Larger Fuel Filter w/ Water Separator Adapter
 

Hey guys, someone asked me a question about my fuel filter setup after seeing a picture of my engine bay. I thought I'd copy/paste most of that convo to share what I did along with the links.

The filter I used is Baldwin BF1217 w/ water separator drain on the bottom.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004A0H4XW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It is the same thread size as original banjo bolt, so there's one less mod needed than what comes in the kit - the kit has a double threaded adapter to fit the larger opening in the filters they suggest.

It requires an adapter to raise the fuel filter housing to make room. This site carries the adapter in a kit.
https://www.doomsdaydiesel.net/product-page/cat-1r-0750-fuel-filter-adapter-kit

What they don't tell you when you buy the kit is that to fit those filters (a Donaldson & CAT) onto the housing you also have to cut or grind down the housing a good bit. Not worth it to me and the double threaded adapter is a janky way to make it fit to me. I almost dropped the adapter inside the filter when screwing it on. With the filter listed above you don't have to mess with that. (WIX 33327 also fits)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JBOXIQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )

You may or may not need to slightly bend one of the metal fuel supply lines up a tad. I did about 1/2 an inch and didn't affect anything. Of course a little slip or being too rough, you'll kink that line and be in a mess.

You will also need to lengthen the nylon fuel lines. You can buy 6mm & 8mm nylon fuel line and reuse the fittings just cut the fittings free with a razor knife, all you'll need is a heat gun to soften the nylon so it will slide onto barbs of the banjo fittings and seal.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S195C34/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


It's not for everyone or purists and the benefits may be minimal. The benefits would be longer filter life and better filtration (2 microns versus most filters that being about 10 microns).

Housing adapter circled yellow.
http://i68.tinypic.com/6gzjuf.jpg

Delivervalve filter mod:

DELIVERYVALVE filter mod
Lower Micron Fuel Filter Mod - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

There is 2 different filter mods in the thread. When I did the CAT Filter mod the Housing casting webs did not have to be modified. You only need to do that for the Baldwin and the WIX version of the Filter as they are slightly fatter.

Because the Filters are longer and the Casting of the Power steering bracket below I mad a plate with 4 holes and moved the filter to the rear about 1 inch. You can see the parts I used in post #10. Also in post #10 you can see the very little bit of grinding I needed to do to the stock filter housing to get the larger WIX and Baldwin filter to fit.

Maybe something is different on my '85?, but neither the Donaldson or CAT fit on my housing without grinding.

Honestly, the Baldwin I used may require grinding too, but I can't tell because I had already done a small amount of grinding trying to make the CAT & Donaldson fit.

I searched through 10 pages of threads under "fuel filter" because I didn't want to duplicate, wish I'd seen yours before making this one.

Never mind

It is not a duplicate because it is a different filter and you posted some resources that people did not have to make themselves.

Note when I drilled out and tapped the threaded adapter for the CAT Filter I did it on a Lathe. That of course centered everything well. If I had drilled it on a drill press it would not have been as well centered and I would have likely had to grind more off of the filter housing webs.

I remember when I first was doing my research I found the BF1217 to be a much higher micron rating than I would liked. It's really suited for a primary fuel filter water separator, not a secondary.

Grainger shows the BF1217 at 40 microns.
https://www.grainger.com/product/BALDWIN-FILTERS-Fuel-Filter-2KZW9?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjMfoBRDDARIsAMUjNZoAO6BXTMqTw-E_2htrpzHR29pBfzOxeoif-sUMp9trZWPBA9xIjucaAsWEEALw_wcB&searchQuery=BF1217&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwjMfoBRDDARIsAMUjNZoAO6BXTMqTw-E_2htrpzHR29pBfzOxeoif-sUMp9trZWPBA9xIjucaAsWEEALw_wcB%3AG%3As&s_kwcid=AL%212966%213%2181085198101%21p%21%21g%21%21bf1217&c m_mmc=PPC%3A+Google+PPC


One another note, over ten years have passed since we did this modification and during this time, Caterpillar revised the micron rating for the 1R-0750 filter. Around 2011, the filter stayed the same, but CAT changed their rating standard. “Advance Efficiency” 1R-0750 became a 5 micron filter. The "Ultra High Efficiency" line of filters has a value lower than 4 microns filter or the so called 2 micron filter. See on page 11 of the CAT .pdf doc published in 2013 attached or a direct
link.. https://caterpillar.scene7.com/is/content/Caterpillar/C10467200

I believe the CAT 306-9199 Ultra High Efficiency is the 1R-0750 equivalent, but haven't tried it.

If you look up the WIX version of the Baldwin BF1217 they claimed a nominal micron filtration of 9 which is similar to the nominal micron of 10 for the Mercedes Spin-on Fuel Filter.

40 microns! Looks I got some bogus info.

You can just use the WIX version

Baldwin BF1217 = WIX 33327 (NAPA sells them but adds some extra letters or numbers onto the front of the filter number.)

Both of the below are ratings of filter efficiency.
Nominal Micron Rating: 9 (the stock Mercedes spin-on has a nominal micron rating of 10)
Beta Ratio 2/75=9/40

Thread size 14X1.5 MM
It has the drain at the bottom.

Don't use the WIX Oil Filter on your vehicle the nominal micron rating is high compared to other Oil Filters.

Here is the specs I got from another site that sells the BF1217

Fuel Filter, 7-11/32x3-11/16x7-11/32 In

BALDWIN FILTERS | Zoro #: G1044766 | Mfr #: BF1217
Details:
Includes: Drain, I. Gasket
Description/Special Features: Fuel/Water Separator Spin-on with Drain
Micron Rating: 40
View Full Product Details See All Product Specifications

While it does say Micron Rating: 40 it does not say if it is part of a nominal or a Beta rating. Is that a typo?

You might go to the Baldwin Filter site and send a message to the tech department and ask them what the Filter efficiency is. Within a week they will answer.

Here is the specs I got from another site that sells the BF1217

Fuel Filter, 7-11/32x3-11/16x7-11/32 In

BALDWIN FILTERS | Zoro #: G1044766 | Mfr #: BF1217
Details:
Includes: Drain, I. Gasket
Description/Special Features: Fuel/Water Separator Spin-on with Drain
Micron Rating: 40
View Full Product Details See All Product Specifications

While it does say Micron Rating: 40 it does not say if it is part of a nominal or a Beta rating. Is that a typo?

You might go to the Baldwin Filter site and send a message to the tech department and ask them what the Filter efficiency is. Within a week they will answer.

I saw the Baldwin BF1217 on Walmarts site too and it said 40 microns. I'm not where I got 2 microns from when I bought it, but I already had the Wix filter in my garage so I ripped that Baldwin off as soon as seen the from you guys with the right rating.

When I get some time I'll do some more research and see if I can find another filter of the same size that offers better filtration. I guess as it is with the Wix filter on, at least I still have the water separator option.

Love my GTB228 and CAT 1R-0750 mod. Zero concerns about fuel filtration since.

One would think that even if the Filter had the same nominal micron rating since it is a larger then stock filter that would allow you to filter finer because the larger filter means there should be a pressure drop allowing particles more time to pass and get trapped in the element.