DIY Coolant Filter?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Foothills, CA
DIY Coolant Filter?
I've been pricing some of the individual components for building my own coolant filter system, versus buying one of the kits. Fleet Filter has the base for $25 and coolant filters that fit the base for $6.68 (same filter base thread size as dieselsite's, so their filter and these are interchable on the two bases).
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has built their own and if I'm missing something huge -- I come up with about $50 to maybe $75 tops or so in parts -- just need some coolant hose, T's and barbed connectors, and a couple of valves if I want to make it real slick.
Feedback from other DIY freaks?
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has built their own and if I'm missing something huge -- I come up with about $50 to maybe $75 tops or so in parts -- just need some coolant hose, T's and barbed connectors, and a couple of valves if I want to make it real slick.
Feedback from other DIY freaks?
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Duncan, OK
I also considered doing my own. Then I got to thinking about the mounting bracket that comes with the kit. I couldn't fabricate one of those no matter how hard I tried. Rather than dealing with that issue (and who knows what else) I decided to buy the kit from Dfuser. It came with two ball***** and 3 filters. Not that I'm flush - but it seemed (sorta) worth it since there were less hassles.
Dufus
Dufus
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Ohio
Before anyone offered kits I went down to NAPA and started putting my coolant filter all together. The only thing I did not find were small ball valves but it isn't a problem when I change filters. I fabricated my own bracket and it is pretty solid.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: SoCal, SD CO. East
Dang! It's purdy too! Nice work!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Foothills, CA
Thanks Maxium4x4 and slowmans... Those are both very clean installs! Maxium: that's the same base I was looking at. slowmans: That looks like the Baldwin cfb5000 -- there's a guy on ebay that has 'em, can't decide if it's worth the $10 for the aluminum unit. Where'd you find those nice valves and the other hardware?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,012
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From: SE. MA
I bought my cfb5000 on ebay, I offered them 25 plus 10 for shipping so it worked out, I got most of the other stuff at homedepot and I got the valves at lowes!
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From: SoCal, SD CO. East
I was about to try to build one, but the make-or-buy analysis proved me wrong too. All things considered, I may have saved a buck-or-two by buying the turn-key solution.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Foothills, CA
Thanks again...
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,951
Likes: 512
From: Foothills, CA
Bummer...
Well, I finally got together all the parts to do my coolant filter, other than fab'ing the bracket and buying the hose.
So I don't know why I didn't check this before, but I called my local dealer (largest in my area) and spoke with the service manager. I asked him if installing a coolant bypass filter would affect my warranty. He said: absolutely! He went on to say Ford is cracking down on the dealers for just about any warranty work on a 6.0, and he'd have to deny warranty on any related part (pretty much anything related to cooling by the coolant), or face trouble with Ford if they audit a job and catch the filter on there. He said they routinely check on the expensive jobs like head gaskets, etc., now...
I explained to him how the filter works and is benign to the cooling system, and he just said: "wouldn't matter, it's a modification -- if it was a 7.3 it would be different...!"
I guess I have to wait another 3 years to install it...
So I don't know why I didn't check this before, but I called my local dealer (largest in my area) and spoke with the service manager. I asked him if installing a coolant bypass filter would affect my warranty. He said: absolutely! He went on to say Ford is cracking down on the dealers for just about any warranty work on a 6.0, and he'd have to deny warranty on any related part (pretty much anything related to cooling by the coolant), or face trouble with Ford if they audit a job and catch the filter on there. He said they routinely check on the expensive jobs like head gaskets, etc., now...
I explained to him how the filter works and is benign to the cooling system, and he just said: "wouldn't matter, it's a modification -- if it was a 7.3 it would be different...!"
I guess I have to wait another 3 years to install it...