Fuel Water Separator 438-5386 for Caterpillar Excavators & C-Series Engines

Description

This 438-5386 fuel water separator is an ultra-high-efficiency spin-on filter engineered as a direct replacement for the Caterpillar 438-5386, widely used across CAT’s large excavator lineup and C-series industrial diesel engines. It’s designed to eliminate virtually all free water and the majority of emulsified water from diesel fuel, protecting sophisticated fuel injection components on high-output engines.

Product Overview

The 438-5386 fuel water separator uses filter media engineered to remove nearly all free water and roughly 90% of emulsified water from diesel fuel, along with fine contaminants. Construction features commonly associated with this filter class include a nylon center tube to prevent metal contamination, molded end caps to prevent leaks, and spiral roving construction for pleat stability and dirt-holding capacity. Each unit is manufactured with a 1-3/8-16 thread to match OEM housing specifications and dimensionally verified before shipment — not just matched by part number.

Fits the Following Caterpillar Models & Engines

Always confirm your machine’s serial number range against the OEM cross-reference before ordering, as fuel system filtration specifications can vary across production years within the same model.

OEM Cross-Reference Numbers

Key Features

• Ultra-high-efficiency water separation, removing virtually all free water and roughly 90% of emulsified water from diesel fuel
• Nylon center tube to help prevent metal contamination
• Molded end caps designed to prevent leaks
• Spiral roving construction for greater pleat stability and dirt-holding capacity
• Dimensionally verified against OEM specifications, not just cross-reference number matching
• Consistent batch quality control, with raw material and pre-shipment testing on every production run

Specifications (Publicly Referenced Dimensions)

Dimensions below are compiled from publicly available cross-reference filter databases, including Fuel Filter Cross Reference, and were consistent across multiple independent sources. Please verify against your machine’s actual filter housing or OEM documentation before bulk ordering — production-year variations within the same model can affect exact fitment.

Why Source This Fuel Water Separator from IXIN Filter

We manufacture this 438-5386 fuel water separator in our own production facility, with quality control checkpoints from raw material inspection through final pre-shipment testing. If you’re sourcing for a distribution business or fleet, we can provide:

• Sample units for independent testing before a bulk order
• Documentation on OEM cross-reference verification
• Flexible MOQ and private-label packaging options
• Consistent batch-to-batch quality for repeat orders

Frequently Asked Questions

How much water does this filter remove from diesel fuel? It’s designed to remove virtually all free water and approximately 90% of emulsified water, along with fine contaminants, before fuel reaches the injection system.

What engines use the 438-5386 fuel water separator? It’s used across CAT’s large excavator lineup (312D2 through 336E) and C-series industrial diesel engines, including the C9, C13, C15, C18, and C175-16.

Will this fit all the models listed? It fits the excavator and engine platforms listed above, but fuel system configurations can vary by production year and serial number range. We recommend confirming your machine’s specific configuration before ordering, especially for bulk purchases.

Do you offer samples before a bulk order? Yes. We recommend requesting a sample for independent testing before committing to a bulk order, especially for first-time buyers.

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Ready to order or request a sample? Contact IXIN Filter for pricing, MOQ, and lead time on the 438-5386 fuel water separator.