OEM Fuel Filter 6.2L Diesel

[solvire]

Question:
I have that stock filter for the 6.2L

What is the consensus on replacing that.
I swapped the 4BD1-T in place and was thinking of getting a lift pump and better aftermarket filters. Not that it matters with that thumper I'm putting in. There is a fuel filter that sits on the motor, but it is single stage and I would lose my heater and water separator.

 

[campfire]

Question:
I have that stock filter for the 6.2L

What is the consensus on replacing that.
I swapped the 4BD1-T in place and was thinking of getting a lift pump and better aftermarket filters. Not that it matters with that thumper I'm putting in. There is a fuel filter that sits on the motor, but it is single stage and I would lose my heater and water separator.

Assuming you have the square Stanadyne box filter that 1984-1991 square-bodied rigs got, they have a reputation for leaking. I'm confident you'll never miss the fuel heater (I have never had an issue with my non-heated 1983 filter, even at 20 below zero), but water separation might come in handy. Your filter base also has a WIF sensor, FWIW (mine is in the tank). When I got my 1984 I swapped the box filter for a spin-on style based on the leakage reputation, but I didn't have any problems with it, and my CUCV is still rocking the box filter without issues.

I don't think there is a consensus here, YMMV.

 

[solvire]

Assuming you have the square Stanadyne box filter that 1984-1991 square-bodied rigs got, they have a reputation for leaking. I'm confident you'll never miss the fuel heater (I have never had an issue with my non-heated 1983 filter, even at 20 below zero), but water separation might come in handy. Your filter base also has a WIF sensor, FWIW (mine is in the tank). When I got my 1984 I swapped the box filter for a spin-on style based on the leakage reputation, but I didn't have any problems with it, and my CUCV is still rocking the box filter without issues.

I don't think there is a consensus here, YMMV.

Glad to hear from other people.
Well considering the motor has a fuel filter on the block I can save that space.
Blue filter top passenger side.

I'd like to have the WIF in place tho.
After a couple hours of research I think I will stick with the filter I have and not worry about the old one. And then there might be a comparable model that I can find that will mate up and come with a water separator in place. If I can see water that is good enough for me. I don't need a light.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[diesel4me]

My '82 GMC has the stock spin on fuel filter,that has a built in water drain,there is a WIX 33123 on it right now..

In the years since I owned this truck it hasn't had a "secondary" filter or fuel heater,someone deleted it evidently...the truck has never failed to start as long as it has working AC 60G glow plugs and the cold pressure advance in the injector pump working right --even in zero degree weather ,no block heater too...so I doubt you'll miss the fuel heater..they have caused a few trucks to burn up too..

Every time I have went to drain any water from my fuel filter,I never got so much as a drop,or any discolored fuel,and I let the truck sit idle long periods with a 1/4 of a tank often...

I tend to think most water gets pumped into the tank with fuel,not so much from sitting or condensation..

 

[campfire]

My '82 GMC has the stock spin on fuel filter,that has a built in water drain,there is a WIX 33123 on it right now..

In the years since I owned this truck it hasn't had a "secondary" filter or fuel heater,someone deleted it evidently...the truck has never failed to start as long as it has working AC 60G glow plugs and the cold pressure advance in the injector pump working right --even in zero degree weather ,no block heater too...so I doubt you'll miss the fuel heater..they have caused a few trucks to burn up too..

Every time I have went to drain any water from my fuel filter,I never got so much as a drop,or any discolored fuel,and I let the truck sit idle long periods with a 1/4 of a tank often...

I tend to think most water gets pumped into the tank with fuel,not so much from sitting or condensation..

Crummy fuel evidently caused a bunch of problems with the older Oldsmobile diesels, I think that's why these trucks all got WIF sensors and water siphoning ports. But on later trucks they didn't bother. Maybe the fuel quality is better now?

I do know that I got a tankful of black, watery contaminated fuel,and my WIF light didn't warn me. Not sure how useful it really is if it doesn't catch problems like that (wound up stranding the truck).

 

[solvire]

My '82 GMC has the stock spin on fuel filter,that has a built in water drain,there is a WIX 33123 on it right now..

In the years since I owned this truck it hasn't had a "secondary" filter or fuel heater,someone deleted it evidently...the truck has never failed to start as long as it has working AC 60G glow plugs and the cold pressure advance in the injector pump working right --even in zero degree weather

I have heard that a few times so I'm feeling pretty confident with the stock Isuzu filter on it. I might do another in line one day with a lift pump but this will get me going.

 

[diesel4me]

The 33123 Wix filter is rated 12 microns,the stock secondary filter would have been a 33124 Wix that had a 6 micron rating...so my injector pump is seeing fuel a bit less finely filtered than it should be,but as far as I can tell, it hasn't affected it any--and the lower restriction of the missing secondary filter and fuel heater may actually improve fuel delivery to the injector pump...

My home furnace has a sock cartridge type filter rated at 10 microns--you know how incredibly small an oil burner's nozzle jet holes are--I'd guess if 10 microns is good enough for a oil furnace burner,it should be "clean" enough for a diesel engine's injector pump...

 

[solvire]

The 33123 Wix filter is rated 12 microns,the stock secondary filter would have been a 33124 Wix that had a 6 micron rating...so my injector pump is seeing fuel a bit less finely filtered than it should be,but as far as I can tell, it hasn't affected it any--and the lower restriction of the missing secondary filter and fuel heater may actually improve fuel delivery to the injector pump...

My home furnace has a sock cartridge type filter rated at 10 microns--you know how incredibly small an oil burner's nozzle jet holes are--I'd guess if 10 microns is good enough for a oil furnace burner,it should be "clean" enough for a diesel engine's injector pump...

that makes sense.
i still have yet to do research on the molecular level, but for these analog motor i should be okay.

 

[diesel4me]

I looked up several other diesel powered trucks,tractors,etc,and many of them only use a 10 micron fuel filter...also the "sock" in the gas tank pre-filters it pretty good too...