Donaldson plugging vs. rupturing?

[powerstroke73L]

There's been a lot of talk here about the Donaldson's water blocking capabilities and filter life in general but I've been wondering about something. I got 10K miles out of my first Donaldson and changed it despite no issues with the light turning off or flickering, just figured it might be a good idea. I'm approaching 10K miles on the current filter (2nd oil change since the last Donaldson) and I'm wondering whether or not to leave it on to see if it makes it to 15K. What I'm concerned about is what will happen when and if the filter plugs. Will it simply plug and cause the system to stop working (green light goes off until the filter is changed), or could the filter plug and the media rupture before the pump shuts down? Just wondering...James? Jason?

[Clay]

There's been a lot of talk here about the Donaldson's water blocking capabilities and filter life in general but I've been wondering about something. I got 10K miles out of my first Donaldson and changed it despite no issues with the light turning off or flickering, just figured it might be a good idea. I'm approaching 10K miles on the current filter (2nd oil change since the last Donaldson) and I'm wondering whether or not to leave it on to see if it makes it to 15K. What I'm concerned about is what will happen when and if the filter plugs. Will it simply plug and cause the system to stop working (green light goes off until the filter is changed), or could the filter plug and the media rupture before the pump shuts down? Just wondering...James? Jason?

It won't rupture, if your getting that many miles on a filter i would be curious to see how many more you can get. I would leave it. This will tell you alot about how well your filtration is working. I get 8k-9k miles on a filter. Thye same oil goes in dads truck and he has gotten more than that on a filter.

[Marv]

I'd ride it out and see what it does. Sounds like your filtering process is doing a great job. Most I've ever gotten out of one was 2500-2700 miles I believe.

I highly doubt you'd rupture the casing on that filter. If anything, I'd imagine the seal on the bottom of the filter would give out first. Not even sure if the FASS is capable of producing that much pressure.

Keep us posted on how long it lasts.

Thanks!

[powerstroke73L]

I highly doubt you'd rupture the casing on that filter. If anything, I'd imagine the seal on the bottom of the filter would give out first. Not even sure if the FASS is capable of producing that much pressure.

It's not the casing I'm worried about, it's the actual filter media. A hole in the media could cause unfiltered oil to travel to the injectors. What made me a little paranoid is when my centrifuge had gotten plugged resulting in the rotor spinning too slowly which meant that not all of the water had been removed. Luckily I don't pump my oil directly into my tank from the processing barrel-I pass it through a Goldenrod waterblock filter first. The Goldenrod, like the Donaldson, will swell and plug once it removes all the water it can from the fuel passing through it. I noticed a change in the noise from my pump (the motor was clearly working harder) and before I could actually get to the switch to turn it off, the filter had ruptured and a small amount of un-dewatered oil made it into my tank. The tank was nearly full so I didn't think anything of it. I added another 10 gallons of diesel to the tank to dilute the water even further.

Anyway, I took the Goldenrod element out and examined it. It had failed where the paper media attached to the plastic "body" of the filter. The paper simply tore away under the pressure. I'm pretty sure the pressure in the line hit about 60-70 psi before it finally failed, but it happened very fast so I'm not entirely sure. Anyway, I think what I'll do is leave this one on until it plugs and then cut it in half with a sawzall to examine it.

[Clay]

The dolandson is made to operate under high pressure. The Golden rod likely is not.

[Clay]

and as the Donaldson begins to clog, the pressure on it doesnt increase, the fuel is still running at 75 psi and what can't get through the filter is returned. The pressure post filter decreases and prefilter pressure stays the same.
Unlike your goldenrod setup....

[powerstroke73L]

and as the Donaldson begins to clog, the pressure on it doesnt increase, the fuel is still running at 75 psi and what can't get through the filter is returned. The pressure post filter decreases and prefilter pressure stays the same.
Unlike your goldenrod setup....

Good point. I guess I'm just still in disbelief that I've been driving around mostly for free for close to six months now...lol

[Jack_Toepfer]

Good point. I guess I'm just still in disbelief that I've been driving around mostly for free for close to six months now...lol

You're doing something right.

I also don't think the filter will fail, as I have been through many of them with no signs of anything failing at all. When they die... the light blinks and thats all.

[Marv]

As others have already said, I think you'll be fine.

If the Goldenrod failed at 60-70 psi, you should be more than fine with the Donaldson. My system is set to operate at 75 psi.

[Clay]

Those Dolandsons go on big rigs and are not made cheaply.
I can't speak for the goldenrods but I think they are primarily used for pump hose applications that do not deliver high pressure.

[greasyX]

Every truck I even trucked in had donaldson units,good stuff.FYI they also make air filters for large box stores that purify the air in malls and large department stores.Theres one you can see in southern NH,it looks like our filters,but 25 feet tall,its hooked up to a mall off of I-93 south bound...........

[Jack_Toepfer]

They also make the air filters for a lot of trucks/cars and they work with the aftermarket to create more efficient, but more expensive, filters. They are everywhere.

[Fordnut74]

You don't need to worry about the Filter rupturing. I have been using them for over 4 years now and have (knock on wood) never had one fail or heard of one failing. Donaldson is just about the best quality brand for filters out there. This Specific filter is actually OEM for the Caterpillar 3176 and 3406 series industrial and agricultural engines. I have done a lot of research on filters and nothing else comes close. And like Clay said the design of the system is such that the filter will never see more than system pressure. The pressure is regulated prior to the filter, not after so a plugging filter will cause post filter pressure to drop, but pre-filter will not rise. Here are the specs for the 555823.

Donaldson P555823

Beta
Nominal 2 Absolute 9
Temperature
Pressure 100psi
Vacum
Surface area 1075²in
Media type celluose
Dirt holding capacity 22grams

Donaldson EFF9092

Beta
Nominal 2
Absolute 5
Temperature
Pressure 75psi
Vacum
Surface area 758²in
Media type synthetic
Dirt holding capacity 28grams



Also listed is the "High Performance" version as well. Holds slightly more dirt, a little smaller and better at water seperation, filters better and costs about 2 to 3 times as much.

[powerstroke73L]

Ok-you guys have gotten rid of all my doubts.

Also listed is the "High Performance" version as well. Holds slightly more dirt, a little smaller and better at water seperation, filters better and costs about 2 to 3 times as much.

Just one more question. It was my understanding that the Donaldson will absorb water until it swells and plugs. So IF (and I know I'm playing Murphy's Law here) somehow a substantial amount of water got into my tank, it would simply plug up, the green light would go off, system-no-worky until the filter is changed/wet fuel is drained and replaced right? Kind of like a circuit breaker?

[Clay]

Ok-you guys have gotten rid of all my doubts.



Just one more question. It was my understanding that the Donaldson will absorb water until it swells and plugs. So IF (and I know I'm playing Murphy's Law here) somehow a substantial amount of water got into my tank, it would simply plug up, the green light would go off, system-no-worky until the filter is changed/wet fuel is drained and replaced right? Kind of like a circuit breaker?

That is correct