" never knew either. :( :(

fastcat · 03-07-2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVThere

When I changed them last year I had Bug512 (who I met on this forum) come over and he dealt with the diesel drip!

So your best solution is to have a friend do it!

I'm already short on friends so I'm not sure that will work.

Wait a minute, I do have a young diesel mechanic friend that thrives on grime. Next time I'll call him. He's less than half my age and I can usually con him into most anything hard 'cause he thinks I'm "old" and decrepit.

He never drinks more than 1 beer in a day so it'll be pretty cheap.

Dutch Star Don · 03-07-2013, 11:54 PM

fastcat....an old mechanic's trick is to tie a rag around both wrists when changing something that drips from above.

nodine · 03-08-2013, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastcat

I'm already short on friends so I'm not sure that will work.

Wait a minute, I do have a young diesel mechanic friend that thrives on grime. Next time I'll call him. He's less than half my age and I can usually con him into most anything hard 'cause he thinks I'm "old" and decrepit.

He never drinks more than 1 beer in a day so it'll be pretty cheap.

My last bill at SpeedCo was $220. That included all Fleetguard filters, one oil, two fuel, 6 gallons of Rotella, grease all fittings, check diff, and coolant additive. They were nice folks and let me watch everything they did. Total time including waiting for the bay was less than an hour. With my bad back I hate to think about lugging 6 gallons of oil down to the recycle center.

Bob

fastcat · 03-08-2013, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodine

My last bill at SpeedCo was $220. That included all Fleetguard filters, one oil, two fuel, 6 gallons of Rotella, grease all fittings, check diff, and coolant additive. They were nice folks and let me watch everything they did. Total time including waiting for the bay was less than an hour. With my bad back I hate to think about lugging 6 gallons of oil down to the recycle center.

Bob

That might be a good option next time. I think there was over $200 just in supplies to do this job.

Factor in the $60 in fuel to get my coach to the nearest Speedco and it's still pretty tempting.