My truck had been running a little funny the last couple of days and I figured it needed to be done. Well I got back from the field today and my truck had been sitting for about 3 days. Started it up and it was running a little rough. Went and got a filter at the dealer (Peterbuilt store was out). First fuel filter change since I bought the truck (5688 miles on it). Takes all of about 5 minutes to do. The old one was black. I must have gotten some bad fuel. I hope everything will be ok. Once the new filter was in it ran like it was new. Engine smoothed out and ran like champ. It's a simple task and cheap insurance. If the truck just seems a little off CHANGE IT!

 

Mine is always black when I change it. I don't think that aspect of it is unusual. However, it running rough was reason enough to change it. Glad it took care of your problem.

 

I change my oil and oil filter every 3000 km's so what every 1800 1900 miles... its always clean but there like 8 bucks Canadian for a fuel filter... like T-Boe says... cheap insurance

 

mine too is always black, pretty sure thats normal just from the fuel. i also agree, cheap insurance. i do mine every other oil change.... well will do mine every other, havent had it long enough, but when i had my 02' thats what i did.

 

what???

 

It's been awhile since I've changed fuel filters on a diesel. I don't remember them being THAT black. You could wipe some of it off with your finger. That's what concerned me. I only get my fuel from Flying J. Last time it was the one in Rock Springs. Not going there anymore.

 

I change mine every other oil change, anotherwords 10K intervals. I have been considering changing it every oil change. It was so-so dirty at 10K, but all of the places I purchase fuel have new tanks in the past year so I have not been worried about bad fuel. If I were doing a lot of traveling, then it would be another story - 5K intervals. Truly cheap insurance when you consider the cost of repairs to the fuel system if contaminated.

CD

 

I change mine every 5k along with cleaning my air filter. I travel quite a bit every month so I feel better changing it often with buying fuel at so many different places...and always have some kind of fuel additive with me as well!

 

I thought I read on some other forum, that they actually filter better after they have been in use for a while,and it was of no benefit to change them to often,but if you were having problems,and the change helped so be it. black is normal though.

 

Every time I change my filter I let it drain for a while. Then I can see what drains out of it to see if it was dirty or not.

 

Another suggestion on keeping the fuel filter cleaner longer is to buy fuel from a truck stop that goes through a high volume of fuel. I fillup at Flying J 90% of the time, which alleviates some of my thoughts of getting poor quality fuel.

 

I agree 100 percent. This has always been my schhol of thought. It is hard for fuel to get dirty or stagnant if it doesn;t stay in the tank long.

 

I've never bought diesel anywhere else but Flying J just for that reason.

 

I change mine every 3K... Cheap insurance. i also keep one in the back seat compartment..

Shane

 

I myself change my fuel filter with my oil filter every 5k. I believe what most people believe fuel filter is just cheap insurance.