Relocated Fuel Filter & Added Priming Pump

[cbeierl]

(Moderators, can this be linked into the Freightliner and Cat forums as well?)

While having my Freightliner chassis and 350HP Cat C7 serviced at my local Freightliner service center I decided to go ahead and have them relocate the secondary fuel filter from on top of the engine to a more accessible location in back near the primary filter/water separator. I also had them add a manual priming pump. Here's the before picture of the filter:

and here's the after picture:

Here's another shot showing the filter & pump in their new location:

And here's a shot of where the filter used to be:

This should make filter changes MUCH easier in the future!

 

[cbeierl]

(Moderators, can this be linked into the Freightliner and Cat forums as well?)

While having my Freightliner chassis and 350HP Cat C7 serviced at my local Freightliner service center I decided to go ahead and have them relocate the secondary fuel filter from on top of the engine to a more accessible location in back near the primary filter/water separator. I also had them add a manual priming pump. Here's the before picture of the filter:

and here's the after picture:

Here's another shot showing the filter & pump in their new location:

And here's a shot of where the filter used to be:

This should make filter changes MUCH easier in the future!

 

[Harry B-THOR]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Contact Us | iRV2 | Terms of Service </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Chris,

That definitely made your life easier.

I did not realize that the 2005 Vectra came with a CAT C7 engine. I have the Cummins ISL 400 in my Horizon. Always thought the Vectra and Horizon were pretty much the same coach.

On the ISL the fuel filters are located between the chassis rails and the engine which is not the greatest of locations either. However seeing where it was on the C7 engine I understand why you made that change.

 

[cbeierl]

In 2005 the 350HP Cat C7 was standard in the Vectra and the 400hp Cummins ISL was optional in the 40' models (but not the 36' ones).

On edit: I believe that the 400 ISL was standard on the Horizon 40' coaches in 2005.

 

[Harry B-THOR]

Thanks Chris. We got our new and all the Horizons I had looked at back then had the ISL engine. Learned something new today.

 

[wagonmaster2]

cbeirl - with the other work you had done, do you know about what the cost of making this change was, including parts and labor? Does the FL shop have the parts to do this? I have the C7 330 Cat in a 2004 Meridian and changing this filter is one of the worst maintenance items needed (other than the engine air cleaner and air dryer cartridge). The primary water/fuel filter at the rear is a snap and making this change would really be great additive. thanks for any information about the cost of this.
Wagonmaster2

 

[John Canfield]

Chris - your engine is dirty

Relocating the primary filter is something I want to do on our ISL. Like Harry says, it is between the rails and just about in the center of the chassis. You need to scoot way under the chassis to even see it.

I talked to Cummins a couple of years ago and I think the kit to relocate ours was around $250. I'm not sure if the 250 was the entire job, or just the parts cost.

 

[cbeierl]

This work was done by Freightliner of New Hampshire in Londonderry, NH. The initial estimate was $650, but that didn't include the right-angle mounting bracket for the pump which they added for better accessibility. The actual total came in at $718.26. Here's the info I have from the service invoice (hopefully the formatting won't be too mangled):

Removed fuel filter and housing. Fabricated, drilled, and installed bracket. Installed and tightened fuel filter housing adapter and primer pump. Rerouted loom and tightened fuel lines. Replaced filter secured with bracket and wire ties. Started and inspected for leaks. Operations OK.

TOTAL LABOR .......... 316.80
TOTAL MISC PARTS ..... 200.04
TOTAL CAT PARTS ...... 185.06
TOTAL FRTLINER PARTS .. 11.74
TOTAL HARDWARE ......... 4.62

20 FC33206RL (hose) .................... 166.80
4 RBPL12066JIC (fitting) ............... 15.20
3 F550X6X6 (fitting) ................... 10.47
3 27004 (HOSE) .......................... 4.50
1 NPN (bolt) ............................ 3.07
1 9L6378 (ADAPTER) ..................... 97.54
2 1P0436 (GASKET) ....................... 2.20
1 1052508 (PUMP AS) .................... 84.78
1 8B2377 (CAPSCREW) ..................... 0.21
1 2B2694 (CAP SCREW) .................... 0.33
12 PHM-8-44147 (CBL TIE 1) ............... 1.20
30 PHM-5-029 (LOOMS 5/8") ................ 8.10
4 UMP-S630G14 (CLAMP) ................... 2.44
4 39603 (3/8-16) ........................ 0.48
4 39056 (3/8-16) ........................ 0.84
8 39703 (3/8 FLAT) ...................... 1.60
4 36727 (3/8 WASH) ...................... 0.32
1 39601 (1/4-20) ........................ 0.18
1 39004 (1/4-20X1) ...................... 0.18
3 39701 (1/4 FLWSHR) .................... 0.60
2 92305 (1/4-20) ........................ 0.16
1 92322 (5/16 SS) ....................... 0.14
1 39702 (5/16 WASH) ..................... 0.12

 

[John Canfield]

Chris - the 250 I was quoted must have been just for the parts. Thanks for the parts breakdown.

 

[robert Wright]

Chris, I noticed you are in NH what was the location of the Dealer were you had the filter installed as I am in southern Maine and would like to have mine changed over. 330 cat with single filter mounted byy trhe radiator.
Thanks
Bob Wright

 

[tomsm]

For those of you that missed it on the Freightliner forum here's a link to a thread that has pictures of adding a 2nd filter and primer pump to my Journey.

$325.00 labor + $304.81 parts = $629.81 total

 

[cbeierl]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by robert Wright:
Chris, I noticed you are in NH what was the location of the Dealer were you had the filter installed as I am in southern Maine and would like to have mine changed over. 330 cat with single filter mounted byy trhe radiator.
Thanks
Bob Wright </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Freightliner of New Hampshire, Inc.
Route 102
P.O. Box 1440
Londonderry, NH 03053
(603) 421-9000

Feel free to reference my name/coach.

 

[Gary CA]

I completed the fuel filter relocation project this week for approximately $270 in parts only.

The pictures provided by Chris/cbeierl and Tom/tomsm were very helpful. One good brace to note is in the "top of the engine" picture provided by Chris. The rear steel fuel line needs to be supported once the fuel filter base is removed. I copied the brace made by his mechanic.

I mounted the fuel filter in the upper right as Tom did. I used 8ft (2 pieces) of hose. I used the prime pump and the engine started right up.

Now a fuel filter change will take 5 minutes and I will no longer need an hour to R&R the hatch and belongings under the bed.

Give yourself a day for this project.

Good luck.