Just did the hutch/harpoon mod and wondered if the change interval for the engine fuel filter should be stretched out from 15K miles now that a good water separating baldwin filter is now in place pre-pump from the dieselsite kit. What do you all do?

 

I guess I've found it's more a function of time than mileage. I change mine about every year to year and a half mostly depending on the quality of fuel.

 

For me, the Baldwin is drained of water every 45 days, with a change at 6 months. I drain some fuel from the Baldwin into a glass jar to check for water, then put that fuel back into the tank if possible.

The original fuel filter gets a change once a year, if needed. I have seen no grit and no sign of water in the original housing. I have not had a fuel related engine problem since doing the hutch / harpoon mod.

 

Ok, that's a couple data points. I was thinking of a once-a-year change for the baldwin in line, and maybe two years or 30K on the engine filter, but maybe I should go annual on both. I put about 12K -15K miles on the truck each year. I'll drain the inline filter for water check at each oil change (5K). Sounds like i will not need to drain the fuel bowl anymore, other than when changing filters.

Is a 6 month change of the inline baldwin filter partly to minimize pressure drop as it filters? I've heard our pumps dont suck fuel well through a filter like these, and some put a pump between the tank and filter to compensate.

 

I don't totally drain the filter, just a few ounces to check for water. It also gives me an idea of the amount of grit in the filter. I do extend the change interval if I'm low on money, there is no water and no grit when I check the drain. If you want to you could extend it.

I usually don't get too much pressure drop, but yes, it is a concern. Adding the filter and removing the in tank screens is close to no change in restriction. Add on pumps are a possibility if I build up the engine. Right now, I'm pretty much bone stock and even under load at full throttle I've never had a problem with fuel supply.

 

I change both the prepump Baldwin and fuel bowl filter elements about once yearly, which is in the order of 18,000-20,000 miles between changes.

 

same here.

 

When I had a similar set up on my dodge with 30k intervals, no drop in fuel pressure.

 

When you use 238cc and above sized injectors is when you should consider dual stock fuel pumps to maintain adequate (60 - 70psi) fuel pressure when you are flat footing it.

Otherwise, the single stock pump will meet any demands you give it including additional fuel filtration setups.

Drake

 

Sorry... gotta jump in here. While I didn't have the Baldwin separator, I had the Napa. Operative word... "had". My 160/100s with Hutch mod/FRX, new stock pump, and an aggressive tune would plop my fuel pressure on the ground at 25 PSI while stretching my leg. I pulled the water separator out and put in a strainer-type unit, and my fuel pressure jumped back up to about 50 PSI at WOT. While big numbers on the injector size can have an impact, it's the nozzle size that truely dictates how much of that fuel can be applied in the injection time window. Singles can put way more fuel in there than split-shots.

 

Sounds like I won't have an issue with fuel pressure with my stock injectors and this filtering setup. I have a fuel pressure gauge I've been meaning to attach to the bowl - but I'd like to be able to view it during WOT as well as idle. Also wondered if I got the spring in right when installing the FRx and what the resulting pressure is. How do you all connect this gauge for viewing from the cab? I'm assuming you want to view the gauge while on the road under load, not just blipping the pedal to get the WOT reading.