plugged fuel filters

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Ezrider_48501, Jan 17, 2013.

  1. Jan 17, 2013 #1
    Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    i own a truck that i currently only use on a occasional basis. 95 fld 120 60series Detroit used it the other day it was about 10 above 0 had been well below 0 the previous few days. started the truck up and let it warm up when i went to leave it started acting like it was running out of fuel. then it died out. originally thinking i was having some gelling or icing issues. replaced the fuel filters and the fuel looked black when dumping out the filters the first filter almost looked slimy and black. i dumped some bio kleen (alge killer in the fuel tanks) topped off with some #1 and the truck ran great the rest of the day. I then pulled the new filters again and replaced them a second time did not see anything unusual when i changed them the second time fuel looked clean and green. got another set of spare filters in the truck in case i have any more issues. the plugged filters only had about 2-3k miles on them. anyone have any idea's of what caused this and if there is likely to be more issues?
     
    Ezrider_48501, Jan 17, 2013
    Ezrider_48501, Jan 17, 2013
    #1
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  3. Jan 17, 2013 #2
    Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

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    The black crud was probably algae from the extended amount of time the fuel sat unused in the tanks, along with a little bit of moisture. You may have to treat it numerous times to purge the system, and may repeatedly plug the filters doing so.
     
    Hardlyevr, Jan 17, 2013
    Hardlyevr, Jan 17, 2013
    #2
  4. Jan 17, 2013 #3
    Jseney12078

    Jseney12078 Light Load Member

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    Ezrider i even have trouble in the summer at times. 5-6k on a new set of filter, their right up to the top and black. I use bio kleen too. Don't know what to say, it's not constant, but does happen now and then. Hardlyevr is right. When it happens it usually takes a few filter changes and plenty of treatment.
     
    Jseney12078, Jan 17, 2013
    Jseney12078, Jan 17, 2013
    #3
  5. Jan 17, 2013 #4
    Dryver

    Dryver Road Train Member

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    If you always fill up at the same place i'd change for a few tanks and see what happens.
     
    Dryver, Jan 17, 2013
    Dryver, Jan 17, 2013
    #4
  7. Jan 17, 2013 #5
    Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    I don't always get fuel at the same place.

    how often and how much bio kleen should i add, i put one bottle in each tank.

    how long do you think i should try to run this set of fuel filters before changing then again. i don't have a fuel filter restriction gauge or the new style fuel filters that you can see threw the cover and tell how plugged they are getting. I do have another set in the truck in case i unexpectedly plug up again. but would prefer not to change the filters on the side of the road if avoidable.

    should i top the tanks before i park it after each time im done using it? i do that with my motorcycle and boat to avoid getting condensation in the fuel tanks but this truck dose not sit quite as much as they do threw the winter. if i dont use it for a few weeks i normally start it up warm it up and put 20-30 miles on it to keep everything lubed up and to try to avoid moisture buildup in the oil's but it did sit for about two month's without even being started as i wasn't in the same state as the truck. i then put about about 250-300 miles on it and then it sat for about 3 weeks then i had my filter plugging problem. the fuel was probably about 3-4 months old that was in the tanks, after the fuel filter plugging i topped off with fresh fuel (about 120 gallons) out of 200 gal capacity

    my plan is to have the truck working every day of the week come spring but right now it sits a more than its used. but hoping not to be having any issues with the truck in the spring. on a positive note though when i was using my truck the other day i got a full dot inspection and passed with flying colors.
     
    Ezrider_48501, Jan 17, 2013
    Ezrider_48501, Jan 17, 2013
    #5
  8. Jan 22, 2013 #6
    carogator

    carogator Bobtail Member

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    Jan 22, 2013
    South Carolina
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    Have an analysis run on a fuel sample. It may be carbon from deteriating fuel hoses. Had that already on
    detroit engines. Low sulphur fuel was the culprit. After about !998 or 99 , newer type hoses were being used and you didn't see as much of it.
     
    carogator, Jan 22, 2013
    carogator, Jan 22, 2013
    #6
  9. Dec 2, 2015 #7
    serozhah

    serozhah Light Load Member

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    where did you fuel when you got the algae? I think i got algae crap fuel from flying j recently:(
     
    serozhah, Dec 2, 2015
    serozhah, Dec 2, 2015
    #7
  10. Dec 2, 2015 #8
    heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

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    back a couple years ago using bio, when it was 15-30 temps out I would get 400- 500 miles out of a filter that used to last 25,000. I have the davco, but none the less. I have tried higher micron filters & that does seem to help a lot. though I have only used them this last summer to see how far I could go before changing. I too last year had the slime slug stuff. used 1 bottle of the diesel kleen alge stuff in each tank. since then my filters are clean & lasting longer. the black in my filter looking like soot was due to exhaust gases getting into fuel. that was corrected by some aftermarket type inj seals, that seems to be working so far. I did a few years back replaced all fuel lines. they were all original. that did a lot of good. fuel lines can suck air without you being able to tell where..
     
    heavyhaulerss, Dec 2, 2015
    heavyhaulerss, Dec 2, 2015
    #8
    serozhah Thanks this.
  11. Dec 2, 2015 #9
    Junkyarddog5958

    Junkyarddog5958 Light Load Member

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    Had issue with my Freightliner. When you first treat it and has initial kill you may plug a few sets of filters up. My driver told me what was up and told him it was algae. He laughed at me. Said I went to diesel school and no algae in diesel. I politely told him until he buys the truck and makes the calls do what I say. 2 days later he apologized because he researched and I was right. Bottle of biokleen and multiple treatments and 3-4 filters it was good as new.

    FYI algae grows much better in ulsd than did in older fuel so even if you don't have symptoms it would not be bad idea to give a maintenance dose every once in awhile as preventative maintenance. Just a little of "get the f' out" medicine lol.
     
    Junkyarddog5958, Dec 2, 2015
    Junkyarddog5958, Dec 2, 2015
    #9
    serozhah Thanks this.
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