How often do you change your fuel filter??

For those of you still running the OEM fuel supply system, how often do you change your fuel filter? Do you change more often when towing?
Changing this filter can be very expensive and if I'm not changing often enough, I will have to look for a cheaper way to do it. Thanks

 

Fuel Filter

I change mine twice a year, but I run average miles in a year (national average, not Cummins average). I usually change it in October and April or May.

I strongly recommend a fuel pressure gauge for those of us with the VP-44.

 

Every 10,000 km or 6,000 miles = 3 - 4 times a year.

 

I change mine about every 20K at the most. It also depends on the fuel that you are using. I know (far as I know) that where I usually get fuel goes through a lot and always has clean fresh fuel. I also know that the fuel we get delivered at the ranch is always fresh on delivery and we filter the fuel again as it comes out the tanks. I think 20K is enough for me. The filter is $15 at Napa.

 

I dont have a cummins but I change mine every 6k miles. It is cheap insurance for teh sensitive pumps that these trucks all have.

 

Every 10K religiously. Worth the $15 bucks.

 

F/O Filter Change

Every 3rd Oil change...no more than 10.5K miles.. Filters and fluids are cheap insurance. waytogo

 

You change your oil at 3,500 miles with a Cummins? How about sending me that fresh oil you drain out so I can use it in some of our equipment, after we drain at 15K. waytogo

IMHO, that is silly (no offence, a lot of people do that) My dad changes his at 9-10K and I change mine at 7-8K.

Fluids and filter are NOT cheap. Add up what it takes you to change a quality filter, and 3 gallons of quality oil every 3K over a 250K period. Figure the same thing out just if you change at say 8K. Regardless, if it's 3 or 8K, the motor will last the same amount of miles.

 

Oalaego...ayrs

Really I did not know that Silly not really. Since being a diesel mech for the last 21ys, seeing the different wear rates of different eng mfg under several operating conditions due to "extended oil changes"....the cost for oil/filter out weighs the rebuild or casualty repair costs.....I am my own warranty station.

To each there own...you do it your way..I'll do it mine....neither are wrong. waytogo

You pay the shipping and Hazmat fees....you'll get it every time...You want the filters too? rotfl

 

I change my fuel filter with every oil change. And, I carry atleast 1, usually 2 on the road with me incase of a bad batch of fuel. Being an Amsoil dealer, I run our brands and they are much less expensive than the dealer, but more than the wix and napa. Also, I change my oil every 15K. Oil filter every 7500. I run about 30-40K a year, towing about 25% of it. 75K on the truck now, no issues but great milage.

BTW - the cummins spec on my truck is 15K for fuel filter
Oil changes are 7500 on severe service, 15K on light. So, I am more than comfortable running 15K on Amsoil. Its ice not having to change your oil once a month. Lot less waste too.

 

Not when the same amount of miles are reached regardless of servicing. Since you are a diesel mechanic, then you know that a million miles out of an OTR is fairly good, but about what they are supposed to get. We have a Series 60 Detroit that finally blew up about 3 months ago. It has 1.3 million on it and it say oil changes about every 20-25K. We've had other motors that saw changes every 15K, blew up at 800,000. Who knows.

Same thing with our farm equipment.

My grandfather changes the oil in his PSD Ford every 25-30K (thats not a typo) and the truck is approaching 300K and the 7.3L still doesn't use any more oil than it did when it was new.

I used to be strict about "by the book" on oil changes but not anymore, not after seeing so many motors do just fine under longer service changes.

My point with the Cummins is that 3.5K is a little weird. I don't think Dodge even recommends changes that frequent. Yes, these aren't OTR engines, but they are diesels that hold 3 gallons of oil and automobiles with gas engines that are obviously not OTR vehicles is where the original "3K" rule came from. If I can't manage at LEAST 6-7K on an oil change with my diesel that holds over twice the oil a gas engine does that is supposed to drain at 3K, combined with fuel mileage that is just getting worse with the newer models, mileage on gas trucks coming up due to tech,, and the overal price of the diesel option.... I'll be considering a gasser for the next truck.

Thats the whole idea of a diesel pickup, more power, better mileage, and longer service intervals. The manufacturers are doing great on the first thing, but terrible with the second and third ones.

 

Your right Dodge does not recommend it...but since I own it, and they don't,
Silly, weird or however you label it...Thats the cool part of being an American....I decide when it happens.

Comparing apples to oranges. A seires 60 to an ISB..not even in the same duty market.

Best wishes for a long gasser realtionship waytogo

 

I agree! waytogo I'm not trying to criticize you, I think thats great that you want to keep fresh, fresh oil in it all the time. My point was that it just doesn't really benifet the engine since the oil shouldn't be worn out that quick.

You are right. The series 60 sees much more strenuous work than most ISB's that aren't under any kind of heavy load 75% of the time. The series 60 may see more steady oil temps, but it's also working a lot harder 99% of the time. As an average Dodge ISB sees more heat cycles, but usually lives an easier life.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't at all think an ISB can manage the miles a series 60 can on an oil change, but according to the Cummins and Detroit books, the ISB can go about half the miles a series 60 can on a change. Thats about 7.5K for the ISB.

No way, since I CAN go 7-10K on a change because the engine is designed for that, and am getting 20mpg. waytogo

 

These posts all point to the same soultion.
Run a synthetic (research your own!) with a bypass filter system (research your own!). Reduce engine wear, temps, internal sludge, waste oil; increase mileage and engine life.

Right? :stir:

 

I change mine at 70,000 miles

I wanted to see how long I could go with the filter that came with the truck. Its a 1999 Dodge Diesel.It never miss a beat.The filter was working good when I change It.I do beleave you can go 20.000 without any trouble.

 

:doah: It's been a long time..............

 

filter change

i change the fuel filter every 10k and i change the oil and oil filter between 7500 and 10k depending on when i can. by the way if you wanna save some money on the filter changes try and find your local Fleet Pride store. I know the Fleet Pride here gets me 12 baldwin fuel filters and 12 baldwin oil filters for about 140 bucks total.

 

I change mine every 10k. It's cheep insurance, so why not.


-Troy

 

I did my first one at 18K...won't happen again. I meant to do it at 15 but forgot. I never had a bad tank of fuel as far as I know and this this was filthy at 18k. Will start doing them at 10-15k intervals from now on