I had the same issue in the spring when I did my oil cooler. I called Bob who was great and he sent out a new piece right away no questions asked. I keep an eye on it anyways and it has not leaked since. However the design is still a weak link in my opinion with the pressed fit. Perhaps a small weld after the piece is fitted will fix the problem? I don't have any expeirence with the DFuser kit but to me the only difference is they use a four piece brass fitting combo to do the same job as the aluminum "T". I would never use plastic, just personal preference.

I've never used this stuff, but it looks like it could be a good solution. Of course soldered brass could do the job as well.

YouTube - Aluminum Welding, Brazing & Soldering Tips: Join Brass to Aluminum

I tried it ,, no go for me

I made my own kit from the napa filter head. Im pretty sure I saved like $20 overall. Next time I would just buy a kit. But I used the plastic HELP tee 3/4 x 3/8 x 3/4. I inspected it after about 3 weeks and found a small leak. I pulled it apart and found the tee warping on one of the 3/4 sides. I then went to home depot and bought a 1"x1/2"x1" pex tee. It was tight as hell but now its Bulletproof. Plastic tee = failure and leaking coolant. and with all the signs of things failing on this truck linked to coolant behaviour. I would change that tee asap!

As to the dieselsite tee failing, stuff happens and life goes on. Its how the problem is handled that makes all the difference. Bob said he would replace the tee so be it. maybe ask him to send a backup to keep on hand as a just incase.

Holy crap man!!! Do I have to post this two times? Go to a plumbing supply store, ask for a 1 x 1/2 pex tee. this goes on the line that goes to the heater coil. then get a 1/2 pex tee this goes on the return line going to the degas bottle. They are brass and yes they are real!!!. I'm a master plumber I buy them almost every day. I've had them in my coolant filter system for some time now. I wish I new how to post pics and I would show you all what they look like. Good lord!!!

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4831/pext.jpg

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http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8135/brass.jpg

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Thanks, that's the 1/2" one "Brass" Do ya have one of the 1x1/2?

Just changed my Santa want list to the dfusser coolant filter. Hope Im doing the right thing. Does anyone have any experience with the dfusser filter?

Thanks, Rob

Nope, but I do have the dieselsite filter and have had not a single lick of trouble with it.

U would say it's hard to mess up a filter kit .. but then again lol

you will more than likley just get your replacment filters from napa anyway

Bob,

I did not mean to imply that I don't like the Dieselsite filter kit. I do and would buy one again. The kit was well designed and packaged. I really liked the billet filter housing, looks good and professionally done. I didn't prefer the aluminum tee, however. I too have an engineering background and felt that the thousands of heat cycles and any side loading from the hose routing could affect the reliability of the part. Thanks.

I agree, I will be getting a fitting from ace.

Thanks for the info guys I think I'll buy the pex t. I just got the kit in today and haven't had a chance to check it out yet. No reason to take a chance when a cure is a couple of bucks.

Mud

Hi All,

New guy here. I found this forum a little while ago and decided to finally register.
First I would like to thank Bob from Dieselite for putting this kit together. I installed one this year and it looks good. However, being in central Maine and going into the winter with this pressed aluminum fitting, does not make me feel secure.

I will be seeing many nights below 0, and some 20 below or more. Between the continuous thermal expansion and the stiffness of the hoses at those temperatures, I don’t feel that a 2 piece, press fit, aluminum tee is the best choice. It’s a risk easily avoided and not worth taking. Interference (Press) fit parts are subject to manufacturing variables. Unless each part is mechanically tested, they are only visually inspected.

I just swapped out the tee from Dieselsite with a brass PEX 1x1x1/2. It fit perfectly. I was able to find the same brass tee on line for less than $3 each, my cost. I imagine in bulk they can be had cheaper. Just out of curiosity, I held the Dieselsite fitting in my hand, grabbed the small barb with a pair of pliers and twisted. It rotated and fell off very easily. Much easier than I expected. If Dieselsite continues to make their own part, it should be threaded and loc-tightened in my opinion.

I would also like to thank the original poster for bringing this to our attention. He put in a lot of effort and time documenting this for us. I don’t agree with Dieselsite’s position that “you chuckle that someone starts a post with "Warning". The original poster was not derogatory toward Deiselsite at all. He was just stating the facts along with a helpful fix. Some of us are comfortable with the original part, while others like me prefer to use a one piece fitting and appreciate the information.

Dieselsites assertion that “However, they are affected by too much "manhandling" when guys get over generous with the torque applied to the clamps and twist the unit apart.” Tells me there is a known issue with this part.

I never worried about breaking a metal hose barb while tightening on a rubber hose with a hose clamp. I might worry about crushing the hose or maybe stripping the clamp but never worrying about the fitting falling apart. I have to think that the extreme temperature changes and physical stress on the hoses at 20 below put more strain on the fitting than I could do by installing it.

Thanks again to all on this board. Together we can all have a better running truck.

Captain Bill

To those who are using the 1x1x1/2 pex tee, just how tight of a fit are the hoses? I think I might pick one up tomorrow.

Nothing to it. Goes right on. If you have the original tee, check to see how easy it comes apart. I'm curious if I got a weak one.

Thanks

I will test the strength of the pressed tee and post the results as soon as I do it.

Nothing that a little lubricant and a hair dryer or heat gun won't take care of

Care to post a link? I didn't have much luck finding that item, including McMaster which has just about everything. I don't think I will find it locally either, because PEX is not yet approved in the local building code.

I found mine in Lowes. It was in the plumbing section. Home Deopt only had 3/4x3/4x1/2.
You want 1x1x1/2. I put it in while the engine was warm. It went right on. You just need to open the clamps up. I tried the same thing Captain Bill did. It came apart without much effort.

H051150 - Rifeng H051150 - 1" PEX x 1" PEX x 1/2" PEX Brass Tee Check this site. there are many places to get it. grainger supply has them too.

Thank you!

I was on that site last night, and for whatever reason didn't find that part.

I will look into these for the future (evene for just cost savings), but I'm concerned about a few things. One is they are 1" x 1/2" and the heater hoses are 3/4" x 3/8".

Next is I believe these Pex tees are made for polybutalene tubing and calibrated 360 degree clamps. Many times the wrong barb style will damage the hose if the wrong combo is used.

After 6 years and only 6-7 failures, I will continue to say the aluminum tees we make have proven themselves for many years and many thousand users. I do hope people don't think that press fit means we press them in with our fingers. Hell, some wheel manufacturers use press fits. Our high pressure oil pumps are press fit together. The quality and sizing of the press fit make or break it, not whether it is press fit together or not.

So, as said by others, I will and do take constructive criticism, and will look into it, but that doesn't mean if it isn't the best for my customers, I will change. I certainly won't change just because of price.

Bob

Bob, I'm glad you brought up the hose size. 1" and 1/2" didn't sound right to me either, but maybe PEX is sized by OD??? Don't know, but will check it out. The barb design on those fittings would not be my preference, as it looks like it could cut the hose, but I don't think it is a big deal. A little Permatex Aviation sealer will make them slide on and seal.

Lastly, regarding your aluminum Tee - Customer perception is equally as important as a good product. :)

I made the mistake and got the 3/4 at home depot. Way too loose. The 1" fits just right.

Looks like PEX is sized by the OD, just like copper tube sizing, known as CTS.
PEX Products - FAQ

It's new to me. We are not allowed to use it for potable water AFAIK, and radiant floor heat is rare here.

1 x 1 x 1/2 Brass PEX Reducing Tee

For $2.85 it seems like a no brainer.

Stupid question I partially raised earlier: if I want to replace the aluminum tee with this one, will I get a flood of coolant when I pull the old one off? When I installed the aluminum one, I drained some from the degas bottle, let things cool off, and did not have much flow out, IIRC.

Advice is much appreciated.

I wouldn't want to spill any more than necessary, so I will drain a gallon out of the rad pet cock.

I used a pair of vicegrips, and a piece of cardboard to protect the hose on either side of the cut to stop coolant flow. Worked like a charm.

I drained out some coolant before I cut mine. The 1'' pex tee fits very well. and so does the 1/2 on the degas line. I have never seen any leaks on mine and it's been on there for some time. I made all of mine system by my self from parts I got from local shops. I did "steal" the idea from many places. I got the filter housing from grainger and the filters also. the plumbing stuff came from the back of my truck. ie hose clamps, ball valves, and yes the pex fittings. the hoses I got from a local shop that had some silicone blue tubing. It was a little more but it fit the pex fittings better. I spent like $95 buck total. But It took me a little to round everything up. mine is working just fine.

Am I the only one who finds this ironic?

Bob From Dieslelsite is experiencing a failure rate at a fraction of a percentage.

5 pages of bandwagon bashing start, with unqualified individuals making uneducated and anecdotal statements about a part that they determine is destined for failure, and that they demand be fixed, in spite of a failure rate of a fraction of 1%. (disclaimer: one poster did claim to be an engineer, yet had no data on said part, or press fitting material/tolerance/failure rates)

Here comes the irony part: How many press fit applications did Navistar and Ford use in our engines and transmissions? Is the failure rate of the 6.0/Torqueshift a fraction of 1%? We are a community of 6.0 owners who are experiencing, even at conservative estimates, an above average amount of challenges from our engine. Yet we are holding an aftermarket manufacturer to a higher standard?

I feel like I should start one of those type of " how many are happy with their coolant filter (6.0), people who don't have problems don't start posts" post because my Dieselsite coolant filter works as advertised.

Oh the drama! :D

It failed people complained

it also served as a warning for others to check their parts

and gave options to fix / replace /use a different kit

Whats wrong with any of that?

ps your complaining about people complaining ironic lol

Yes, if you don't drain some you'll dump a ton of coolant.

Loubell, I see your point. I swear I started smelling coolant yesterday driving around.

Yep, perception is reality sometimes.

When I installed my coolant filter I used some hose pinching pliers to stop any coolant flow when I cut the lines. Worked great.

Just a small point, but I don't think we know that. If mine failed, it is unlikely that I would call Bob and ask for another of the same thing. I would just replace it, which is an easy thing to do as has been mentioned.

I have had my own designs fail, after years of few complaints, only to learn later that my customers were fixing it on their own.

Also, this is nothing but a plumbing fitting. Failure rate should be, and easily could be, absolutely zero.

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

Fellas,
Thanks for posting all the info on the diesel site T fitting, i will definitly be replacing mine soon to avoid any problems.

Quick question, somewhat off topic here.

Should your coolant level fluctuate on your degas bottle much? I keep a close eye on mine (i check it when the truck is cold, been sitting all day or overnight) and I notice that the level flucutates a good bit. Is this normal? It had been a little low for a while, so about a couple weeks ago i topped it off to the MIN line when the truck was cold. I notice that it will drop about a 1/2" below that, sometimes more, and will come back up. Never over unless its hot.

Just curious, hopefully i don't have a problem. I can't tell if i have a leak anywhere or its puking.

THanks, any input is appreciated.

If you have to add, it's a problem. If it fluctuates with temp, that's normal.