Which is better and why? if I put an adapter on my truck with a cat filter am I going to lose my water separation? Or is water always going to settle to the bottom?
4 micron AND 99% emulsified water removal. But the expen$e! Still worth the outlay, better particulate filtration/water removal and it lasts twice as many miles as the plain pleated filters.It’s a highly porous synthetic glass microfiber coalescing media, and unlike the typical pleated filter, with 90-95% of its volume being void, or open, it has a higher surface area available to hold more contaminants, yet it maintains a low pressure drop.
So which one are you saying is better? I bought mine with 40000k on it and the guy was using wix soon as I got the truck changed to racor. So hopefully the wins didn't let to much trash through even though my injectors are the quietest injectors iv every heard. I also run diesel clean in every tank or optilube xpd which by the way makes your injectors smooth and quiet sounding while picking up a 1.5 mpg increase in my truck. I also thought you wanted a DEmulsifier not a Emulsifier?Good topic.
LB7 launches and we’re amazed. Then filter $hock hit$ when it’s time for a new Air or Fuel filter. $50-$60, and neither lasts very long.
Before long, the ‘Injector Saga’ begin$ and we start focusing on the filtration and chasing the cau$e. But $50+ a pop for a filter vs $4k injectors? Hard to take when it’s only $15-$20 for a new Cat filter on the tractor, and twice the media size. The chase is on for an adapter.
Early 2009, the new acDelco filter solution launches. Hard to find, we (users) were educating the Dealer Parts on it’s existence and bulk orders followed;
4 micron AND 99% emulsified water removal. But the expen$e! Still worth the outlay, better particulate filtration/water removal and it lasts twice as many miles as the plain pleated filters.
Next we find the acDelco source is Racor and a new door opens to acquire the filter at almost half the price.
Wix (Napa) joins the Fram/Purolator crowd and ends it’s viability for a fuel filter as it changes it’s design and starts producing the inferior plastic filter which can bypass when clogged (defeats the filter purpose).
As the adapter chase progresses, now we’re down to two choices; Racor’s Coalescer filter or the Adapter to Cat/Donaldson.media.
Coalescer Pros;
99% emulsified water removal, 4 micron particulate, with virtually no pressure drop.
Coalescer Cons;
At $35, it’s still more than the Cat,
Debatable conflicting reports as to 2 or 4 micron, absolute or nominal, in it’s rating. We find both sourcing from Racor. Cat proponents have somehow latched onto data stating the Coalescer as 7 microns absolute, then nominal…no backup to this source, but it spreads.
Cat/Donaldson Pros;
A bit better particulate filtration (2-4 micron absolute), cheaper in price.
Cat/Donaldson Cons;
Initial adapter price,
Higher pressure drop, debatable adverse effects to CP3, shortening lifespan.
No water removal without addition of separator.
Adding a lift pump overcomes the pressure drop and CP3 strain, but adding to the conversion cost. Once past a certain tune level, it would’ve been added anyway, but far greater numbers of owners will never see those levels in their DD.
Even with the added separator, how does it measure up to emulsified water removal? Studies show this to be a greater threat than particulates smaller than 4 microns.
How many miles would you have to drive (using the cheaper media) to recoup the cost of the adapter and water separator?
As a fuel additive, yes. The Racor filter removes Emulsified water.....I also thought you wanted a DEmulsifier not a Emulsifier?
That’s the dilemma. One is better at particulate filtration, the other with Water (yet it’s micron limit isn’t shabby either). Which do you choose?I'm kind of lost on the post. Is the Cat better or Racor? You want the (best) absolute micron also right? Or is the Racor better since it displaces water? ‘cause I thought water was what you didn't want.
"Is there really any water to worry about in Diesel?"
Stock: Donaldson P550833 4 micron absolute Emulsified H2O Efficiency: 95 Percent
Adapter: Donaldson P553203 3 micron absolute Emulsified H2O Efficiency: 95 Percent
https://dynamic.donaldson.com/WebStore/search/cross_reference.html
Done!
...C20ELEPHANT said:
More to it than that, the Parker/Racor OEM filter is less expensive than the Donaldson.
Donaldson P550833 High Performance OEM Replacement Fuel Filter
Racor Fuel Filter (2001-Current Duramax) | DMAX Store
The testing of the 2 filters you posted the OEM one is tested under one additional standard, SAE J1488.
https://dynamic.donaldson.com/WebStore/search/item_detail.html?item=764605
https://dynamic.donaldson.com/WebStore/search/item_detail.html?item=760180
Most will use this filter
http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/maintenance/596921-new-fuel-filter-changes-3.html