Black Fuel Filter ? - Dodge Diesel

Dalbery · 11-22-2006, 05:59 PM

I just did the first fuel filter change on my truck since I've had it. The old fuel filter was black. I know on my last truck (99.5 F350 PSD) they said if the fuel filter was black it meant problems with leaky injectors or something like that and it was never black or even discolored. Is this something I need to be worried about?
Thanks,
Darrell

tacook · 11-22-2006, 06:02 PM

They always get black after use...............

IA_James · 11-22-2006, 06:03 PM

Nah. Leaky injectors causing a black fuel filter sounds like a line of Dealership B.S. being as how they are down stream and can't affect the filter. Mine's always been somewhere between battleship gray and next to black when I change it.

Casey Balvert · 11-22-2006, 06:53 PM

No way that leaking injectors could cause a dark color on the fuel filter. Sheesh. You would think that the dealer would tell the truth.

Geico266 · 11-22-2006, 06:54 PM

I've always been told the black is algae or bacteria. It is coming from your service station or your tank. Use an algaecide like Power Service Silver to clean your tank and kill the "fuel bugs". Install a fuel pressure guage post filter to monitor the filter and it's performance. Contact your service station and tell them you are having algae problems. They can add an algaecide to their tank.

http://www.baldwinfilter.com/engineer/94_14.html

Fungus and Bacteria -- these microorganisms live in water and feed on the hydrocarbons found in fuel. Called Humbugs for short, these active and multiplying colonies will spread through a fuel system and quickly plug a fuel filter. The fuel filter will have a slime coating over the entire surface of the media. Bacteria may be any color, but is usually black, green, or brown. Draining the fuel system will reduce microbial activity, but it will not eliminate it. The only way to eliminate microbial growth once it has started, is to clean and treat the system with a biocide.

Geico266 · 11-22-2006, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey Balvert

Sheesh. You would think that the dealer would tell the truth.

Not in our lifetime.

Geico266 · 11-22-2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacook

They always get black after use...............

Not mine. I use Power Service to kill the algae. Mine are gray.

N.Johnson · 11-22-2006, 07:55 PM

The black filters your seeing are coated with a naturally occuring substance in diesel fuel called Asphaltene (Asphalt). It does no harm and Cummins sells a product called "Ashpaltene Conditioner" mainly geared towards big rigs. I have only seen algae on marine diesels. It smells musty and feels slimey. Algae needs water to thrive and grows in the boundry between diesel and water.

rusty1161 · 11-22-2006, 07:59 PM

The black color spoken about in the original post maybe from leaky injector o-rings from a PSD. They use high pressure oil to actuate the injector, and the oil can get into the fuel if the o-rings are bad.

Rusty

11-22-2006, 06:02 PM	#2
tacook Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 128 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	They always get black after use............... __________________ 2005 2500 SB CTD 4X4 Big Horn Boost, Trans, EGT Gauge Leather Seats W/ Heater Rear Hitch Lights Reverse Backup Sensor

11-22-2006, 06:03 PM	#3
IA_James Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 513 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	Nah. Leaky injectors causing a black fuel filter sounds like a line of Dealership B.S. being as how they are down stream and can't affect the filter. Mine's always been somewhere between battleship gray and next to black when I change it. __________________ 04.5 3/4 ton 4x4 SLT QC LB 6 spd 3.73 LSD Black/Black...rokktech crank sensor, straight piped the muffler, Tony Stewart Airbox, Homemade "mo turbo whistle tube", diamond plate around top rail of box + tailgate, 304 Stainless turndown, Rotella syn, stock size B'stone REVO's, Tekonsha Voyager; '01 Road Glide with 95" kit Wife's Ride:'08 Impala v6 auto, 2004 Yamaha YZ85, both stock. This is my opinion. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

11-22-2006, 06:53 PM	#4
Casey Balvert Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Windsor, Ontario Posts: 925 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	No way that leaking injectors could cause a dark color on the fuel filter. Sheesh. You would think that the dealer would tell the truth. __________________ 2003 DRW, QC, Black Laramie Sport, 2WD, HO/6 Speed, 4.10, "No Drill" Pullrite 25.5 Super 5th, J&J Stainless, Brakesmart, Jacobs EB, MBRP Pro 304 SS Exhaust, Timbrens, Tire Sentry, Line-X. 2004 Mountain Aire Fifth Wheel, tandem duals with XPS Ribs, solar, inverter, RotoChoks.

11-22-2006, 06:54 PM	#5
Geico266 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 3,964 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	I've always been told the black is algae or bacteria. It is coming from your service station or your tank. Use an algaecide like Power Service Silver to clean your tank and kill the "fuel bugs". Install a fuel pressure guage post filter to monitor the filter and it's performance. Contact your service station and tell them you are having algae problems. They can add an algaecide to their tank. http://www.baldwinfilter.com/engineer/94_14.html Fungus and Bacteria -- these microorganisms live in water and feed on the hydrocarbons found in fuel. Called Humbugs for short, these active and multiplying colonies will spread through a fuel system and quickly plug a fuel filter. The fuel filter will have a slime coating over the entire surface of the media. Bacteria may be any color, but is usually black, green, or brown. Draining the fuel system will reduce microbial activity, but it will not eliminate it. The only way to eliminate microbial growth once it has started, is to clean and treat the system with a biocide. __________________ ************** "99", 265K on Original VP44 Before it Died. 300K miles And Running Strong! 2nd Full Goerend Bros Tranny & 3 Disc TC Smarty, 2nd FASS HVLP95, ATS 3 piece exhaust manifold, 4" Exhaust, Fuel-Boost-EGT's, Sears Platinums, Marine 275's, K&N, 285's on stock rims, GMC 1 ton rear brake cylinder, Remote starter, KDP checked. Now Driving A Ram 1500 Drive It Like You Stole It.

11-22-2006, 07:55 PM	#8
N.Johnson Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 612 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	The black filters your seeing are coated with a naturally occuring substance in diesel fuel called Asphaltene (Asphalt). It does no harm and Cummins sells a product called "Ashpaltene Conditioner" mainly geared towards big rigs. I have only seen algae on marine diesels. It smells musty and feels slimey. Algae needs water to thrive and grows in the boundry between diesel and water. __________________ 03.5 2500 SLT 4x4, RCab LB, 305/555, DTT48RE, Billet Flex Plate-Tripple TQ-Billet input, 3.73, BD Killer B & exhaust manifold, Smarty, MBRP 4" stainless exhaust, AFE StageII PG7 intake, Isspro EV gauges,pyro/boost/trans/fuel, Fass 150/95, Bilsteins, Rhino liner, Leer Canopy.

11-22-2006, 07:59 PM	#9
rusty1161 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 12 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	The black color spoken about in the original post maybe from leaky injector o-rings from a PSD. They use high pressure oil to actuate the injector, and the oil can get into the fuel if the o-rings are bad. Rusty __________________ 2000 F250 crewcab, 4x4, 2005 5.9 HPCR, ZF six speed, Quad ZXT, Rokkteck sensor, Thank you Autoworld

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