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View Poll Results: Do you clean and re-use you primary fuel filter? | |||
Yes I clean and re-use them | 8 | 13.33% | |
Nope, I throw them out | 52 | 86.67% | |
I've never changed my primary fuel filter | 0 | 0% | |
What is a primary fuel filter?? | 0 | 0% | |
Voters: 60. You may not vote on this poll |
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#1
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Clean and Re-use Primary Fuel Filter?
AKA 'Just how cheap/eco-freaky are you??'
I rinse several times w/ detergent or simple green and blow them dry.
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Cheers, Robert |
#2
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After my fuel tank was removed, cleaned and put back, I had some seriously nasty stuff coming into the pre-filter. It was obviously just gunky residue, so I removed, cleaned and reinstalled. I wouldn't usually do that though, it was a special case.
The way I look at it, there's small stuff in there that I can't always see and cleaning it may result in getting dirt on the clean side of the filter. They're cheap, just replace.
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-justin 1987 300TD, 1987 300TD 2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon |
#3
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I would only bother to reuse them if I didn't have a spare available.
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#4
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They are cheap and I only use about 1 a year per car or less (usually less)...so its nicer to put in a shiny new one.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#5
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An interesting question. I suppose used filters end up in the landfill. We have oil filter recycling here but not sure what would be done if they found a fuel filter or even if they would recognize it or care if they did.
I guess the question revolves around the cleaning solution (Simple Green or whatever) and what becomes of it and the material it removes. Is the cleaning process dirtier than the discarding process? Another question involves the pre-filter and its ability to tolerate the cleaning process. Ever taken one apart to see what it's made of? You have apparently had experience with this process and obviously the internals don't 'melt.' If I were to reuse a pre-filter, I'd run some diesel fuel, biodiesel, or one of the "miracle" fuel enhancement products through the filter backwards. The pre-filter should be catching only "big stuff" anyway and you should be able to rinse and reuse it. You could then filter the cleaning solution with a (for example) coffee filter and put the filtered stuff in your fuel tank. But now you have a coffee filter and filtrate to get rid of -- same problem!
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#6
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Humm, you might be able too rinse out the oil filter and re use that too
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
#7
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Why???
Filters......Fuel, Oil, Air, Hydraulic (ATF&PS) are installed for a reason.....to remove unwanted detrius/debris from whatever system thry are filtering.....why jeopardize an expensive piece of machinery???
Follow manufacturers recommendations.....and toss 'em..... SB
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Diesels: '85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG '84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG '77 240D (parts car) '67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP) Gassers: '94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG '85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car '58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG |
#8
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After a little consideration, I realized that whatever I used to clean it with probably cost a multitude of times over, economically and environmentally, what it would be to just discard such a small, inexpensive part.
(Don't forget what it costs, in both respects, to manufacture whatever cleaning solution is used.)
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Sam 84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle ) |
#9
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Quote:
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
#10
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wow, not exactly the results I was expecting...
But I guess I should clarify, When I got my '80, it had a hella case of 'black death', I was cleaning primary filters @ less than 3k. I actually had 2 primary filters plumbed in-line so that I could pull the one closest to the tank and still have one inline. I guess I got used to cleaning them.
However, that being said... PEOPLE!!! these are entirely PLASTIC filters, anyone who thinks that it takes more energy to use some CITRUS based solvent and a little hot water to clean and re-use them VS. Crude oil pumped from the ground in saudi arabia, pumped 500 miles to a tanker, unloaded @ some refinery in Turkey (or God knows where) Cleaned, Cracked, trucked to a blow molding facility, molded into 3 seperate pieces, those pieces joined, boxed (don't forget the trees), loaded into a container, Shipped ACROSS the Atlantic Ocean!!!, Unloaded @ NJ or LA or God knows where, Trucked to a warehouse, unloaded, trucked again to a pep boys, stocked, and then sold to the end user (complete with a paper reciept) is completely delusional!!! RANT OFF!!:fork_off: :fork_off:
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Cheers, Robert |
#11
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Quote:
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#12
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Penny wise - pound foolish.
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http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...aman/Fleet.jpg Peach Parts W124.128 User Group. 80 280SL 85 300SD 87 300TD 92 300D 2.5 Turbo 92 300TE 4Matic |
#13
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Actually, the part that would concern me is using water to clean the filter. I could see rinsing it out with some diesel (or something else oil based), but I don't think I would want to introduce water upstream of the IP. Wouldn't it be easier to just order a handful of new filters?
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#14
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Quote:
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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later! -German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123. |
#15
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I got into re-using these (the pre-filter @ less than $2.00, not the $9.00 secondary) when I was getting a lot of black gunk after beginning to use UCO in my '80 300TD. I was getting fuel starvation sometimes within 200 miles. I usually just drained them out, sometimes rinsing (backwards, of course) with a little RUG. Steve
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