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08-17-2018, 10:38 PM
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#1
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 1,413
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Thomas
Engine: CAT 3126
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Fuel filter/water separator public service announcement
For some reason I thought the water separator was not also a filter that would get plugged up. I had been emptying the water every so often so I saw little reason to change the filter, but I had one so I figured it couldn’t hurt.
When the old one came off I couldn’t believe the bus was still running. It was nearly entirely plugged. Not sure if it is algae or what. I just finished putting 7k miles on it so I know the fuel system has been well flushed.
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08-17-2018, 10:50 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: arkensas
Posts: 1,071
Year: 1997
Coachwork: bluebird
Chassis: chevy
Engine: 3116 catapillar
Rated Cap: 71 now 2 humans 1 cat
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there is a algae that grows in diesel fuel. if you have it in your filter its in your tank and you need to get a additive to kill it
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08-17-2018, 11:04 PM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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What he said. If it is in the filter, it is almost certainly in the tank and likely to cause big problems at some point. Get an algaecide for your fuel.
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08-18-2018, 08:43 AM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,762
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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I'm not big on fuel additives but with diesels they're almost a necessity.
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08-18-2018, 08:50 AM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,343
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 2 elderly children, 1 cat
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__________________
Don, Mary and Spooky the cat.
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08-18-2018, 10:29 AM
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#6
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Tahoe
Posts: 513
Year: 1997
Coachwork: International
Chassis: 3000RE
Engine: T444E w/ MT643
Rated Cap: 84 pass, 40'
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Quote:
Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07
For some reason I thought the water separator was not also a filter that would get plugged up. I had been emptying the water every so often so I saw little reason to change the filter, but I had one so I figured it couldn’t hurt.
When the old one came off I couldn’t believe the bus was still running. It was nearly entirely plugged. Not sure if it is algae or what. I just finished putting 7k miles on it so I know the fuel system has been well flushed.
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Stupid question- is the water separator *in addition* to the fuel filter I already changed in my engine compartment?
__________________
middle aged mom on a learning adventure
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08-18-2018, 10:46 AM
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#7
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 1,413
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Thomas
Engine: CAT 3126
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2martins
Stupid question- is the water separator *in addition* to the fuel filter I already changed in my engine compartment?
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Yes I think so, although mine were next to each other in the engine compartment. If your bus only has one for some reason I think it would be well worth it to add a water separator. The low sulfur diesel at the pump now is more susceptible to biological contamination, and water has always been an issue with diesels.
You can tell the difference between the filters because the separator has a petcock on the bottom.
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08-18-2018, 01:36 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,762
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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This stuff does wonders in my buses-
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09-06-2018, 09:38 PM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1
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Not all water separators have petcocks. Some versions use a mat that just abosorbs it, and you change it every so often. Source; Used to work at a NAPA, we sold a lot of those to the LSD bus garage
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09-06-2018, 09:49 PM
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#10
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 1,413
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Thomas
Engine: CAT 3126
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Architect_Blasen
Not all water separators have petcocks. Some versions use a mat that just abosorbs it, and you change it every so often. Source; Used to work at a NAPA, we sold a lot of those to the LSD bus garage
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Good info. I guess you could say that if it has a petcock it is a separator for sure, but if it doesn’t have one it still *might* be.
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09-07-2018, 09:59 AM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Huntington Beach CA.
Posts: 939
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: T/C 2000 28 foot Handy Bus
Engine: Cummins 5.9 Mechanical
Rated Cap: 2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07
Good info. I guess you could say that if it has a petcock it is a separator for sure, but if it doesn’t have one it still *might* be.
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Here is the water seperator on my 1991 Bluebird TC 2000. It has 2 petcocks. Also, the silver pipe fitting on the top right is a check valve or one way valve, my old one was so worn you could blow air through it the wrong way.
This feeds a mechanical Cummins 5.9.
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