> Diesel Fuel Tips

TIP:Proper filtration of diesel fuel is critical to maintaining the performance and long life of a diesel engine.  A filtration system will protect your nozzles from foreign matter particles as well as water.  Every diesel engine should come with a factory installed "secondary" or final fuel filter.  Often this is the only fuel filter on the vehicle.  However, for complete protection, and expecially for applications where water, dirt, and other contaminants are possible, a "primary" or pre-filter separator should be installed.  Because Biodiesel can absorb more water, a pre-filter/water separator is highly recommended.

The diagram below shows a typical fuel filter system:

TIP: Free or emulsified water must be removed from the fuel to prevent corrosion and damage to the fuel system.  Be wary of additive which claim to "remove water".  In fact they dissolve the water which will pass through the filter and attack the injection components.  Use a additive that will demulsify the water, pulling it out of the solution, so the filter/water separator can do its job of removing it.

Water contamination can exist in diesel fuel in three forms:

• Emulsified water, where the water  is supended in the fuel like oil and vinegar in salad dressing.
• Free Water, where the water is separated from the fuel and usually found on the bottom of the fuel/storage tank.
• Dissolved water, where the water has been chemically dissolved in the fuel, like sugar in coffee.  The warmer the fuel, the more water will be dissolved, but as the tempuratures drop, the water will come out of solution in the form of free water.