CAT Fuel & Oil Filter Upgrade

[alphadrex]

Hello Everyone,

I've heard of and seen pics on here of guys upgrading to the CAT fuel and oil filters, also heard of something called Nicktane. Where do you get the hardware to do this? Is there a kit available? Through whom? If nobody sells the kit, could someone provide me part #'s so I can complete this upgrade? Tried searching the forum posts, but can't find what I'm looking for. Thanks for your help all.

alphadrex

 

[swapmeat]

If you goggle nicktane you find his website selling the head and misc cat filter for it

 

[BlankThis]

I couldn't justify the price of the Nicktane fuel filter kit. I picked up one of these : http://www.fleetfilter.com/filter/wix-filter-bases/24770.html, a CAT 1R7050 2 micron filter for $20 from my local CAT parts supplier, two brass 5/16 Hose x 1/2" NPT, and a 5/16 barb coupler.

Not as pretty as the Nicktane kit and more leg work to put together but I'm happy. Here's a shot of it installed. I had to trim 3" inches off the inbound fuel line to the filter head as it would kink otherwise.

 

[alphadrex]

Sounds good for the fuel filter kit, how about the oil filter kit? I read somewhere that dieselgeek made one, but can't find it there.

alphadrex

 

[TDIMeister]

I have not heard of a CAT oil filter kit for our cars but be that as it may, the OE system is very capable and convenient with the top side replacement on your 2003. There's no downside to the OE filtration system using OEM/Mann/Mahle filters. You might be talking about a bypass filtration system that's sold by any number of vendors that augments, not replaces, the OE filter. These might come in useful if you intend to do extremely extended oil change intervals, which is anyway not recommended without careful oil analysis monitoring.

 

[mountain lion]

I just installed my nicktane kit with the cat 2 micron filter. The guide and standard install for this is to replace the oem filter, thermo-T, and filter housing. I chose to go a little more custom as I wanted to retain the thermo-t and water trap on the oem filter despite never seeing any water collected in 150k miles of driving).

My factory fuel lines being 10 years old w/ 220k on them were starting to show their age as well with some drying out and minor surface cracking in the rubber. The molded replacement hoses are expensive to replace, so I purchased some fuel line locally made by Gates. I used the 5/16 Barricade MPI fuel injection line (part # 27340) rated for all fuels including bio diesel. It's about $4.50 a foot and I ended up using about 6 feet to replace all the lines as well as put the cat filter inline. O'reilly and Napa carries it.

I modified the mounting bracket included in the kit by putting it in a bench vice and turning the 90 degree bend up so it was one vertical piece and then cleaning it up and painting it again. Had to bend it just right so that when the filter is attached, it doesn't touch surrounding parts in the engine bay. Matched a drill bit up to the holes in the bracket and put two small holes in the front of the body by the radiator. There is enough clearance around all parts so that it does not touch anything else in the area.

Took much longer to install and get setup than just replacing the oem filter, but it turned out clean and is easily removable. Keep in mind I have lift pump and PD, no worries on my end about air in the system from the thermo-t and stuff.

 

[alphadrex]

Looks like a very slick setup there Mountain Lion. From the pic it looks like your lower hose clamp may be rubbing the alternator though. I have an ALH and I have a lift pump coming for it, but I have to see if there's enough room to run your setup as keeping the Thermostatic T and Water Drain seem to be a good idea.
I don't think there have been any reports of it, but I'm a little concerned about freeze ups for me if I just replace the stock filter with the nicktane kit. We had almost -40C all last week. If I retained the stock w/ water drain, I may well reduce the chances of fuel gelling in the CAT filter. Gotta do some planning here.

alphadrex

 

[yatzee]

a simple question - why? If it's because you're itching to mod something, then I totally understand and support you 100%

A coolant heater would make a lot more sense at -40. If you're running proper fuel up there, you won't have gelling issues. If you're still concerned, run an additive (which I also don't think the car needs)

 

[alphadrex]

a simple question - why? If it's because you're itching to mod something, then I totally understand and support you 100%

A coolant heater would make a lot more sense at -40. If you're running proper fuel up there, you won't have gelling issues. If you're still concerned, run an additive (which I also don't think the car needs)

Actually, I'm planning nozzles, turbo, and tune in the new year, but I'm building the base first with all the supporting mods. I want to be running the cleanest fuel possible for my upgrades. Plus no matter where you get fuel here, it's not uncommon to get a bad batch once in a while.

I am considering a coolant heater (Frost Heater), not because of starting/gelling issues, but because the intake manifold I have waiting to go on will delete my EGR, so warm up times will become ridiculous. I already have a block heater and battery warmer for starting, and I run additive in the winter anyway (see bad batch of fuel comment). Had a gas job freeze up on me in my first winter in Alberta, ran nothing but the best fuel. Call me crazy, but I won't be roadside at -40 again.

alphadrex

 

[TDIMeister]

Well, what do you define as bad fuel? One that gels only? Dirt/water contamination? Gasoline? It's a filter, not an inline alchemist and cannot turn gasoline into Diesel. If you're really concerned about water, note that the CAT 1R-0750 does not have a water separator (there are other CAT P/Ns that do, but they don't package the same). In this case, the way Mountain Lion has done it is ideal - leave the OEM filter to do its job and put the CAT filter secondarily to it. You add more restriction in the line for the injection pump to draw fuel from the tank, so a lift pump is essential if putting filters in series like this and is recommended in any case. The kits for sale assume that you just dump the OE filter and use the CAT as a complete replacement, but again, you lose the thermo-T and water-separation functions.

 

[alphadrex]

Who said anything about turning gasoline into diesel? I said I had a gas job freeze up on me. And bad batch of fuel means bad batch of fuel (contamination, water, stale, etc..). Doesn't matter who you buy it from, the possibility is still there.

Nicktane also offers a Donaldson number that fits his kit, but also retains the water separator. It's rated at 3 microns however and loses some of the benefit of the setup. Still seems reasonable though, a small sacrifice to make.

Running the Mountain Lion setup is pretty sweet, just gotta cram it in somewhere under the hood. I took a quick look and there isn't much space around my ALH.

 

[TDIMeister]

I'm simply saying that filtration addresses only one aspect of "bad fuel" and that's solid contaminants. It does not address gelling, "stale" fuel or other-liquid contamination. Peace out.

 

[kiwibru]

A lot of us run these "adapted fuel filters" for peace of mind. I sure don't mind spending less on a better fuel filter (compared to OEM) that is going to give my IP cleaner fuel and help it last. Those IP's are not getting any cheaper!

 

[A5INKY]

I am a fan of better fuel filtration, running the Nictane 1um set-up on my personal PD. No preheat and has fired right up in sub-zero temps many a time. Damn thing has been on the car so long I seriously can't think of the current miles on it. It is at least 80K and counting, maybe more.

I have never found any water in an OE MKV/MKVI TDI filter housing. I've drained countless MKIV/B5.5 filters into a glass jar during their change and not found water those either. I am pretty skeptical that any of the OE TDI filters are effective for water separation. Therefore, running an aftermarket filter in parallel with the OE accomplishes nothing more than greater supply restriction in exchange for longer aftermarket filter media life IMHO.

I might just go ahead and change that Nictane filter out now. No indication it needs it, but it will someday, right?

 

[alphadrex]

Does anyone run the Donaldson filter mentioned on Nicktane's site? According to the site, it says there is a water separator integrated. Just wondering how effective that filter is.

 

[vanbcguy]

I have a great big Racor Turbine series filter on mine. Has a massive water separator that is also designed to collect larger solids. 2 micron filter elements and the elements are CHEAP, plus available at just about any marine store.

 

[rustman1984]

I couldn't justify the price of the Nicktane fuel filter kit. I picked up one of these : http://www.fleetfilter.com/filter/wix-filter-bases/24770.html, a CAT 1R7050 2 micron filter for $20 from my local CAT parts supplier, two brass 5/16 Hose x 1/2" NPT, and a 5/16 barb coupler.

Not as pretty as the Nicktane kit and more leg work to put together but I'm happy. Here's a shot of it installed. I had to trim 3" inches off the inbound fuel line to the filter head as it would kink otherwise.

I am looking at this option. I am also looking into new fuel hoses between the filter and IP. I want clear to trouble shoot if air is getting in. Do you know of the best clear hoses to get. I tried 5/16" / 8mm but they were too soft and too big to fit very well on the OEM filter.

 

[PakProtector]

The CAT filter is missing a water separator. I love to contemplate the logic of putting in a finer filter and delete the water removal function in pursuit of keeping the fuel system happier long term. Actually it ties me up in knots and I try to avoid it. There is a Donaldson of the same size that has a water sep function...

Douglas

 

[kiwibru]

Since installing my CAT filter setup years ago I just used the OEM fuel line that has a transparent section integrated into it. Isn't that enough? I can check on any fuel line bubble instantly by looking at that section. Never had any issue and I have only gone through two filter elements in fifteen years. Now at 136K miles on the frame, 46K approx. on a rebuilt engine with upgraded internals and other spicy tidbits.

 

[adjat84th]

Since installing my CAT filter setup years ago I just used the OEM fuel line that has a transparent section integrated into it. Isn't that enough? I can check on any fuel line bubble instantly by looking at that section. Never had any issue and I have only gone through two filter elements in fifteen years. Now at 136K miles on the frame, 46K approx. on a rebuilt engine with upgraded internals and other spicy tidbits.

I often wonder how long is too long to go on the CAT filter setup on my ALH. I don't drive nearly as many miles per year as I once did, so I will never need to replace it based on mileage. It would seem to be somewhat logical to replace every year or two regardless?

 

[burpod]

I don't have any scientific evidence but I also don't drive enough miles. I myself wouldn't replace that often. For me, i would replace at 5yr

 

[DMan1198]

If it is something you worry about it's best to add a fuel pressure gauge post filter. Then, when the reading dips from normal it's time to replace.