Umm...I'm a bit concerned about this.

[Idually]

I serviced the truck this morning and when I removed the fuel filter, I nearly had a heart attack. There is what looks like rusty sand in the filter. I can't tell if it is grit(sand like) or if it is just plain rust. It is on the outer area by the rubber gasket not in the center(which is where I hope the fuel goes TO the pump). I don't think it is the actual filter rusting. The last fuel filter change was 2 services ago (Approx 6000 miles). Where did this stuff come from? Thank goodness for fuel filters!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

YUP - I sometimes saw the same sort of stuff with my '91 - probably from contamination in the station fuel supply...



Actually got one tankful bad enough to clog the filter and nearly leave me alongside the road...

 

[Idually]

Whew!

Should I do anything else beside watch it and change the filter more frequently? I recently changed where I buy my fuel, and noticed a DRASTIC increase in MPG. Maybe I won't be going back to the other place any more!



Thanks!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Yeah, I'd seriously think about a different station, if that one is where you normally fill up - altho' it coulda simply been that a new fuel delivery stirred up the inevitable sediment on the bottom of the tank - better quality stations provide an inline fuel filter to get most of that crap out before it hits your tank - IF they bother to actually change their own filterss regularly...

 

[1stgen4evr]

new fuel delivery stirred up the

Every station can have the problem. I buy fuel all over the US and generally fuel where the big trucks stop. I have had an occasion when the filter clogged right after filling. I actually get good service time with the filter but I ride a filter with me always. It can be changed in the middle of the night IF YOU HAVE ONE. And that is what the filter is for. Stop the crud. Don't panic. It is something that happens. Remember that it comes out of the ground (dirt, sand, rock bits) in the first place.



It might be advisable to drain the tank completely so as to not rapidly ruin another filter. Just do the best you can to buy at a quality location. You can install an additional filter that will stop the crud from getting to the lift pump. They make them with remote drains. Like I said, crud is a problem but it can be eliminated



My son manages the ambulances for a large hospital. They require him to buy diesel at a particular location. They have spent thousands of dollars on bad fuel problems and had the ambulances on the side of the road from contaminated fuel. Bean counters never learn.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[Idually]

Again, I thank you!

Thanks guys. I have to be honest, the truck running better too! Aftre discovering this I went and bought 2 more filters and plan on consistently changing them over the next few months. The place a WAS buying fuel is an "Older" station (Phillips-66) so I could see MANY years of sediment hanging out in their tank. They are close to a minor Hwy and sell plenty of diesel fuel. Maybe I got "unlucky". The NEW place is a fairly new Coastal station. The MPG increase happened on the very first tank from Coastal. This tank has netted Approx 70 miles/per tank more than the old place. I thought it might be "winter fuel" choking my mileage!



I'll just keep a good eye on it!



Thanks!



Andrew

 

[bmoeller]

Could be the fuel tanker had just left after filling the tanks. All the sediment/water is not going to be at the bottom right away.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Ok, here's my anal tip of the month... . I always drain off some fuel from the filter/seperator on every second tank of fuel.

I get to have a look at what comes out, and I am never over time by much to get on it right away if it's looking bad.

If it were me, I'd cut open the filter, and look thru the guts to see if you have that stuff in it... .

If not you got LUCKY !!!!!



If there is, you're in for the count...

Drop and drain the tank;

Steam rinse it out completely;

Purge all your lines, and maybe replace 'em since your there;



I know this sounds wild, but so long as there is nothing in the filter, and the truck runs like normal, you may be ok.

If it is running bad, poor mileage, more smoke than normal, surging, stalling etc. you got your hands full on this one...



Now THAT is why I do the drain off on every second tank... see... old isn't always dumb... well... mostly not always...



PB...