Fuel Filters One More Time

[obbm]

I have been reading about fuel filters on this forum for about two hours now. Did the promised $22 three connection filter ever appear? Are dealers stocking them? Only the Shadow knows.

The "fitting" to make the mod is here: http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=...0&CategoryCode=4051B

And here: http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+40008...49620+115+4294906509

And a lot of other easy to find places.

Today I made the required fitting for $1.98 from a 16mm x 1.5 mm drain plug bought from Advance Auto Parts (Parts America) and also bought the old type filter to go with it for $8.68, Purolator number F33144. I made the fitting on a metal lathe, a simple job, if you have a lathe and can use it.

[obbm]

I have been reading about fuel filters on this forum for about two hours now. Did the promised $22 three connection filter ever appear? Are dealers stocking them? Only the Shadow knows.

The "fitting" to make the mod is here: http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=...0&CategoryCode=4051B

And here: http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+40008...49620+115+4294906509

And a lot of other easy to find places.

Today I made the required fitting for $1.98 from a 16mm x 1.5 mm drain plug bought from Advance Auto Parts (Parts America) and also bought the old type filter to go with it for $8.68, Purolator number F33144. I made the fitting on a metal lathe, a simple job, if you have a lathe and can use it.

[FLYTYER]

Golly after all of the talk on this forum about the filter mod your post is interesting.

Can you post photo's of the part you bought at Advance Auto and the completed adapter, etc.??

[Davel]

obbm,
I ordered the fitting from Summit and it is aluminum, not stainless steel. They acknowledged their error and are shipping the correct SS part 2nd day delivery. The correct part costs about $13. The CS rep refunded my shipping and paid for shipping the correct part. He assured me they would fix the description in the catalog to reflect the correct material.

Dave

[obbm]

Dave,


Sorry if I contributed in some way to the error. Another source for the adapter us Russell Performance Products, and they might have it in several different materials. Some of the pictures show a gold or brass color, but I believe that may be due to the photography and they are actually made of steel or plated steel. I would consider aluminum useless, as it would be very difficult to weld to the steel "tee" part. My choice would be an ordinary steel alloy. If I were fitting stainless to the tee, I would probably braze or silver solder the joint. I am not sure if anyone has actually used a brass adapter.

I really like Summit Racing, for price, quality, and customer service.

[obbm]

Forgot to mention, I haven't figured out how to post pictures on this forum yet.

[DriVer]

I just wanted to add "substance" to this conversation in stating that any modification to the fuel system may compromise your warranty with Workhorse.

Please consider carefully the benefit of a DIY fuel system modified component aside from the immediate and transient benefit of reduced cost.

If the filter is replaced in line with the service interval recommendation the cost per mile for the filter is .005 cents. Compare this if you will to the estimated cost per mile for the fuel it has to filter over its lifetime.

A spare OEM filter is desirable to carry as part of your emergency kit if you feel that a kit is essential. I have replaced filters that still had acceptable flow rates and in that case I would keep the old filter as a spare.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

I have to agree with Driver on this one. As owners we have paid or are paying for a motorhome in the $85K to well over $100K, so why are some of us using homemade or sub-standard parts on them?

Is the reason the cost for a new factory fuel filter, or is it because we can't find the parts?

I'm not that concerned that it costs $50 to $60. But I couldn't get one locally either, so it was an easy chore to contact Brazel's and Mike shipped me a new one and I had it in two days.

Just my humble opinion.

[oemtech]

Let me see now... Both Bob and Mike have UltraPower and CAI, both could VOID the warranty if they had one. But, its thumbs down on a DIY with SUB STANDARD parts. It sounds like its ok if its custom made. So, you need to shell out $120 because of a proprietary part that is not available when needed assuming you are anywhere near a WSC.

Bottom line is if your read the WCC TSB that deals with items that could void your warranty, ANY mod (DIY or Custom) can void your warranty if it is PROVEN that the mod caused the failure.

If it wasn't for us DIY'ers many of the innovations and upgrades we enjoy wouldn't exist.

[Davel]

obbm,
No problem with your info, the Summit catalog was wrong and they are taking care of the problem very well.

oemtech,
I agree w/ you, it's my coach and it's out of warranty so I have no qualms about improving or changing those things that need it. Manufacturers have to meet several targets when they design a product, with cost always at or near the top of the list. For whatever reason it must have been cheaper, or easier, to design the fuel system the way they did rather than a permanent tee that used the older style and cheaper fuel filter. I understand that, but I too reserve the right to make it the way I want as well.

Dave

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Dale... I'm not concerned about DIY, I'm just like you, always looking for ways to improve and usually do. Not only the chassis but the coach itself. I'm just saying, in my opinion, I'm not so sure messing with the fuel delivery is such a good idea, just to save $50. You mention $120. That might be a different story, is that what you've found they cost?

As far as CAI, Ultra Power, etc. over time these items, in some cases, can save a lot of money and/or frustration with your moho's performance.

Likewise I agree with you regarding the warranty and as such could care less about it. Half the time you find out the warranty won't cover what you think it should anyway.

[oemtech]

Bob,

Using some common sense, a good design, good fabrication and good testing should be all that is needed to make changes to any part of a motor home.

I even built a test rig to check for leaks. I have pressurized a fuel filter to up to 90 psi(fuel rail is 62 psi max) for 3 days and checked it in a soap/water bath.

The bottom line is if I can make a adapter and tester for less than $50 retail there is no reason the WCC couldn't have done/do the same. I am sure that the engineers that did the design had their reasons. Also with the adapter installed you only open one fuel fitting to change it, not 3 if you use the Workhorse version.

As for the $120... The first time you change you need to buy 2, 1 to install and 1 as a spare. Why, because you know and I know that the Workhorse Service Center will not have one and I would suspect that you are setting on the side of the road from a bad load of gas.

As for removing a filter that still has a good flow rate. I think that's called good maintenance. You don't wait for it to break if you know that it is going to. Why do you change good coolant, spark plugs that GM says is good to 100k, change brake fluid, lube caliper pins etc?

Lastly, WCC say any mods to the exhaust system can void your warranty in their TSB. Yet, they sold a set of Banks made headers. I guess it is ok for them but not for me. Someone please expalin this to me.

[BellaBo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Lastly, WCC say any mods to the exhaust system can void your warranty in their TSB. Yet, they sold a set of Banks made headers. I guess it is ok for them but not for me. Someone please expalin this to me. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Dale.... It's called PROFIT!!!!!

[obbm]

In for a penny, in for a pound ----- re: PROFIT, my post on the Transynd v. Dexron thread shows in my area the Allison tranny filter can be bought from IHC for $11.20 in an Allison box, or the same filter (same logo, same color, same part number, even looks the same)can be bought at the Chevy garage reboxed in an oversize AC box for $45.00.

In line with the "you get what you pay for" everyone should ignore the $11.20 filter and buy the $45.00 one. "You get what you pay for" is only useful to the seller. If you get even a little bit of what you pay for, you are lucky.