Additional fuel filtration / injector replacement poll

[jbplock]

Mark, Great idea on this thread. My truck’s history is as follows:

1. Year/Make/Model truck
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT Crew Cab Short Box – currently at 82,000 miles. Except for being a little louder (fuel knock) the truck runs as it did when new. Mileage is 17-18mpg with mixed highway/city driving and 19-20mpg highway. Balance rates have increased but are still in spec. I’ve used Stanadyne Perfomance formula and a lubricity additive since the truck was new. First 30kmi was with with 4oz of 2-cycle oil/15 gal then switched to Stanadyne Lubricity Formula.

2. Engine code (LB7, LLY, LBZ, LMM)
LB7 Federal Emissions with no CAT or EGR

3. Type of additional filtration added, and at what odometer reading
- 6019 miles: Installed Kennedy Mega Filter (Baldwin BF7635), Post OEM connection
- 9428 miles: Installed AC EP158 Lift pump and Stanadyne FM100 30 micron pre-filter
OEM and Stanadyne filters have been changed at 10kmi. Mega filters were changed at 31,232 & 71,671 miles (currently at 82K).

Used filters are routinely cut open for inspection. Both Megas looked good with no visible discoloration. The Stanadyne will always have some black (asphaltene) discoloration but the OEM filters are relatively clear. The OEM’s are also fully uniform in color with no darkening on the bottom half (lift pump keeps the filter completely full - with stock suction system the filter is only partially full – see see Filter Council TSB )

4. History of injector replacement, if any, and at what odometer reading(s)
Original Injectors

5. Overall satisfaction with additional filtration - return on investment commentary.
I'm happy with my setup. Based on the Southwest Research institute’s “High-Pressure Injection Fuel System Wear Study” (SAE doc 980869) I think added filtration for our HPCR injection system is good insurance against wear related injector failures (i.e. ball seat erosion) and should help extend IP life too. Quote from the paper:

“The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Fuel Filtration Cooperative Research Program evaluated the effects of abrasive fuel contamination in rotary injection pumps to establish a baseline for high-pressure injection systems. It was determined that the critical particle size for rotary injection fuel pump was 6 to 7 microns.”

From my simple way of thinking the more filtration the higher the efficiency of removing the critical wear particles. However I’m not sure it does much to prevent design related failures (cracked injector body).

Here's a related and very interesting article in MaxxTorque magazine:
THE Black, White and Greys of the Duramax Fuel Filter

For me it’s so-far-so-good at 82K on an 03 with about 1 year to go on the 7yr/200kmile injector special policy. Unless I have a problem before it expires, for peace of mind I’m thinking I’ll take the truck in and pay to have return rate test done. If the injectors fail out of warranty I’ll probably just change them out myself. It’s still cheaper than buying a new truck.

[Idle_Chatter]

1.Year/Make/Model truck

Late build 2001 Chevy Silverado extended cab short box 4x4 DMax/Allison

2.Engine code (LB7, LLY, LBZ, LMM)

LB7

3.Type of additional filtration added, and at what odometer reading

Kennedy Mega Filter installed post-OEM at 46,000 miles

4.History of injector replacement, if any, and at what odometer reading(s)

Zero, on factory originals at 158,000 miles

5.Overall satisfaction with additional filtration - return on investment commentary

Excellent product, long service life on filters and sometimes difficult to change after a long use interval (filter stuck to filter head).

[SoTxPollock]

2002 Chevy Silverado LTCC, SB,

Added Racor RS60s filtration post OEM, at 20,000 miles.

Original injectors, 132,000 miles, they're not as quite as they used to be, but still run great.
Never had any kind of problems, starting, running etc. Love that truck.

ROI, supposedly the filtration is down to about 2 microns so I don't expect any problems from particle errosion. I'm sure this has already saved GM some money on replacement of the injectors, next year come July it will be my nickle if they go bad. I jus think its an investment in assurance of continued top performance. I've always maintained my vehicles like I was going to walk out of the house in the morning and drive straight to New York without haveing to check anything first.

Side note: By the way JBPLOCK, you said SWR said the wear was 6 to 7mm size, that's not millimeters obvously, you ment microns right?

[jbplock]

Side note: By the way JBPLOCK, you said SWR said the wear was 6 to 7mm size, that's not millimeters obviously, you meant microns right?

SoTx,

Yes thanks for catching this .. microns not mm (post has been edited)

Also ..

Kennedy Mega Filter installed post-OEM ....

... sometimes difficult to change after a long use interval (filter stuck to filter head).

Tom,
I also had a tough time breaking my first Mega Filter loose ... when installing the second one I removed the O-ring and coated it with some Parker Super O-lube (similar to silicone grease) .. When the time came to change, it came of with out any trouble ..

[richp]

Hi Gang,

1. Year/Make/Model truck - 2001 K-2500 Chevy Standard Cab

2. Engine code (LB7, LLY, LBZ, LMM) - LB7

3. Type of additional filtration added, and at what odometer reading - Universal Kit/150k

4. History of injector replacement, if any, and at what odometer reading(s) 1 set at 90k, second set at 165k

5. Overall satisfaction with additional filtration - return on investment commentary - too soon to know, since I was (yes, I'm very ashamed of myself here) tardy in getting the extra filtration on with the early sets of injectors. Have to say it gives me a lot more confidence for the future, though.

FWIW.

Rich Phillips
Member #17

[chipper]

[QUOTE=richp;247126]Hi Gang,

1. Year/Make/Model truck - 2001 K-2500 Chevy Standard Cab
2001 GMC EXT CAB

2. Engine code (LB7, LLY, LBZ, LMM) - LB7
LB7

3. Type of additional filtration added, and at what odometer reading - Universal Kit/150k
CAT750 post OEM 38K

4. History of injector replacement, if any, and at what odometer reading(s) 1 set at 90k, second set at 165k
Origional

5. Overall satisfaction with additional filtration - return on investment commentary - too soon to know, since I was (yes, I'm very ashamed of myself here) tardy in getting the extra filtration on with the early sets of injectors. Have to say it gives me a lot more confidence for the future, though.
Looks good so far

[bigchev]

1. My truck is a 2003 Ext. Cab. with a lot of aftermarket performance equipment, turbo,intake,4" exhaust, Industrial Injection dual fuel lines, lift pump,exhaust brake, built tranny and triple disk convertor, KENNEDY 100/250HP ECM and more.

2. Engine is LB7

3. Additional filter/water seperator is a heated racor 2 micron.

4. Still running stock injectors. I have used AmSoil Diesel Fuel additive for approx. 3 years along with AmSoil Cetane Booster.

5. I am satisfied with the Racor filter which was installed at 30K. I am now at 41K. I will change both stock and Racor filter this coming spring. Previously to installing the Racor add on filter I was changing the stock filter every 5K miles.

Since my truck has low miles I suppose that it is still too early in it's life cycle to need injectors. At the rate I drive the truck 6500 annual average I hope that any future injector failure will be was off in the future.

[SoTxPollock]

2002 Chevy Silverado LTCC, SB,

Added Racor RS60s filtration post OEM, at 20,000 miles.

Original injectors, 132,000 miles, they're not as quite as they used to be, but still run great.
Never had any kind of problems, starting, running etc. Love that truck.

ROI, supposedly the filtration is down to about 2 microns so I don't expect any problems from particle errosion. I'm sure this has already saved GM some money on replacement of the injectors, next year come July it will be my nickle if they go bad. I jus think its an investment in assurance of continued top performance. I've always maintained my vehicles like I was going to walk out of the house in the morning and drive straight to New York without haveing to check anything first.

Side note: By the way JBPLOCK, you said SWR said the wear was 6 to 7mm size, that's not millimeters obvously, you ment microns right?

UPDATE FOR 2010-Had to do 8 new injectors at 160,000 miles on my nickle, waited too long go get in on the warranty. Truck runs better than it did when new, actually idles smooth now, it never did before. I suspect I may have had a bad injector right from the start at idle and never knew it since it was my first diesel, I also suspect that by the time 20,000 miles went by without additional filtration it was on the way to failure before I got the additional filter installed.

I suspect the mileage will drop a little from the original, but there's no scientific way to blame it on the injectors because of the ULSD which was not available during the first couple of years of the truck's life. I still love it. I would recommend extra filtration to anyone who like me wants to keep the truck for a long time.

[Mark Rinker]

2006 K3500 - went 166,666 miles until requiring injector replacement. Bone stock, fuel filter changed every 10-15K miles. Fuel sourced anywhere/everywhere across the US and Canada, Howes, FPPF, other name brand fuel conditioners run about 50% of the time.