Question on air filter and fuel filter

[coastalsqrl]

I started the maintenance on my C8.3 Cummins and 7.5 gen set. I ran into a couple issues I was hoping for help on. The coach is a 1994 Coachmen Destiny 38. Parts pics attached.

1. I located the air filter for the 8.3, but it's contained inside a large metal sealed tube. I think I found a replacement, called an ECOlite 124923000 for $167. Quite pricey for a filter. Does anyone know if it is needs replaced like a standard $30 filter, or is it a reusable/cleanable type? SOLVED: Found replacement for $122. Non-reusable

2. Replacing the fuel filter: The previous owner included an extra fuel filter, which is a Napa 3405. I ordered my own to be safe from cummins. They said my engine only had one filter, FS1251. When I got the FS1251, it's much smaller than the extra the owner provided. But when I looked at the current one installed, it's a FRAM PS6829, even larger than the NAPA. I'm assuming I should just order the FRAM that's currently on there since it seems to be working, but am not 100% sure. Also, I'm almost certain it would have 2 filters. Maybe the 1251 is the secondary filter, and cummins was confused?

3. Engine coolant: It seems it's recommended to change the filter every oil change. But I've gotten mixed info on the coolant. Some say you need to flush every time, but that can be quite expensive or time consuming. Is that necessary? What is the recommended coolant filter service procedure?

Thanks!

[gatorcq]

The air filter you have is the hole thing, you do not take it apart. I cannot answer for what type of filter you need, however this is what my ISL 425 takes:
Filters
https://www.usafilterstore.com/
NAPA
Oil-1361
Fuel-3386,
Air-6790

Oil
LF9009

Fuel
FF5636
FS1003

Air
FAR C62891 2
Napa 500116 - Wix WA10116, H-D Air Filter
$100.24

It is the chassis Mfg that installs the filter. Who is/was your chassis mfg? If still in business call them.

[coastalsqrl]

Thanks gatorcq. I found the air filter and updated the post. It's a Parker, and I found it online for $122 and $167. LF9009 is what I'm using for the oil filter. Thanks for the input!

[tom chelbana]

2nd fuel filter located above starter on passengers side. Smaller and hard to see and replace. Last Cummins seminar said they now recommending changing 2nd filter every other fuel filter change. Filled both fuel filters with clean diesel before installed them on our Spartan chassis with C series engine.

[Old Scout]

Pretty sure Cummins didn't go to the secondary fuel filter until circa 2005 with the advent of common rail injection and the Pegasus engine. Cummins also did away with the coolant filter on the engine at about the same time. Lots of opinions on forum but I change coolant/flush about every five years/50k miles. Key is to keep proper level of DCA in coolant if required, or whatever is needed with newer, extended -life OATS coolants. When DCA coolant was common--0-4 DCA units were provided in new filter when coolant was replaced.

[coastalsqrl]

Thanks tom chelbana and Old Scout. I will take another look in the manual and see if I can find anything definitive, and if not, take a look where you said. I'm in Miami, and plan on stopping at the first Speedco in south GA to have them look over everything just in case, but I still don't want anything to blow up before I get there. I've driven it about 150 miles so far without issue.

[1320Fastback]

Note that the Napa 3405 is a 12 micron filter, the FS1251 is a 20 micron filer and PS6829 is a 5 micron filter.

Cleaner fuel isn't a bad thing beyond what the manufacture recommends and most likely why the PO unsalted that filter.

[1320Fastback]

*unsalted should of been "installed".

Gotta love autocorrect and not prof reading while watching GoT!

[johnhicks]

Cummins designates FS as fuel/water filter/separator and FF as fuel filter.

My '93 6BT 5.9 has the FF mounted high up on the engine on the passenger side while the FS is attached to the frame towards the rear, again passenger side.

[coastalsqrl]

Thanks for the replies. I think the safest thing at this point is to use the same fuel filter that's on there, since it seems pretty old and is still working fine. So I ordered it and will try installing it this weekend.

As for the air filter, I'm still not confident on the exact reference number I found, and it takes a couple weeks to have made apparently. So hope it fits!

Thanks again,
cb

[Old Scout]

Think I would get the filter that meets Cummins spec.....and not the "one that is on there"..and who knows how well it is working???????

[coastalsqrl]

Hi Old Scout,
I agree that would be the best route. My frustration is that I gave cummins my engine serial number, and they said my only fuel filter is an FS1251, which is incorrect as far as I understand, as it's the tiny filter normally used as a secondary filter. I will try another cummins dealer today and see if they can give more accurate info before installing any of the 3 I've now been told are correct.
Thanks
cb

[coastalsqrl]

I spoke to another cummins dealer, and they said to use FS1251 also, and that it is the only filter on the engine, so I guess that's the one I'm going with. It's a fraction of the size of the one that's on there but I'll trust what cummins recommends. Still concerned that every other post I've found says the 1251 is for a secondary filter, but will update this weekend when I try to install.

[coastalsqrl]

To try to confirm before I screw anything up, I contacted another cummins dealer in Atlanta. They confirmed that based on the serial #, the FS1251 is the one that came on the engine. However, they said they would recommend using the PS6829/FS1242, since that is the one that's currently on there. They said that an alteration to the heads or something else could have been made, requiring the different filter, and that putting the FS1251 on would not be recommended. So who knows...