Dark color on pleated material in fuel filter - Dodge Diesel

shellman · 11-30-2005, 04:13 PM

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?

Dr. Evil · 11-30-2005, 08:22 PM

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.

phox_mulder · 11-30-2005, 08:25 PM

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

KATOOM · 11-30-2005, 08:29 PM

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.

jrs_dodge_diesel · 11-30-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KATOOM

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.

KATOOM · 11-30-2005, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrs_dodge_diesel

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.

BigBlue · 11-30-2005, 11:44 PM

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.

jrs_dodge_diesel · 12-01-2005, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KATOOM

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.

67HotRod · 12-01-2005, 08:01 AM

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

Mopar1973man · 12-01-2005, 10:17 AM

Beware of what colors you describing...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67hotrod

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblue

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...

BigBlue · 12-01-2005, 11:12 AM

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.

RowJ · 12-01-2005, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBlue

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

TORQUE · 12-01-2005, 10:51 PM

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

VADSLRAM · 12-02-2005, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjohnson

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

RowJ · 12-02-2005, 08:50 AM

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

11-30-2005, 08:22 PM	#2
Dr. Evil Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Great White North Posts: 7,122 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	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. __________________ DTR Truck of the Month Winner - March 2007

11-30-2005, 08:25 PM	#3
phox_mulder Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Sandy, Utah Posts: 6,530 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	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 __________________ 2002.5 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 SOLD 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited X 4x4. Detonator Yellow in color Bone stock for now, at least for a couple months 2008 Harley Davidson FLHR Road King. Black Pearl in color 12 inch apes, stainless cables, Vance & Hines pipes, garage door opener, combo speedo/tach

11-30-2005, 08:29 PM	#4
KATOOM Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The "real" Northern CA Posts: 2,267 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	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. __________________ '01 5spd. 4x4 Sport shortbed, 285's, EZ, aFe intake, no silencer ring, straight piped, ISSPRO EV pyro/boost and FP all on pillar, Westach Transmission/Differential temp gauge in dash pod, Raptor 100 and Big Line kit to VP, Pac brake, 2 lo kit, Rancho RS9000X's, 2" leveling kit.

12-01-2005, 08:01 AM	#9
67HotRod Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Franklin County Missouri Posts: 1,133 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	I would suspect that black part is from running black diesel (Waste Oil). __________________ Tow Vehicle: 2001 Dodge Quad cab, 3/4 ton 4X4, 3.54's running 285's with auto. Towing & camper option. 2" level kit, BHAF, AirDog, 180 STAT, 4"exhaust, Goerend bros TC/VB, BW trans. Edge Comp, rv injectors, deep trans pan, Boost/Pyro/Fuel/trannny gauges. 250K miles

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11-30-2005, 11:44 PM	#7
BigBlue Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 0 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	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.

12-01-2005, 11:12 AM	#11
BigBlue Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 0 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	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.

12-01-2005, 10:51 PM	#13
TORQUE Banned Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 436 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	It's probably foreign material that has been dyed from the red fuel.

12-02-2005, 08:50 AM	#15
RowJ Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Texas/Oklahoma Border Posts: 8,233 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	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