Black Fuel Filter

barnhill1 · 02-01-2009, 12:57 PM

I Replaced My Fuel Filter And It Had Black Gunk All Over The Out Side Of The Filter . What Would Cause This And Is This A Problem?

barnhill1 · 02-01-2009, 01:23 PM

Bump Bump Bump

jay_rm · 02-01-2009, 01:32 PM

Since you live in a warm climate, I suspect the effect commonly known as "algae". You know, like the green stuff on the local pond

? Was the fuel old or has the truck been sitting ?

Diesel Fuel "Algae" Causes & Effects - Fourwinds Enterprises

If it's bad, you may have to drop your fuel tank and clean it.

barnhill1 · 02-01-2009, 01:37 PM

I Fill Ud Every Two Weeks Usually And Use Lucas

JDiepstra · 02-01-2009, 02:13 PM

Sounds like it was dirty.

JDiepstra · 02-01-2009, 02:13 PM

Sounds like it was dirty.

Smoke um up · 02-01-2009, 02:58 PM

With your filter being black i would say that it has been awhile since it has been changed. At the appropriate interval I have a light brown filter, but a filter that has 20000+ mi. will have a black filter because of dirty fuel layering on the filter, but if it was changed at the right time, might have picked up some dirty fuel like whats at the bottom of the tank at the gas station. Hope this helps

barnhill1 · 02-01-2009, 03:02 PM

thanks, ill just check it next oil change

truckbouy2 · 02-01-2009, 04:03 PM

Its called asphaltene. FleetGauard makes an additive to deal with it if it's causing issues....

oln608 · 02-01-2009, 11:38 PM

would it cause bad mileage? cause i changed mine and it looked like an oil filter but my mileage has dropped

barnhill1 · 02-02-2009, 11:34 AM

mine two im going to run a full tank and check my mileage

truckbouy2 · 02-02-2009, 11:47 AM

Onl608 I would say your mileage drop would be more attributed to climate. I'm in MN and in winter, there is no such thing as mileage. Probably due to the winter fuel blend and it takes a long time to heat up the engine and drivetrain in these beasts.
If you feel as though your fuel filters are plugging prematurely try buying fuel from different outlets if possible. Find ones that cycle a lot of fuel. Some stations pump so little diesel that the stuff in the storage tanks is reverting back to crude....

"Q: What are asphaltenes?

A: Asphaltenes are tarry, organic particles that naturally occur in #2 diesel fuels. Asphaltene particles are generally thought to be in the one-half to 2 micron range and are harmless to the injection system, as they are soft and deformable. Concentrations of asphaltenes in diesel fuel vary widely and can increase through heat and fuel oxidation. As these tiny particles pass through the filter media they tend to stick to individual fibers. A build up of asphaltenes is the normal mechanism that plugs diesel fuel filters, not hard particles.
Reference FMC TSB-95-1R1"