Parker Watts F701 Coalescing Filter Element, Grade 6, Fits 3/4 in to 2-1/2 in

The replacement coalescing element for Parker Watts F701 filter housings. A coalescing element is the part that actually does the work: oil aerosol and water mist carried out of the compressor hit the borosilicate media, merge into droplets too heavy to stay airborne, and drain to the bowl instead of travelling on to your tools, dryers, valves and paint work.

All four of these are Grade 6 elements, the high-efficiency grade. Grade 6 removes 99.97% of 0.3 to 0.6 micron aerosol by DOP test and holds oil carryover down to 0.008 ppm w/w. The lower Grade 10 media in the same housings manages 95% and 0.85 ppm, which is more than a hundred times the oil carryover. If your filter was supplied with the Grade 6 element, replace it with Grade 6.

Which element fits your filter

• S1805: F701-C3-0773, fits 3/4 in and 1 in F701 housings
• S1806: F701-C3-0775, fits 1-1/4 in and 1-1/2 in F701 housings
• S1807: F701-C3-0777, fits 2 in F701 housings
• S1808: F701-C3-0778, fits 2-1/2 in F701 housings

Parker also catalogues these with an EK (element kit) prefix, so F701-C3-0773 and EKF701-C3-0773 are the same part.

Check your bowl before you order

Fitment on the F701 is keyed to the bowl as well as the port size. These four elements are for the standard E bowl. The high-capacity L bowl takes a different, longer element in the same port sizes. Read the model number off the filter body: an F701-08E3P takes the E element listed here, an F701-08L3P does not. If the housing label is gone, measure the old element rather than guessing.

Grade 6 specification

• DOP coalescing efficiency: 99.97% on 0.3 to 0.6 micron particles
• Maximum oil carryover: 0.008 ppm w/w
• Particulate rating: 0.01 micron
• Media: borosilicate fibre and felt
• End caps: urethane. Seals: Buna-N
• Pressure drop: about 2 PSIG dry, 5 PSIG wet in normal service
• Replace at: 10 PSIG differential
• Minimum recommended flow: 20% of the housing's rated flow

When to change it

Go by differential pressure, not by the calendar. A coalescing element that has loaded up does not stop filtering, it just costs you more and more pressure to push air through, and every PSI of drop is power you paid for at the compressor. Once the gauge or pop-up indicator shows 10 PSIG across the element, change it. Elements with no indicator fitted are usually put on an annual change in clean service and twice a year downstream of a hard-worked lubricated compressor.

One thing worth knowing: a coalescing element wants a particulate filter ahead of it. Running coalescing media as the first line of defence buries it in rust and pipe scale and you will be buying elements far more often than you should. Parker's own guidance is to fit an F602 style particulate filter upstream.

A note on availability

Parker has restructured the F701 line and the larger housings have been superseded in their current catalogue, but these elements remain available as service parts for the large installed base of F701 filters still in daily use. If you are specifying a new filter rather than servicing an existing one, talk to us about current equivalents.

Related parts

We also stock Parker Watts filter housings, particulate elements, L606 air line lubricators, R119 regulators and automatic drains.

Genuine Parker Watts F701 Grade 6 coalescing filter elements in four sizes covering 3/4 in through 2-1/2 in housings, 99.97% efficient at 0.3 micron with 0.008 ppm oil carryover.