wolfe10
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 10/08/2000
View Profile
 Offline
|
Here is a copy of a post I put on the Yahoo Cat RV web site, following many questions about the correct fuel filter(S) and priming of the fuel filters on Freightliner chassis with the Caterpillar engine. With only the single fuel filter and NO primer pump supplied on some Freightliner chassis, the filter clogs much more quickly than on two filter installations and when they need replacement, priming the system is MUCH more difficult than on systems with a primer pump. For a very reasonable amount of money, this can be permenantly addressed. This will leave you with a 10 micron primary (first in line) filter/water separator and a 2 micron secondary fuel filter AND a primer pump.
To add an OE Caterpillar secondary fuel filter WITH PRIMER PUMP to a
3126 engine installation that came from a chassis builder with a
single filter and no primer pump the following parts are required.
The prices listed are over the counter retail-- local prices may
vary.
The primary filter (the one you already have) should be installed
between the fuel tank and transfer pump. The secondary filter (the
one you are adding) should be installed between the transfer pump
and the engine head (pressure side of fuel system).
Fuel hoses will need to be made, but most hydraulic shops have fuel
hose with the appropriate fittings or your Cat dealer can have them
made. This filter/primer can be mounted anywhere you want for easy
access to servicing.
This will allow the installation of both the primary and secondary
fuel filters DRY. Any diesel you pour in a filter is NOT filtered
and could contain particles larger than the 2 microns which can not
be seen by the eye, but could affect the injection system. And with
the primer pump, all you do is hand pump it until it becomes firm.
You have removed all the air from the fuel system so the engine will
start right up.
My recommendation would then be for a 10 micron primary filter/water
separator element along with the Caterpillar 2 micron secondary fuel
filter that you are adding. You will experience less filter clogs,
as the filtering duty is shared by two filters with the first
removing water and larger particles and the new one the small ones.
# 1 Fuel Filter 1R-0751 $10.28
#3 Fuel Filter Base 141-5138 $39.56
#3A Insert Fuel Filter 112-6523 $19.64
#10 Plug 9S-4182 $4.59
#5 O-ring for #10 6V-5048 $1.92
Primer Pump 105-2508 $65.87
Primer pump gasket 1P-0436 $0.85
Bolts for primer pump
Quantity 1 8C-6561 $0.22
Quantity 1 7X-2501 $0.12
Washers for primer pump
Quantity 1 8T-4205 $0.11
Quantity 1 8T-4224 $0.11
Total
$143.27
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
Caterpillar RV Engine Owner's Club: www.catrvclub.org
|
JohnnyT
Goshen New York
Moderator
Joined: 07/15/2003
View Profile
|
Great Information Brett, thanks for posting.
JohnnyT
|
Sully2
Cincinnati
Senior Member
Joined: 01/20/2003
View Profile
|
Cant info such as this be "saved" with a sticky of some sort...and listed maybe as "mechanicals"..or ??... That way a person with this sort of setup wont have to go and scrounge the internet for this type of info. Id sure think it would be helpful to somone??
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
|
Mopar
Hollis, Me.
Senior Member
Joined: 03/20/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Nice job with that post wolfe10 that should be standard install on all DPs.
Have a great day,
Jim
A happy Dutchstar owner ("Happiness Is")300 Cat/Freightliner
Jim & Mona
|
JohnnyT
Goshen New York
Moderator
Joined: 07/15/2003
View Profile
|
Good suggestion Sully2, I have it flagged to be placed in the Moderators Corner
|
|
|
smlranger
Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Good info. So, for a DP with one fuel filter/H2O separator mounted at the rear of the coach, can you just add the 2 micron filter and pump just after (downstream) the existing filter? It would be helpful to see a photo or drawing of the parts or of an existing installation? Also, with a rear radiator coach, do you run the risk of overheating if you mount another filter in front of the radiator?
2002 Winnebago Journey DL,36GD, 2004 Explorer 4WD toad. Blue Ox Aventa II, SMI Air Force One braking system.
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
|
bdpreece
Woodburn Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 05/27/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
This is excellent information but,it makes me wonder;
1. Did Cat remove the second filter to save cost?
2. Does having only one filter cause damage or create problems?
3 Has anyone considered a class action suit to force Cat to fix this problem.
Before purchasing my 2004 National Tropi Cal I had always heard that Cat was the only way to go. Now I am beginning to wonder if even though this was true in the past that now is not the time to purchase a Cat.
Brian & Loretta
Chance (Golden Retriever)
2004 National Tropi-Cal T396
2005 Suzuki XL-7 toad
We moved!! No more nasty neighbors, no more rotten parking. I am saving this picture just to remind myself how bad it was.
|
3huskies
White Mountains, NH USA
Full Member
Joined: 07/18/2003
View Profile
|
I called Caterpillar on this when I read it on the Cat Rv forum. Their response was that there are many of the 3126B&E motors on the road with just the one filter/separater without ever having any problems, mine included. Don't know how they know this but I always change it at 10,000 miles (fill it with filtered fuel first)and carry spare oil and fuel filters with me. It's still a good idea to add a second filter. One question I have is, if the primary filter clogs, what good is the secondary filter going to do.
|
Rex & Shirley
Bastrop, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 06/01/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
bdpreece wrote:This is excellent information but,it makes me wonder;
1. Did Cat remove the second filter to save cost?
2. Does having only one filter cause damage or create problems?
3 Has anyone considered a class action suit to force Cat to fix this problem.
Before purchasing my 2004 National Tropi Cal I had always heard that Cat was the only way to go. Now I am beginning to wonder if even though this was true in the past that now is not the time to purchase a Cat.
1. NO
2. NO
3. Why would it be Cat's fault that you bought crappy fuel? I would think the fuel vendor would be the one to sic the legal system on.
In the "old days" there were two filters because no one had invented a filter that could stop water and dirt at the same time. The primary filter was a water separator, it had a drain on the bottom, and the secondary was a dirt filter. Today we have one unit able to do both and many are equipped with a "Water in fuel" sensor to alert you to the problem.
MHs are a secondary business to Cat & Cummins. Class 8 trucks, all types of equipment and gen sets are the major buyers of diesel engines. If the same tech that works on these units that must go every day is on your MH I think that speaks for it's self.
I have been in fleet maintenance for 25 years and every time a change is made in the basics by mfg's. the howls of doubt will be heard for years. Best example is the change to multi viscosity oils rather than the old 30wt. There are still fleet managers that will not switch.
Rex & Shirley S.
4 big dogs in a
Gulf Stream FriendShip
|
Sully2
Cincinnati
Senior Member
Joined: 01/20/2003
View Profile
|
Rex & Shirley wrote:
1. NO
2. NO
3. Why would it be Cat's fault that you bought crappy fuel? I would think the fuel vendor would be the one to sic the legal system on.
In the "old days" there were two filters because no one had invented a filter that could stop water and dirt at the same time. The primary filter was a water separator, it had a drain on the bottom, and the secondary was a dirt filter. Today we have one unit able to do both and many are equipped with a "Water in fuel" sensor to alert you to the problem.
MHs are a secondary business to Cat & Cummins. Class 8 trucks, all types of equipment and gen sets are the major buyers of diesel engines. If the same tech that works on these units that must go every day is on your MH I think that speaks for it's self.
I have been in fleet maintenance for 25 years and every time a change is made in the basics by mfg's. the howls of doubt will be heard for years. Best example is the change to multi viscosity oils rather than the old 30wt. There are still fleet managers that will not switch.
Could it have been a Freightliner decision?? My rig has twin filters..and personally...if I owned a Cat powered rig that DIDNT...Id have it modified to accomodate twin filters.
|
|
|
