Caterpillar Water Separator - The Full Story

[Gavx Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gavx]

My local mechanic recommends this product;

http://waterindiesel.com.au/8263/Wat..._Water_Watch?/

I like the idea that it does not tax the fuel system by adding another filter.

It is spendy tho'

[azzss Member Find all posts View Profile Close azzss]

Has anyone had trouble with air in the cat filter? I've done 3 now my own prado, another prado (same as mine except its a auto) and a auto D4D hilux. Mine was the first one i done, no problems at all the other two have me pulling my hair out!. I have done them all excatly the same except i didn't fill the filter on mine, just primed through the main filter. The hilux i tryed to do the same but the lift pump wouldn't pull the fuel through the cat filter so i undone the big black cap on top of the housing and filled the filter with fuel, prime it up, away it goes untill you try and start it again in couple of hours/overnight it eather wont start or start, run for 5 seconds then stall. The other prado i removed the black cap also to fill the filter and its not as bad as the hilux, but still stalls on startup. I reckon the must be sucking air through the cap on top of the housing, as i didn't remove mine and it's all good but i've checked and can not find any problems. Any thoughs?
Cheers.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Definitely an air leak. Just go through everything that you worked on.

[azzss Member Find all posts View Profile Close azzss]

Checked everything, Bugged if i know, has to be leaking through the cap on top of the housing i reckon had it apart, put it back together making sure the oring was seating right still no joy. Even swaped out units with mine and problem transferd rule out hoses etc. will see how it goes tommorow as it was firing up after i put it back together today after been left for a few hours.
Cheers

[azzss Member Find all posts View Profile Close azzss]

Sorry, double post

[wathools Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wathools]

I've installed a Stanadyne Fuel Manager diesel filter, which is 2 micron.
I purchased from Dieselcare (http://www.dieselcare.com.au/fuel-manager-filter) and it was delivered to home with a spare filter and a customised bracket for the Prado 120 for $370, which is cheap insurance I believe.
I've installed the filter as a secondary filter so the original Prado 120 filter water alarm will still work in the cabin, without installing another alarm, and as a secondary filter it filters much more than the standard before the common rail pump.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

I'm about to change my cat filter element. The replacement item comes with a plastic drain tap. My original setup has a plastic water collection bowl. Can anyone see a problem with not using the bowl?

Doing this will give more clearance under the filter making it easier to drain. I've never noticed any water in either of my filters when I've emptied them so I don't really need the additional water holding capacity.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

For anyone chasing a CAT 5 micron element, the part number is 156-1200. $19+gst from CAT.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

Here's what the inside of the filter looks like after 30 000km:



I'm not sure if the crud is diesel bug or dirt. I used a shock dose of Fuel Doctor with a full tank during storage when I went overseas so the gunk may be what was cleaned up in the tank.

Diesel flowed from the inlet down the centre of the filter element then through the element from the outside to the inside. The inside of the element was clean so the filter did it's job. Whenever I've drained either of my filter bowls I've never noticed water in the bowls. If I had to do it again, rather than buying the CAT filter head, I've have got a Toyota head off ebay and used a filter from an older non-CRD diesel motor. The Toyota filter has a larger element (larger in diameter and length) compared to the CAT. CAT do make a 4.3" filter in the same diameter.

Given the amount of crud in this filter, I'd hate to see how the factor elements look like from vehicles with one filter only when they finally get to the replacement stage (restricted). I'll be changing the CAT element in 10 000km to see what it's like. CAT recommend the filters be changed every 15000km for final filter elements.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

According to a local diesel mob this is normal. The dark stuff is ashfaltine which forms when diesel fuel brakes down. Fuel additives retard the fuel breakdown. This stuff does block filters. The local shop cut open a filter off a bus with a MAN engine. The entire element was black.

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

http://australia.cat.com/cda/files/3...EHJ0082-02.pdf

Looking at this - I like the Cat Filter, but on their website - I can't seem to find the original part numbers....From the first port.

The attached PDF link is from their website.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

The filters from the link are spin on filters. The ones people are using here are a stanadyne type filter which are fixed to the filter head using a lock collar.

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

Ah, might follow up on this cold and raining weekend here....

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

Just found this http://baileys-diesel-group.mybigcom...ter-separator/

Since I've just ordered injectors from them, this seems to be the go.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

Check if the kit comes with blanking plugs to block two on the holes. You'll need 2 x 10mm banjos, 2 x blanking plugs and some 10mm hose.