Cat 2 micron fuel filter replacement schedule?

TornadoRed · March 7th, 2004, 23:30

I have seen the photos posted by Old Navy, showing a Cat 2 micron fuel filter cut open after 16k miles. He suggested that the filter should be good for at least 20k miles.

Sassyrel reported 30k miles on his filter.

My question, now that the Cat filter system I recieved a few weeks ago has been installed, is:

Assuming good quality #2 diesel fuel, how many miles should I go before replacing the filter?

From the Cat web site:
http://www.cat.com/services/shared/parts...el_filters.html
it says "Longer filter life (up to 250 hours)."

For me, 250 hours is only about 8000 miles. But I am only filtering about 200 gallons during those 250 hours, while the heavy-duty trucks that use this filter probably run about 2500 gallons during the same time-frame. (about 12.5 times as much fuel consumed)

I doubt that I can go 8000*12.5 miles, because that is 100,000 miles.

I know the replacement is only about $10-16, and it should only take about 10 minutes now that I know how to do it. I drive about 4k-5k miles per month, so this is only something I need to do 2 or 3 times per year. But, is it 2 times per year, or 3 times? Or is it only once per year, ie, 60k miles?

Clueless One · March 7th, 2004, 23:45

Each person and location is different. You might start out with 15K miles, and cut open the filter to see what condition it is in. Then extend that by 5k miles and do it again. At some point you will see where the filter is getting clogged up with dirt. The mileage at that point will then be the answer. Just to be on the safe side, why not start off with 20k?

TornadoRed · March 7th, 2004, 23:58

The production models of the Cat filter system have been in use in TDIs since last summer, the prototype models since 2002. So I am thinking, many people have more experience than I have, so why not tap into their knowledge? Or, if not empirical evidence, then theoretical analysis?

GeWilli · March 8th, 2004, 05:58

i installed mine at 150,000 miles... i'm at 187,000 now.

no problems yet... not sure how much longer I'm gonna go... I suppose I should take it apart and check it out sooner than later...

BUT

I know i have good fuel... and I fuel from a single source.

And I know from dissecting my OEM filters at 20k miles that they were in great shape at that mileage.... so i feel reasonably comfortable with the interval.

I'll probably take it out to 40-45k miles before changing it... afterall Ric didn't change his OEM filter in over 40k miles [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] "without problems" [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]: [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Drivbiwire · March 8th, 2004, 07:43

This filter is used on a truck comsuming 5 miles per gallon...This filter will probably last 40,000 miles in those applications. Ideally if you get 5 miles per gallon you may want to change it every 20,000 miles.

Now for a TDI that could mean as often as 40,000 miles or as high as 80,000 miles.

8,000 miles, you'd be wasting money.

DB

volmaniac · March 8th, 2004, 09:42

here is my $0.02 worth: my cat filter is only two weeks old but i think i will change it once a year since i drive about 25,000 miles per year. at 12 bucks a pop for the cat filter, the cost is $0.0005/mile. for comparison, oil changes with delvac 1 (about 35 bucks for oil & filter) at 10,000 miles cost $0.0035/mile (or 7 times the cost of the fuel filter). not much of a price for the extra piece of mind that comes with 2 micron removal imho.

dieseltwo · March 8th, 2004, 10:48

Changed my Cat filter at some 35,000 kilo meters due to hard starting in the dead of winter. At 35,000km was too long in. Was not getting the fuel due to the filter getting too dirty and beeing cold out. Had to crank longer then normal and then would start. Changed the filter and started wright up. Was useing only Sunoco Gold[mostly] or Shells Ultra diesel fuel with Amsoil diesel fuel additives. I will now change the Cat at 20 to 25,000 Km max in winter or summer. I am planing on installing small vaccum gauge to monitor the filter so as to get the max life out of it but also to avoid having problems starting or even stalling if too dirty the filter. Racor has a gauge to mount inside the car, will check out the price and what they do have for vaccum gauges. The pump will easily pull to 18 inches of vaccum, but starting and performace will suffer. Racor says their filters should be changed out at something like 6-7 inches of vaccum.[Dieseltwo]

debensey · March 8th, 2004, 13:08

That is very interesting. Please keep us posted on what you gauge tells you.

dieseltwo · March 8th, 2004, 14:37

Like I said, will check with Racor and see how much, so please bear with me as I have other things to buy like new struts and shocks. I will try and call my Racor supplier and get a price on what they have in the mean time. Would be nice to know. Have a good one.[Dieseltwo,Bradford,Ont..]

LanduytG · March 8th, 2004, 18:42

I never go by milage. I change it twice a year need it or not. Once in the spring and again at the beginning of winter. Of course I didn't do that on my TDI this because I want to see what the filter looks like with 20K miles on it. I will be replacing it this week and will have pics of the old one cut open.

Greg

Old Navy · March 8th, 2004, 20:25

There is an old saying in the USN "one ah sh*t, wipes out all ataboys", in other words all it would take is one dirty load of fuel to ruin your day.

When I came back from Impex GTG last year I bought $10 worth of fuel (just enough to get me home) at a small Shell station with repair bays. When I was a couple of miles down the road I started smoking like an old freight train, and by time I got home the whole back end of the NB was black instead of white. Next tank was B100 to clean it out, had to change the fuel filter due to loss of power. I bet the station was dumping old motor oil in the diesel tank.

jasonTDI · March 9th, 2004, 13:08

From another VW group I belong to.

"I've been discussing the fuel filter issue with some
coworkers, and we kind of came to the conclusion that
when it comes to the OEM fuel filter, if ain't broke,
don't fix it.

After some debate, we agreed that it is possible that
the Cat filter could flow easier than the OEM filter
when brand new if (and only if) the first surface area
that the fuel comes into contact with is sufficiently
large to offset the pore size. But, we also agreed
that the filter will stop more crud than the OEM
filter, so it has the potential to become "loaded"
faster than the OEM. The question that remains is,
how much "load" can it take before it's ability to
flow starts to become compromised? I'm not saying it
will stop flowing completely, but at some point it may
become more resistant to flow than the OEM filter.

There's a law of diminishing returns at work here
somewhere....how small is small enough? 10 micron?
5? 2? 1?....1/2? I'm going to assume that the VW
engineers have determined that the OEM filter that
comes with the engine is sufficient to protect the
injection pump for the amount of time specified in the
service schedule. I have no reason to think they
would recommend a filter that causes damage to the
pump. "

The damage to the pump question cames from "loading" of the filter due to the smaller filtration size.

What say thee? Just like some more input on this.

Personally, I am going to order one of these.

dieseltwo · March 9th, 2004, 14:05

Changing the CAT filter will depend on the diesel fuel that one is running throught it and the amount of dirt in our so called super diesel fuels. A CAT 2 micron filter is a whole lot better then our stock VW filters, there is no doubt about that and any one who thinks other wise had better read up on diesel fuel and the filtering of it. The only way to really tell when to change any fuel filter is by having a vaccum gauge installed, so as to tell you clean and dirty at idle and with pedal to the metal. In some cases you may even need a compound gauge, which Racor also has. I would rather change my Cat filter sooner then later and be out in the cold, trying to change it at some -20 below. Even in the summer who carries a vacumm pump with them and wants to get diesel fuel all over them, and lets face it, it will need changing at the worst of times and leaving it to long could also be very dangerous to ones health. So untill I get a compound gauge or vaccum gauge installed I will be changing sooner then later. 20,000KM TO 25,000KM for me, which is like about 12-15,000 miles. Each their own. You all have a good day now.[Dieseltwo,Bradford,Ont..]

TornadoRed · March 9th, 2004, 18:12

Much thanks to all the veterans who answered my question.

GeWilli: 40k miles using only high-quality fuel -- sounds good.

Drivbiwire: I never considered changing at 8k miles, only trying to analyze the "250 hours" interval from the Cat website. I was using an estimate of 6 mpg and 60 mph for a heavy-duty truck, to come up with the 2500 gallons of fuel consumed in 250 hours. Since I will consume 2500 gallons in 100k miles, that seems to be the high estimate for a change interval.

Dieseltwo: your problem with a clogged filter, during cold weather, may not be something those of us in Southern California need worry about. It sounds like your filter got clogged with gelled fuel, not impurities.

Old Navy: Your cautionary tale definitely applies to any fuel filter, including the Cat filter. Still not sure how long I will go before a scheduled filter change, but I understand how bad fuel can shorten a filter's life.

JasonTDI: I don't see how a filter that has reached its maximum crud capacity can harm the injection pump. I think you are correct when you ask:
[ QUOTE ]
how much "load" can it take before it's ability to flow starts to become compromised? I'm not saying it will stop flowing completely, but at some point it may become more resistant to flow than the OEM filter."

[/ QUOTE ]
Except I don't think it will become MORE resistant to flow than the OEM filter. I think both will become resistant at some unknown point.

I am pretty sure someone else will discover the maximum number of miles for the filter, before I do. I plan to use the experience of others when I make my own decision.

dieseltwo · March 10th, 2004, 10:50

TornadoRed: The fuel flow was cut off due dirt. My filter was pluged do to dirt. I use good additives for to stop fuel gelling. Your fuel down in Southern Cal is much cleaner fuel then our crap up here in the great white north. After removing the filter mount with the filter still on it, you could not draw much throught the outlet fitting of the unit, compared to when the filter was new.[Dieseltwo,Bradford,Ont..]