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T&T: The case for following manufacturers recommendation: was 2 vs 10 micron filters

From: Peter Pisciotta (no email)
Date: Sat Jul 01 2006 - 15:25:13 EDT

  • Next message: Richard P Blake: "T&T: Xantrex Prosine 2.5 Inverter Problem"

    > ...almost everyone in the 10 micron camp
    > says the same thing "this is what the
    > manufacturer recommends". But nobody
    > including the manufactures can tell
    > them why.

    I hate to belabor this - its gone on too long already,
    but I really have to summarize the discussion. On the
    "2-micron" side, there's logic - and that's about it.
    Now, it's pretty good logic from some folks who have
    obviously spent some time thinking about this, but
    still, logic, and a willingness to accept clogged
    filters as long as they are easy to get to and change.

    On the other side - the so-called "10-micron" side,
    you have major engine manufacturers supporting their
    position with warranty dollars and R&D dollars; along
    with the filter makers themselves, and even a
    smattering of industry experts. All saying to run
    2-micron secondary filters on the engine-mounted
    filter (you have little choice, though some new
    engines come with a 10/2 filter, an outer core of
    10-micron filter material and an inner core of
    2-micron filter material); and a 10-micron primary
    filter (the "Racor" filters).

    How big is a "micron?" Well, 10 microns is under
    4-10,000ths of an inch, and 2 microns is under a
    10,000th of an inch - we're talking microscopic
    material that is beyond the ability of all but the
    most sophisticated machinery to tolerance. The
    'period' at the end of this sentence is over 600
    microns. Asphaltines (a common fuel tank crud item"
    are incredibly long and bulky substances. Take a
    dipper of crystal clear spring water and you may find
    giardia, a common bacteria that causes constant
    diarreah, and is a whopping 15 microns, absolutely
    invisible to the naked eye.

    This is microscopic material, not the "pigs and
    chickens" floating around your tank (rust,
    asphaltines, dirt, etc). Injector tip orifices range
    in size from 40-100 microns, barely visible to the
    naked eye, but relatively large in the big scheme of
    things.

    The heart of the 2-micron camp is "if a 2-micron
    filter is gonna clog, I want it easy to access." The
    experts are saying "why not design a system that
    doesn't clog?" More importantly, you won't endanger
    your engine and we'll back-up our recommendation with
    warranty dollars - and you'll be happier in the long
    run.

    More logic: stories of clogged 2-micron primaries are
    common (Bob Senter's discussion noted a couple on the
    Nordhavn Atlantic Rally). But I know of no similar
    stories of clogged 2-micron secondary filters that had
    a 10-micron primary (or even 30 micron filter for that
    matter).

    I don't expect any of the hardcore 2-micron folks to
    change their thinking. They have their logic and are
    gonna stick to it, regardless of their experience with
    microscopic-level particles. But for those who are
    undecided, consider the advice of experts: staged
    filtration (10 micron primary filter,
    engine-manufacturer recommended secondary filter), and
    maintain your filtration system - change the filters
    regularly. Learn how to change and bleed your
    secondary filter (its fast and easy after you've done
    it once or twice). You'll be rewarded with a system
    that is trouble-free, and worry free.

    Peter
    www.SeaSkills.com
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