What does the prefilter do?

It looks as if there is nothing in the plastic body but a plastic cone.

Can we use another filter there that actually has a paper element in it?

Well on mine it has a fine mesh, basically for stopping big bits of goo and stuff.

i was visiting a napa today and they offered up a plastic
see through filter that also had a cardboard filter inside of it..

I think I am going to keep the MB filter but I think I am going to ad
the napa filter anyway.... it was only 1.98

The plastic filter is there to give longevity to the spin-on filter, ithas a nice 10Micron element in it that catches gook. and it is visual to know when it is dirty. the spinon filter is more than adequate to keep your fuel clean. why slow down your fuel flow more with a third filter? the plastic screen flows fuel fast enough to keep up with the IP and doesn't reduce the pressure or flow much. the Spin-on has HUGE capacity so when smaller particles are captured, it still flows well.
if I were going to add an additional filter... and I have been thinking about it. I would add a large filter with a glass bowl and water seperator. I have a few from my old days of tractors and Mid West winters with #2 fuel. I have no idea if elements can still be purchased for those old filters though...
John

i run on wasit veggie oil....and I like to change those
filters often.... and while I was at napa they should me
a really fine plastic filter with a paper element inside..
it was impressive....

I am thinking about changing the plastic filters every week
since there so cheap....

and yes the spin on filter is very impressive.... I wonder if it goes
down to 1 micron...

do you filter your WVO before putting it in the tank? down to 1 micron at least before using it..? dewatering ?

i filter using a cut off pair of blue jeans... and it takes it down
probably to 10 microns....but i read somewhere where they said
it takes it lower....

I plan on buying some 1 mircon bags soon....

how do you dewater?

I do get really good quality oil... and I am up to 1150 miles

a new pair of thick levi's is 5 micron. Thats what i use as my pre-filter after de-watering. My final filtration is a 1 micron water canister filter.

i get the 1 mircon filters in a 24 or 30 pack on ebay cheap, like $20 with $8 shipping!

__________________
Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

i use one of those paper element pre-filters to hook up my fattywagon inline electric wvo heater. It works great! much lower mircon rating then the 150mic mesh strainer plastic pre-filter that comes stock on these merc's.

__________________
Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

i think i am going to add the napa filter... it looks great and I am going to give it a try...

tell me how to dewater....

also on the 1 micron your talking about a water filter right...

You need to go over to www.biodiesel.infopop.cc and look in the SVO section. That site is the repository for information about alternative fuels in the way that this site is the repository for information about MBs.

Your WVO must be absolutely water free before it ever goes into the tank. No oil water separator will do that. It will only remove the suspended water.

-Jim
(I'm part way through my conversion right now.)

__________________
1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

If your source is dumping the oil right from the fryer into your container then it's water free.

Danny

__________________
1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination

Great! I was wondering how water stays in suspention when it is such a hot oil.
are you sure?
John

the only way to know if it is water free is to check it. seach infopop or frybrid for hot pan test.

the wix prefilters are rated 20 micron, spin-ons 10.

__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.