WIF/Fuel Filter Life

[kthaxton]

This is more out of curiosity than anything, there is no real problem I am trying to address....

Does the Fuel Filter Life gauge algorithm take into account a water in fuel indication?

Last year after changing my fuel filters, I started getting a WIF indication on the dash when in a carwash or driving in wet conditions. I figured I must have tweaked the wire insulation on the rear WIF sensor where they enter the sensor. Sure enough, exposed wires.

I change the whole sensor as it was the original with roughly 110k on it. No more WIF indications. Now, I noticed that I have much lower fuel filter life per the gauge, than I should (anecdotally). Seems like those few indications of water in the fuel must have shortened the life per the gauge.

Thoughts?

 

[Wiredawg]

This is more out of curiosity than anything, there is no real problem I am trying to address....

Does the Fuel Filter Life gauge algorithm take into account a water in fuel indication?

Last year after changing my fuel filters, I started getting a WIF indication on the dash when in a carwash or driving in wet conditions. I figured I must have tweaked the wire insulation on the rear WIF sensor where they enter the sensor. Sure enough, exposed wires.

I change the whole sensor as it was the original with roughly 110k on it. No more WIF indications. Now, I noticed that I have much lower fuel filter life per the gauge, than I should (anecdotally). Seems like those few indications of water in the fuel must have shortened the life per the gauge.

Thoughts?

I don't pay much attention to the filter life/oil life indicators... 15K miles change. I do pay attention where I buy fuel. Not sure this helps, but that's how I do it.

Cheers, Ron

 

[kthaxton]

I don't pay much attention to the filter life/oil life indicators...

I don't either, I pretty much end up going with the one year change since that happens before 15k miles. Again, just a curiosity.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Now I am out of warranty I have been thinking about changing the under bed every 15k and the engine mount fuel filter every 30k. Thoughts?

 

[kthaxton]

Thoughts?

Yeah, you're being cheapskate.

I have no data, but to me, they are cheap enough, and important enough that I won't test the waters. Plus, I enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling knowing I have new filters.

 

[AH64ID]

Now I am out of warranty I have been thinking about changing the under bed every 15k and the engine mount fuel filter every 30k. Thoughts?

I wouldn’t. You might be able to go to a 20K mile interval, but with as few of miles as you drive the filters will probably age out anyways. I’d also change them both at the same interval.

When I ran a 20/5/3 micron setup on my 05 I would go 18 months or 20K miles, but that with a looser primary to spread the contaminations out.

Being out of warranty the only thing I’d extend is the Aisin fluid interval since you’re running Amsoil.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Now I am out of warranty I have been thinking about changing the under bed every 15k and the engine mount fuel filter every 30k. Thoughts?

After many many filter changes on my ‘14, I can’t find a problem with this. My under hood filter always looks brand new with 14-15K mile filter changes. Although, every drop of fuel to ever go into my truck goes thru two 2 micron filters before the two filters on my truck.

 

[AH64ID]

After many many filter changes on my ‘14, I can’t find a problem with this. My under hood filter always looks brand new with 14-15K mile filter changes. Although, every drop of fuel to ever go into my truck goes thru two 2 micron filters before the two filters on my truck.

Which filters are you pre-filtering with? 2 micron hasn’t been a current rating since ~2004, thou lots of places still advertise it.

Lots of places still sell the cat filters as the best thing ever, and 2um, but since 2004 they have been 4um and there are several newer generations of filters that are better.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Which filters are you pre-filtering ?.

I use two Fleetguard FF5320 filters on my bulk tank. Maybe one would be sufficient, but it’s what I’ve been doing.
I can’t remember exactly, but it was not long after buying the truck, I cut the under bed filter apart after changing it. The filter looked terrible to the naked eye, but thinking about it now, I’m wondering if it did because I contaminated it while grinding it apart?!

 

[AH64ID]

Those are good filters, but they are 5 micron filters.

Since you’re pre filtering that’s more than adequate, but I’d probably use a BF1212 and the FF5320 so you also separate water out.

The FF5814 would also fit and is the same NanoNet media the OEM engine mounted filter uses, but hardly worth the cost for a pre filter.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Those are good filters, but they are 5 micron filters.

Not arguing here, just wondering! Fleetguard advertises the 5320 as a 2 micron filter and when I bought them from Cummins they also said the 5320 is a 2 micron filter. I can not find info anywhere saying the 5320 is a 5 micron filter. I do have a water separator as well, I’m not sure of the number on that one off the top of my head.

 

[AH64ID]

The FF5320 is advertised for “2um applications”, which doesn’t mean it’s 2um absolute.

If you call Fleetguard and ask for the specs you will find that it is rated using J1985 specs and is absolute at 5um.

 

[Topzide]

@TRAMPLINEMAN, Similar to what I do. I have 100 Gal transfer tank on truck, all fuel goes into that before going into the truck! Only have a water/10 micron filter on it. Works for me!

 

[Tuesdak]

the filters will probably age out anyways.

Can you explain/expand on in use life?

Shelf life is 3 years on Fleetguard Fuel filters as the water separator treatment degrades.

 

[AH64ID]

I have always used 18-24 months as a max for installed time on most filters. Even the synthetic ones can degrade.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

The FF5320 is advertised for “2um applications”, which doesn’t mean it’s 2um absolute.

If you call Fleetguard and ask for the specs you will find that it is rated using J1985 specs and is absolute at 5um.

Well, them dirty dogs got me good!!

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

@TRAMPLINEMAN, Similar to what I do. I have 100 Gal transfer tank on truck, all fuel goes into that before going into the truck! Only have a water/10 micron filter on it. Works for me!

I actually forgot a step earlier. I have a hundred gallon cell in my truck and another 100 gallon cell in my garage. I put fuel from the station pump into the cell in my truck and pump it thru a 5320 filter into the cell in my garage. From there, it gets pumped thru two 5320 filters back into my truck. I know it’s probably way overkill, but after having a boatload of filtration issues on my ‘06, this is what I’ve been doing for the last 150K miles on my ‘14.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I will most likely stick to 15k because I plan on keeping my 15.

changed my friends 13 at 22k and engine mount looked new.

 

[BigPapa]

Can you explain/expand on in use life?

Shelf life is 3 years on Fleetguard Fuel filters as the water separator treatment degrades.

We had a couple that got their motor home they’d just bought towed into the shop I was working at. It was @ 12 years old, had a 24-valve VP in it, and had right at 3K miles on it. It was like brand new and they thought they’d found a bargain. The original 12 year old fuel filter that had never been changed had come apart and trashed the fuel system.

 

[Turbo Terry]

I never really though of filters degrading. I used the truck enough and changed them enough but I can see where it could be a problem if a rig sat for a while and was not used . Interesting