Fuel Filter Options?

[bodgie]

Originally Posted by JeanLuke

I have had my stock filter intercept water twice. The second time, I had to drain it three of four times before the warning light stopped coming on. It obviously what a pretty bad load of fuel.

I think I've been very lucky in the no water in fuel regard and I've filled up at a few dozen different outback servos.

Water is my biggest concern with a D=diesel engine, particularly a CRD as the parts are blood expensive. The addition of a separate water trap or filter/water trap can only be a good thing to protect against water.

Adding supplementary filtration can only help improve the longevity of pumps and injectors as the fuel "should" have fewer contaminants.

[indiedog]

Today I purchased a Racor 230r2 filter with manual pump plus a new Mann fuel filter to replace the shit one I got last week with the intention of putting both into the car. Due to space restrictions I'm now looking to go down my desired path of just deleting the factory filter. My plan is as follows;

1. Remove original fuel filter and bracket. Done!
2. Make simple bracket from steel angle to mount new filter in position shown in photo.
3. Connect inlet 3/8 fuel line to filter, will probably replace the straight 3/8 barb I got with a 90deg one to keep this a bit more compact.
4. Connect return lines together with a straight joiner to return straight to tank - yet to be purchased
5. Connect line from filter to engine inlet - this line comes with standard end fittings, see attached photo.
6. Tape up and or heat shrink to water sensor as it will now not function with the new filter.

I'm comfortable with all of that but once I cut the line to the engine there's no going back. (I probably could just make up a line with standard fuel hose and clamps so probably not the end of the world). I have had a brief look at the engine end and seems there's a couple of clips there so the factory fitting may come off pretty easy. The factory line (fuel filter end fitting shown in the photos) goes over a barb on the end fittings and there is no clamp on this which surprises me. It's also a clear line and I wouldn't have thought this is the best thing to use for the fuel feed into the engine. As long as I can get a fuel line to fit onto the barbs and clamp it on I see no problem with this. The other thing is I'm assuming that the water sensor needs water to complete a circuit which then triggers the warning light and removing it will not trigger any codes. Seems logical.

So main questions are;
1. Has anyone replaced that inlet line with standard fuel hose?
2. Anyone deleted the water sensor?

Thanks.

[indiedog]

Well as no one seemed to have done the things I proposed to do before.....

- Made up a bracket to mount new fuel filter.
- Used 3/8 fuel line direct to new filter inlet
- Used 5/16 fuel line from filter outlet to fitting that connects to engine at fuel pump
- Sourced new nitrile O ring to replace old one on fitting that connects to engine
- Replaced original return fuel lines that went from rail to filter and then back to tank with 5/16 fuel line which now goes from rail directly back to tank
- Have just cable tied sensor out of the way for the moment. If no issues I will coat the sensor prongs and seal it up and just leave it there.

Car now runs smoothly. No air present in filter fuel bowl. Used inbuilt fuel pump to prime car and get it going. Don't have to worry about that shitty OEM fuel filter anymore.