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Is fuel filter replacement necessary?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by tiresONtar, Jan 10, 2010.

  1. Jan 10, 2010 #1
    tiresONtar

    tiresONtar Light Load Member

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    Sep 14, 2009
    Wisconsin
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    Alright, I'm gonna throw this one out there ...

    I was at the shop today having some work done and while I was waiting a driver came in to buy fuel filters. His story goes: was driving down the interstate and started to loose power. When it got down to 50 MPH he pulled in to the local truck stop and topped off the tanks with #1. Let the truck run in the lot and wanted to put in new filters.

    Now I'm thinkin' he shouldn't need to replace the filters if the truck is still running and the addition of #1 fuel to the existing fuel should prevent any further problems.

    Feel free to educate me!
     
    tiresONtar, Jan 10, 2010
    tiresONtar, Jan 10, 2010
    #1
    JustSonny Thanks this.
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  3. Jan 10, 2010 #2
    VARITHMS

    VARITHMS Medium Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2009
    HOUSTON
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    Mine starts to spudder under load or high rpms if the filters are starting to clog. If the filters are clogged differnt fuel will not help. Different fuel or cleaners my be better if its cold or he has injectors clogging up.
     
    VARITHMS, Jan 10, 2010
    VARITHMS, Jan 10, 2010
    #2
    JustSonny and tiresONtar Thank this.
  4. Jan 10, 2010 #3
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    the road less travelled
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    It depends on the engine and how much and how hot the fuel gets returned to the tank, if the fuel is ambient temperature. the wax in the filters won't dissipate, but if the truck has an engine that bypasses warm fuel back to the tank and the tank feels warmer than ambient temperature, the wax will probably go back into the fuel. I didn't change filters but I have seen others that have. I have seen what looked like Vaseline on fuel filters that didn't melt with warming up but warmed fuel flowing by might have dissolved it.

    The diesel 911 from Power Services is added to the fuel filter to dissolve the plugging and get the engine running, with enough added to the tank(s) to liquefy that fuel. too. That, used in conjunction with anti gel to keep the fuel from gelling again, should get an engine running.
     
    25(2)+2, Jan 10, 2010
    25(2)+2, Jan 10, 2010
    #3
    JustSonny and tiresONtar Thank this.
  5. Jan 10, 2010 #4
    BoostedTeg

    BoostedTeg Road Train Member

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    Yup had the same thing happen to me about 2 weeks ago. Got a new fuel filter put in and it was good like new.
     
    BoostedTeg, Jan 10, 2010
    BoostedTeg, Jan 10, 2010
    #4
    JustSonny and tiresONtar Thank this.
  7. Jan 10, 2010 #5
    Longhood379

    Longhood379 Medium Load Member

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    Nov 30, 2009
    Cremona AB
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    When you no2 or blends wax a filter it is because the solvent properties of the fuel are not able to thin the wax enough for it to fit thru the filter media SO if you lose flow from wax seperation you have a huge wax concentration in the filter. No 1 (dewaxed) fuel is blended to run thru a fresh filter , it has enough slovent to wax ratio to hold it's wax in suspension but unless additional solvent is added the existing wax willnot go back into solution easily. Gambling on the solvent ratio is just that. Sure the truck may idle fine but under load with a waxed filter you are asking the blended fuel to go thru a smaller area and just inviting it to wax up again you might get away with the old filter but is it worth the gamble. If I have a choice I change at least the primary and if I can both Hope this clear thing up for some.
     
    Longhood379, Jan 10, 2010
    Longhood379, Jan 10, 2010
    #5
    JustSonny and tiresONtar Thank this.
  8. Jan 11, 2010 #6
    tiresONtar

    tiresONtar Light Load Member

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    Sep 14, 2009
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    There truly are descendants of Einstein on this forum. Thanks for the info!
     
    tiresONtar, Jan 11, 2010
    tiresONtar, Jan 11, 2010
    #6
    VARITHMS Thanks this.
  9. Jan 11, 2010 #7
    VARITHMS

    VARITHMS Medium Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2009
    HOUSTON
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    I get that alot. :biggrin_25512:
     
    VARITHMS, Jan 11, 2010
    VARITHMS, Jan 11, 2010
    #7
  10. Jan 12, 2010 #8
    black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

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    Always carry a spare filter here, especially in the winter months.And a half gallon jug of fuel to fill the filters with. Havent gelled up for a long time, but having the spare stuff beats having to make the phone call....:biggrin_25514:
     
    black_dog106, Jan 12, 2010
    black_dog106, Jan 12, 2010
    #8
    tiresONtar Thanks this.
  11. Jan 12, 2010 #9
    Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

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    Alaska highway
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    You didnt say where this happened (as in a cold climate)......but I'm guessing his filters were not waxed/gelled since everything was warm and he was apparently cruisin down the road.......however he could have had a dirty primary filter which will make the motor hestate while hammering on it, but the truck will idle just fine with that same filthy filter. Think blockage/restriction at full fuel flow, not nearly the restriction at low fuel flow (like idle)
     
    Winchester Magnum, Jan 12, 2010
    Winchester Magnum, Jan 12, 2010
    #9
    tiresONtar Thanks this.
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