What color should used fuel filter be?

[Boyd]

I change my fuel filter every 6,000-7,000 miles. The last one I changed seemed really dirty, a dark charcoal color. Is this normal, or did I get some bad fuel?



I have also had some long cranking times lately and am taking it to the dealer on Wednesday.



Thanks

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Mine have always been black, when changed at 10-15k. I always figured that was pretty normal.

 

[blacksheep4x4]

Mine have also been black when changing between 10,000 and 15,000 miles.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Mine are always a dark charcoal or black, except the time I had one plug up and it was black with little white spots all over it

 

[klenger]

6000 - 7000 miles seems way too often for me. 10,000 - 15,000 would be more cost effective.

 

[Bekim]

Yup, black!
Mike
###

 

[DavidBurt]

Same here my filters black at 10,000

Dave

 

[BSkinner]

Here's a link to a couple of pics I took of the fuel filter at my first change after 10,645 miles: http://makeashorterlink.com/?T6A0120FC



I changed the filter again after 15,488 miles (26,133 total miles on truck) and the filter was a lot cleaner and was more of a tan color than black. I think the filter could have gone twice as long before changing. The problem is, you don't ever know for sure about the quality of diesel fuel so I feel a bit better taking a chance on changing too often rather than not often enough.



I think I read here that the black may be residue from fuel tank manufacturing, i. e. black plastic particles.



Bob

 

[gtobey]

Used fuel filter color--BLACK

I change my fuel filter every 6,000-7,000 miles. The last one I changed seemed really dirty, a dark charcoal color. Is this normal, or did I get some bad fuel?



I have also had some long cranking times lately and am taking it to the dealer on Wednesday.



Thanks

Don't be alarmed at the charcoal gray/black color of the filtering media from your used fuel filter. This is tarry, organic particles that naturally occur in #2 diesel fuels called asphaltenes. They are generally thought to be in the one-half to two micron range and are harmless to the diesel fuel injection system because they are soft and pliable.



Concentrations of asphaltenes in diesel fuel vary widely and can increase through heat and fuel oxidation. As these tiny particles pass through the filter media, they tend to stick to the fibers of the media. A build up of asphaltenes is the normal mechanism that plugs filters, not hard particles. This is different than the black slime (dead algae) that sometimes is seen in diesel fuel. That is a microbial problem, and not a normal occurance. Good luck!

 

[Parks]

Mine are always black.

 

[rbattelle]

Here's a pic. From back in my younger days when I thought that filter looked bad. In hindsight, it doesn't look bad at all.



As long as the clean side is clean, things are good.



-Ryan

 

[The patriot]

Mine's always reddish.

I havent been able to figger out why though? :-laf

 

[SHobbs]

Not black here more like an amber color. Filters have been alot better with the B100 than #2. I change mine every 6k along with the oil and filter.

 

[DavidBurt]

Just changed mine yesterday for the 20k service, same as before black, but not real bad. Anyone else drain there filter housing all the way when changing the filter??

Dave

 

[gtobey]

I don't drain it completely, unless there is any contamination at the bottom. I do always look in it with a bright light to see if there is anything other than clean fuel. Since I put the STANADYNE Master filter near the tank, I have nothing but clean fuel in the factory filter housing. The bowl on the bottom of the Master Filter gets a bit of dirt occasionally, but it is easy to drain out...

 

[CKimball]

Mine are always a dark charcoal or black, except the time I had one plug up and it was black with little white spots all over it

dude... . you better get that checked... . I hear they have shots for that!!! :-laf





my filters are always black or dark grey depending how long I go... . changed mine the other day that had only 7k on it and it was black and my truck ran like dog dooo..... new filter two cans of sea foam and chalked it up to bad fuel!



Cameron