Fram fuel filter and water seperator. Should I get it?

[napamikey]

While I was cruising craigslist I came across this for $20 bucks.  I found it on ebay for $180.  My question is how much superior should this be to my stock fuel filters on my 5a with an 8v-71?  The filters look to be roughly the same price as my AC/Delco ones so it is just the replacing of the housing and getting it to work.

It is a Fram FCS1133PLM
here is the link to the same item on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-FRAM-FUEL-WATER-SEPARATOR-HOUSING-FCS1133PLM-/110698567009?item=110698567009&vxp=mtr


What do you all think? Thanks for your input.

Mike

[Geoff]

You are not going to gain anything-- the Fram filters are equivalent to what you already have. 

[luvrbus]

I agree with Geoff if you upgrade do a Davco Fuel /Pro

good luck

[bevans6]

Your stock filters are a pre-strainer before and then a filter after the fuel pump.  They are insert type, not spin on (If they are still stock).  That filter/water separator would appear to replace only the actual filter on your bus, leaving the strainer before the fuel pump.  It lists for around $350, so $20 is cheap - cheap for just the heads and re-plumb them the way you want!  One thing you may not know about the spin on strainer/filter heads on the buses is that they have different thread sizes so you can't put the wrong filter on the wrong head, it won't fit.  So you may or may not actually be able to use these two heads as retro-fit to allow you to use a typical Detroit strainer/filter setup.

Hope this makes sense!

Brian

[TomC]

Replacing the primary fuel filter (the one between the fuel tank and the fuel pump) with a Davco is a great idea.  The advantage of the Davco's upside down design with transparent fuel bowl is that there is no question when the filter needs to be replaced, or if you have water present.  Detroit Diesel likes the Davco so much, Davco designed a special model just for the DD engines-the 482.
If you do replace the primary filter with the Davco Fuel/Water separator, that will leave the secondary filter (between the fuel pump and the engine) to maintain the fuel pressure switch for starter kill.  Good Luck, TomC

[napamikey]

So this is what i deducted from your input:

There will be no discernible difference between the two systems
If I were to change I should go to the Davco 482.

On a side note, I did not know I had a secondary filter between the pump and engine!  The one I'm looking at is between tank and pump which has two filters.  Something to dig around for the next time I get really greasy.

Now I have a few more questions:
Both of the systems are canister type filters, not spin on.
My current system has two filters, the "sock" and the filter.
The Fram system is similar.
It looks like wix makes filters for this enclosure: the first is 14 micron and the second is 10 micron. The Davco is 7 micron so is superior but I'm not going to spend many hundreds on that system.
]http://www.fleetfilter.com/filter/wix-fuel-filters/33134.html[url]
http://www.fleetfilter.com/filter/wix-fuel-filters/33133.html[/url]

The fram system also has drain holes, where the stock system does not, good to check for water.
Is 10 micron a good filtration? Is it better than the stock system?
I also like having the drain holes.

I'm just trying to find a positive reason to waste many hours of my time to change out the fuel filter enclosure

Thanks again.

[bevans6]

 I have a set of the insert type filters, came on the military engine.  they, and most other cannister type I've seen, actually do have a water tap on the bottom of each can, to drain out water.  Definitely one of the advantages of the old school filter setup.  If you have two fuel filters now, and you probably do, what you will probably find is that fuel comes into one (primary) goes up to the pump, and back to the secondary, then splits and goes to both cylinder heads, when you trace all the plumbing.  On my MC-5C the filter closest to you looking at the engine from the back is the primary, the one farther in is the secondary.

Brian

[luvrbus]

You can buy any spin on fuel filter from Wix and other manufactures that have a drain on the bottom you just have to ask for the filters tell the counter person you what a water separator in that number


good luck

[napamikey]

Brian~

Thanks for the heads up!  I thought the two filters were in line.  I guess OEM will have to do for now...

[TomC]

Mike- the Davco 482 is made for the Detroit DD engines.  You can use the less expensive 382-it is taller, but smaller in diameter which will make fitting easier.  The Davco is so good you could remove both filters, but then you would eliminate the fuel pressure switch.  With the Davco, the secondary fuel filter probably won't have to be replaced for a long time.  Just make sure to use a quality fuel filter like a Donaldson (who makes Detroits filters). Baldwins have been found to disintegrate over time-not good.  Good Luck, TomC