I bought my '04 Diesel with almost 90,000 miles on it. Runs great after doing a few minor things, was just wondering about a Coolant Filter. After that many miles is worth the effort to install one? Temp spread averages around 5 deg.


Thanks for any input.

 

I went ahead and put one on my 2004 w/75-80k miles. I put it on a while back (15-20k) as more grains of sand (or whatnot) came out, then I expected, when changing my coolant for the second time at roughly year eight in the trucks life. Like you I didn't have any cooling problems that I know about - at the time or now. My spread varies anywhere from 3 - 20 degrees depending on what I'm doing. Cruising as per the test requirements the spread is 5-9 degrees depending on ambient temps.

As to pros and cons. Pro some additional piece of mind. Cons: If you don't get the filter on tight enough it will leak and if you tighten it up tight enough to not leak its a pita to change ( last time I changed mine I had remove it from the truck and to take a metal bladed reciprocal saw at it to cut the filter from the housing). Others don't seem to have problems with filters on their, maybe my mount has issues but it looks fine.

So would I get another? Probably for peace of mind yes, but I doubt its really helps nor harmed my truck.

One of these days I'll get around to a blue spring. Same thing, for peace of mind. Won't be happening until I have a reason for someone to work on the truck as I'm not doing that one myself and I fear someone causing me more problems then I desire.

 

Good peace of mind, can't hurt, it's a bypass filter, and to make sure it doesn't stick to the housing, and seals properly, use a bit of Vaseline on the o ring seal. I had the same experience as the previous poster, trying to get that **** off after the first filter.

All the international trucks have coolant filters on them. Most custom trucks like cab and chassis I have spec'd have them added, along with bigger alternators, extra batteries, and other goodies.

 

That comment would be called a cognitive distortion.

None of our International trucks have coolant filters, that includes our VT275 and VT365 equipped International trucks. Some of our MACK, Freightliner and CCC trucks have them.

I would qualify the statement that most coolant filters are factory installed, not for the filtering, but for SCA boosters.

Josh

 

Sometimes for SCA boost from the canister, most of the custom orders up round here include them. YMMV. I just ordered two F550 with power tailgate, box, LED lighting all around, extra batteries, larger alternator, for work about 5 months ago, they included a filter, but for a 6.7 smoker (cummins). For SCA and filter or just SCA, I don't know, but they have them too. My point is, it can't hurt and perhaps it should be Original equipment on a $10,000 motor option like our trucks?

 

Nah, Navistar should have just stayed with the external cooler setup like the 7.3. (which internally looks a lot like the round style EGR cooler)

Josh