Coolant Filter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 484
Likes: 6
From: Alberta
Coolant Filter
Installed a coolant filter about 1500 Km ago, after dealing with a blocked oil cooler, EGR cooler etc. On Friday coming home from work decided to stop and see how things were going - felt the hose coming in and leaving the filter - not hot to touch with engine fully warmed like when first installed. So thought maybe the filter was plugged already - changed it. Opened up the old filter and could not see any evidence of sand or coarse contaminants. The gold antifreeze mix looked and smelled pristine. The paper (?) element of the Baldwin filter seemed very slimy to the touch - assuming this normal for a glycol (?) like product. Took a section of the filter material and made a depression and poured some antifreeze mix in - it did not flow through, is this normal or does there have to be pressure to force fluid through?
Checked new filter after getting engine to op temps and hoses had heat in them so new filter is flowing well. I was kind of hoping to see sand in old filter and then voila problem id'd and solved but now?????
Checked new filter after getting engine to op temps and hoses had heat in them so new filter is flowing well. I was kind of hoping to see sand in old filter and then voila problem id'd and solved but now?????
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 425
Likes: 4
I believe what you are seeing is more common than you think it is. That substance you saw trapped in the filter very well may have turned to something more sinnister with the higher heat and small passages of the oil cooler.
Those on this forum that consider themselves students of this subject are not 100% buying sand alone as the curlpit.
Anyhow,the proof is in the pudding. Its fixed now!
Those on this forum that consider themselves students of this subject are not 100% buying sand alone as the curlpit.
Anyhow,the proof is in the pudding. Its fixed now!
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 803
Likes: 1
From: S CAL
Installed a coolant filter about 1500 Km ago, after dealing with a blocked oil cooler, EGR cooler etc. On Friday coming home from work decided to stop and see how things were going - felt the hose coming in and leaving the filter - not hot to touch with engine fully warmed like when first installed. So thought maybe the filter was plugged already - changed it. Opened up the old filter and could not see any evidence of sand or coarse contaminants. The gold antifreeze mix looked and smelled pristine. The paper (?) element of the Baldwin filter seemed very slimy to the touch - assuming this normal for a glycol (?) like product. Took a section of the filter material and made a depression and poured some antifreeze mix in - it did not flow through, is this normal or does there have to be pressure to force fluid through?
Checked new filter after getting engine to op temps and hoses had heat in them so new filter is flowing well. I was kind of hoping to see sand in old filter and then voila problem id'd and solved but now?????
Checked new filter after getting engine to op temps and hoses had heat in them so new filter is flowing well. I was kind of hoping to see sand in old filter and then voila problem id'd and solved but now?????
Do you think that maybe there could have been alittle oil contamination in the coolant from the previous work that had been done or from previous problems.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 484
Likes: 6
From: Alberta
don't think it was / is oil contamination. The coolant that came out of the filter was clean and smelled clean - the element paper was not discoloured. The slimy stuff subjectively seemed different from oil in that it acted more like a long chain polymer (snot) and was most difficult in trying to get off the fingers. Haven't dabbed fingers much in coolant but have in oil which seems easier to get off the fingers.
Don't know if this means anything. Maybe I should heat some of this stuff up and see what happens???
Don't know if this means anything. Maybe I should heat some of this stuff up and see what happens???
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 484
Likes: 6
From: Alberta
After reading the posts about coolant flushes, I now understand the elaborate pains being taken, VC9 etc.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
You can pat yourself on the back for putting the filter system in place. In your case it was obviously money well spent and you are seeing a positive result immediately. You just need to change the filter frequently a few times until they start to last longer.
That slime would probably have continued to thicken until it wouldn't flow any more.
I would bet that your second filter lasts considerably longer, and the third even longer than that.
That slime would probably have continued to thicken until it wouldn't flow any more.
I would bet that your second filter lasts considerably longer, and the third even longer than that.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Middle Tn.
Napa also has a 4069 that is about an inch shorter if you have clearance problems. Same filter except for the inch.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 484
Likes: 6
From: Alberta
thanks everyone. i shall keep an eye on it. Thanks for the tip on clearance, I ended up unbolting the filter housing, actually not a big deal but maybe can be avoided.
Went to our NAPA in town here and they provided me with a Donaldson replacement filter.
Went to our NAPA in town here and they provided me with a Donaldson replacement filter.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 484
Likes: 6
From: Alberta
Had truck serviced last Saturday and had the coolant changed. Coolant filter plugged shortly after (coolant line from filter to degas was cool with a fully warmed engine). If I get time this weekend I'll open up the filter and see what is in there.
< Samantha...my Co-Pilot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 768
Likes: 11
From: Fallon, Nevada
Which coolant filter system did you install? Who is doing the service on your truck and what coolant are they using? Are they using a cleaner prior to filling the cooling system? Something very suspicious going on here.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Faro, Yukon Canada
I believe what you are seeing is more common than you think it is. That substance you saw trapped in the filter very well may have turned to something more sinnister with the higher heat and small passages of the oil cooler.
Those on this forum that consider themselves students of this subject are not 100% buying sand alone as the curlpit.
Anyhow,the proof is in the pudding. Its fixed now!
Those on this forum that consider themselves students of this subject are not 100% buying sand alone as the curlpit.
Anyhow,the proof is in the pudding. Its fixed now!
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Clinton, Utah
Thanks,
Mike