I,m having trouble following all this. I need a definition of the filters
named.
Hi Joe,
Fuel travels from the tank to the "Auxiliary" filter (often a Racor) after
which it goes to the "Primary" fuel filter (on the engine) and then to the
secondary fuel filter if one is part of the system (also on the engine).
It should be noted that some engines (e.g. Lehman) mount two filters but
they are identical in which case you've got two primaries. I'm not sure if
filters in this arrangement operate in series or parallel but, nonetheless,
they would be considered primary filters when you go to buy replacements.
All this is unimportant if you do your own work and order your filters by
part number. OTOH: Consider what could happen if circumstances were
different:
Scenario One - You hire one of Marty Chin's less professional competitors to
service your engine. You tell them to change the oil and all the filters
except the primary fuel filter which you have just changed yourself. When
you said "Primary" you were thinking about the auxiliary Racor but the
technician assumed you were talking about the filters on the engine. Result;
The primary engine fuel filter doesn't get changed and a brand new Racor
element is replaced with another one. Granted, most technicians would ask
for clarification but occasionally one will simply take you at your word.
Scenario Two - You're about to change your own fuel filters and you go to a
filter warehouse to buy what you need. You ask for a secondary fuel filter
for a Lehman 120. The counterman will probably tell you that his supplier
doesn't make such a filter. If, however, you had asked for primary fuel
filters or simply fuel filters you would have gotten exactly what you need.
Granted, a good counterman would have figured out what you wanted but good
countermen are getting a bit harder to find these days.
The bottom line is that you can call things whatever you want as long as it
doesn't interfere with the way you do things. If you are in any way
dependant on others for your maintenance needs it is a good idea to learn a
bit of their language.
Translationally yours,
Alex
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe DellaFera" <samakijoe@mediaone.net>
> >>
> I,m having trouble following all this. I need a definition of the filters
> named.
Hi Joe,
Fuel travels from the tank to the "Auxiliary" filter (often a Racor) after
which it goes to the "Primary" fuel filter (on the engine) and then to the
secondary fuel filter if one is part of the system (also on the engine).
It should be noted that some engines (e.g. Lehman) mount two filters but
they are identical in which case you've got two primaries. I'm not sure if
filters in this arrangement operate in series or parallel but, nonetheless,
they would be considered primary filters when you go to buy replacements.
All this is unimportant if you do your own work and order your filters by
part number. OTOH: Consider what could happen if circumstances were
different:
Scenario One - You hire one of Marty Chin's less professional competitors to
service your engine. You tell them to change the oil and all the filters
except the primary fuel filter which you have just changed yourself. When
you said "Primary" you were thinking about the auxiliary Racor but the
technician assumed you were talking about the filters on the engine. Result;
The primary engine fuel filter doesn't get changed and a brand new Racor
element is replaced with another one. Granted, most technicians would ask
for clarification but occasionally one will simply take you at your word.
Scenario Two - You're about to change your own fuel filters and you go to a
filter warehouse to buy what you need. You ask for a secondary fuel filter
for a Lehman 120. The counterman will probably tell you that his supplier
doesn't make such a filter. If, however, you had asked for primary fuel
filters or simply fuel filters you would have gotten exactly what you need.
Granted, a good counterman would have figured out what you wanted but good
countermen are getting a bit harder to find these days.
The bottom line is that you can call things whatever you want as long as it
doesn't interfere with the way you do things. If you are in any way
dependant on others for your maintenance needs it is a good idea to learn a
bit of their language.
Translationally yours,
Alex
