Just pulled fuel filter from 2000 cummins it was dark but also had alot of Maroon color splotches to it, is that normal? I have not changed in 35,000 not sure when was changed before today, will this restrict fuel enough to effect performance of VP-44?

Ive never seen that or anything like that....fuel varies a lot from place to place. But then again, I change my fuel fllter every other oil change. I would suggest changing your FF a bit more often. Unlike gas, diesel fuel has a lot of crap in it.

Maroon could be from running dyed offroad Diesel many fillups ago.

Just look close next time you change it to see if it cleared up.


phox

Not sure what the maroon colors are your seeing but the only real way to tell if you have plugged up the filter enough to lower fuel psi is to hook up a gauge. Temporary or permenant, but both need to be post filter housing to get accurate numbers. If you dont have gauges in your truck then I suggest getting some for many reasons and this being one of them. Also if your FP gauge is hooked up post filter then you will notice a drop in psi as the filter clogs and then you change it, but if the psi doesnt return after the installation of a new one then you need to look at your lift pump.

Not sure what the maroon colors are your seeing but the only real way to tell if you have plugged up the filter enough to lower fuel psi is to hook up a gauge. Temporary or permenant, but both need to be post filter housing to get accurate numbers. If you dont have gauges in your truck then I suggest getting some for many reasons and this being one of them. Also if your FP gauge is hooked up post filter then you will notice a drop in psi as the filter clogs and then you change it, but if the psi doesnt return after the installation of a new one then you need to look at your lift pump.

A pre and post filter guage setup would be the most ideal. That way you could see the pressure drop across the filter.

A pre and post filter guage setup would be the most ideal. That way you could see the pressure drop across the filter.


Good point but I dont have room for that many gauges (or money) and I dont think there is to many if any dual needle fuel pressure gauges. So the post location seems the most logical for one gauge. But again, good point.

IIRC, Scotty tried to plug up a fuel filter to the point that it would restrict flow and he said that it was dang near impossible. I'm betting that the maroon stuff is algae.

Good point but I dont have room for that many gauges (or money) and I dont think there is to many if any dual needle fuel pressure gauges. So the post location seems the most logical for one gauge. But again, good point.

You could set it up on one guage. Run the two lines (pre and post filter) to a three way cutoff valve (think of the cutoff valve on an ATV's fuel line, they are setup for three way, ON, OFF, and reserve). Then run the valve output to the guage. That way with a turn of a valve you could have pre, post, and cutoff in case of leaks.

I would suspect that black part is from running black diesel (Waste Oil).

Beware of what colors you describing...

I would suspect that black part is from running black diesel (Waste Oil).

IIRC, Scotty tried to plug up a fuel filter to the point that it would restrict flow and he said that it was dang near impossible.

This is a filter after 3,500 miles! Never used waste oil... Believe it or not it was choking my performance pretty bad...


http://www.cloud10computers.dynu.com/photopost/data/552/medium/DSCF0175.JPG

Jeez. You musta gotten hold of some bad fuel. I run mine until 6000 miles and while they are black in color, they don't hurt anything.

I'm betting that the maroon stuff is algae.
Could be...but only if they ran Off Road Diesel at some point....dying it red.
Live algae is Greenish in color
Dead algae is white

Any algae in a fuel filter would be dead....cause it can not live in diesel fuel.

RJ

It's probably foreign material that has been dyed from the red fuel.

Any algae in a fuel filter would be dead....cause it can not live in diesel fuel.

RJ
Don't think that's right. Not only can it live in fuel oil, it lives ON fuel oil. or at least the impurities thereof

I'm not an Algae...just repeating what I learned in a Fuel Purification Course I took in 95. We were told that algae need oxygen to live. They find it, and thrive, in the boundry layer between water and fuel in a storage tank. Algae feed on the impurities in the water. No water in the tank....no Algae!
Makes sense when you think about it. Hope it's right ....paid good money for the class! :)

RJ

Hmmm the one I took in 92 had it a little diff but almost the same.
They said the stuff needed water but would live immersed in fuel as long as the tanks were agitated and run low (like onboard ships) That enough oxygen would be retained in the water to sustain the wee beasties and not to slack on any place when you were reconditioning the tanks.
Your course could have been better though mine was paid for by your uncle (Sam) :)

Sounds like same facts...just different application. I could easily see algae living on the high seas in airated water droplets, encapsulated in fuel oil!

Will they survive in Salt Water also?

RJ

correct about the algea , best to try and keep storage tanks as full as possible, the heat differential between the fuel in the tank and the outside air causes condensation to build up inside the tank.....thats where the water comes from. And as for the fuel filter being charcol grey, mine has been that way every filter change for the past 5 years, never notice any performance problems....always thought it was just a good sign of the filter doing its job.Do u expect it to be as white as when first installed?

My filter looked the same last month when I had the dealer change it, just after my eye surgery, and yeah more power yehaw. Especially on my SO. I can't wait to see the next one. As per the bacteria disscusion, there are both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria out there. (needs oxygen and just fine with out oxygen) JP4 for jets is kerosene treated with antibacterial products etc and has a best before date on it. Also make sure if you go to a dealer to have the fuel filter changed that the drain valve on the filter gets closed. It REEally improves your milage. (Thankfully the hose was kinked, still got 22mpg imperial on that tank)

Filter I have looks just like one in picture with 3,500 miles, I have put some off road through mine as it hauls the off road diesel for the equipment, I am thinking that the 35,000 maybe more not sure miles plugged it, I put those miles on truck, not sure when it was changed before that, I will be changing every 3-4K now , it's cheap, and quick , and will keep the pressure up. Thanks for all the feedback.

I will be changing every 3-4K now , it's cheap, and quick , and will keep the pressure up. Thanks for all the feedback.

That's overkill IMHO.
I change mine every other oil change, so every 10K, and haven't had a problem yet.


phox

Yes as phox mulder said, every other oil change is usually fine.

Filter I have looks just like one in picture with 3,500 miles, I have put some off road through mine as it hauls the off road diesel for the equipment, I am thinking that the 35,000 maybe more not sure miles plugged it, I put those miles on truck, not sure when it was changed before that, I will be changing every 3-4K now , it's cheap, and quick , and will keep the pressure up. Thanks for all the feedback.

Well this was a bad tank of fuel I pick up in Lewiston ID. That the only thing I can figure why the filter was plugged up. I normally change my filter every other oil change.

The filter in the picture above was pulled after suffering form lack of power. I was trying to climb over Whitebird grade (7% grade 10 miles long). It wouldn't accelerate over 50-53 MPH period! :o Normally I set my cruise for 65-70 MPH and hold that speed to the summit! Not that day...:rolleyes:

I have experienced lack of power for over a year have just been busy with work truck never sits still, I thought it was the transmission, hope the LP and the new filter will have me up running again soon.

There was bad deisel in the boise Idaho area. Flying J and Fredmyer stations. Lot of people had their trucks die and black tar crap in their fuel filters