Why you should replace F.F. early

[rbattelle]

This is why you should not wait 15,000 miles to replace your fuel filter. This one was removed at 9750 miles. Although the outside was black, the inside was just yellow, so the filters definetly do their job.

 

[24V-DSL]

This is the second pic today on cruddy looking, low mileage filters. What's the deal. Change mine every 10K, and everyone of them has looked brand new..... I hate to change them out, but I do.



76K on the clock.

 

[rbattelle]

Hmmm... maybe we just have crumby diesel? I sort of assume the mess I encountered is because it's the filter that came from the factory, and the next one will be cleaner. But maybe not.

 

[RankRam]

I had 5k on my 03 and my filter looked like the pic above.



Unlike my 99 which looked much cleaner than that at 10k.



I would like to know if the filtering is a much smaller micron rating than the previous generation trucks.



This would explain the dirty appearance wouldn't it?

 

[rbattelle]

I hope it's a 2-micron (or less) filter, but have been unable to get any ratings on them.

 

[Ncostello]

If you call Fleetguard's tech line for assistance... they will be more than happy to give you the micron rating and any other helpful info. They have assisted me many times.

 

[frijole]

Fuel Filter

First change doesn't mean your fuel source is compromised. Your tank is new, lines are new, probably been sitting in the factory/storage yard for a time, no telling how many contaminates got into it. The REAL test is the second filter change. If the 2nd is like the first, I'd look real hard at my fuel source. I use TA here locally, 30K on the '01 truck, never changed the filter 'cause it looks as good as the one in the box, and check it every 5K at oil change time. Visual inspection is not always accurate, but I have gauges for pressure drop, and SPA fuel pressure in the cab, so I have a good idea if I lose pressure at WOT. There ya go, food for thought. Ron

 

[Steve Campbell]

Is there a place on the 3rd gens....

to mount a fuel pressure guage sender down stream (engine side) of the fuel filter to monitor pressure?

 

[bighammer]

I wonder if just like the 03 causes flocking in biodiesel, maybe the high pressure and then returning bring out other crud too.

 

[rbattelle]

I believe there is a banjo on the engine-side under the filter canister.

 

[robobx]

has anyone come across a dual FP guage? like the westach egt and boost but just a dual FP.

 

[rbattelle]

I would recommend asking the 2nd gen guys... they know everything there is to know about lift pump fuel pressure gauges!

 

[MattSt]

Mine was worse than that! Stupid dealer threw it away before I could get back with my camera.

 

[rbattelle]

I emailed Fleetguard about the micron rating of the filter. Here's their response, cut and paste:



Thank you for contacting Fleetguard.



The FS19579 is a 10 Micron at 98. 67% efficient.



If we can be of further assistance to you, please feel free to

contact your Fleetguard Customer Assistance Center or send a

message to FleetMaster.



Please visit our homepage often at http://www.fleetguard.com



Sincerely,



Fleetguard FleetMaster





I want a 2-micron secondary filter. Soon as one comes on the market, I'm in.

 

[LightmanE300]

Sounds like a nasty fuel source. Ohio is is in the PADD region of diesel fuel that is notoriously the worst fuel in the country.



To answer the above question, there are no flocking probs with bio and HPCR 03+ engines... that was a rumor that started I don't know where. Cummins still holds their position with 03+ that b5 or less is safe, and that higher blends *might* cause problems, basically they haven't tested higher blends.

 

[DPKetchum]

I changed the fuel filter on my 1993 W250 once a year which was between 6 and 11k. It just about always looked that bad. I though diesel was always a dirty fuel!

 

[ssanders60]

Re: Your question about the outside of

you f/filter being black. This is

asphalt if it has a jelly or gummy

appearance and you'll get this from

fuel that has a dark yellow or light

brown color. You won't get this from

burning fuel that is a greenish, light

yellow color. Russell Oil Co, purchased

later by Conoco is famous for dark fuel,

you should find that Chevron, Amoco,

Texaco, BP fuel to be light in color,

and will not clog your filter. You should

see a locomotive fuel filter that has

been burning off brand fuel.



'03 H/O 2500 SLT 4X4 Auto tran. Red & Silver

7,000 miles, no problems. Great "Toy"

 

[CROW]

Changed mine today for the first time at 15,077 miles and it looked like the one in the picture. Got a nice digital picture, "ain't" got a clue on how to post it. Fuel filters getting dark may be the norm.

 

[badams1]

Black stuff

Asphaltines come from poor vacuum distillation and while the fuel is in storage the molecules recombine in the presence of oxygen and clump into little floating blobs. spot sampling of the fuel at production should have indicated the amount of asphaltines in the fuel which should have been very low. I can't remember the spec but it should have been in low ppm's. Color and clarity is also a test at production of an on spec diesel fuel product Who knows how long the fuel sits in storage but I doubt if there is a resample before shipping then there is the station to consider as well. I like Texaco/ BP/Shell/ExxonMobil in that order but hey thats just my opinion. I will admit that I used to work for Exxon and I burn Mobil from the same station and buy 90 gallons at a time. I use a large agricultural tractor fill funnel with a very fine screen to fill up with and it will catch the asphaltine clumps if they are there. It saved me one time when I was using an unmentioned brand. Bought the funnel at the Tractor Store here in Houston ain't sorry I did. My 2 cents Billy Adams

 

[rbattelle]

I fuel at a local Pilot truckstop. They do a large volume of OTR trucks, so at least the fuel doesn't sit in the tank for long periods.



There's a Marathon that sells diesel (quite a bit of it, actually) not more than 500 yards from my house, but it's more expensive than Pilot and I'm not sure I trust the fuel quality.



The stations around here other than the truck stops tend to be very low volume sellers. I'm torn between sticking with the high-volume Pilot or switching to a BP/Marathon/Texaco station.