Caravan and Motorhome On Tour magazine Issue 249 – Tech Talk.
One of Oz’s top diesel gurus reveals the best way to protect your engine from dirty fuel.
Fuel contamination can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your engine, and the truth is, you won’t even see it coming.
No matter how well your tow vehicle is serviced, it could cop a tank of bad fuel at any time. The question is – do you know how to properly protect your engine?
This issue, you’re going to hear it directly from diesel specialist and Director of Diesel Care, John Jamieson. John and the Diesel Care team operate four diesel repair centres across Dalby, Goondiwindi, Tamworth and Toowoomba, and see the damage fuel contamination causes every day. John’s going to reveal their proven ways to safeguard any diesel engine.
What causes fuel contamination?
“The most common contaminants we see are water and algae, followed by dirt. Water and algae growth can develop in fuel that sits or has low turnover. Condensation creates the water and then algae forms. Leaking underground fuel tanks will also let water in. People using drums or dodgy containers are at higher risk, too.”
How susceptible is your tow rig's engine?
John Jamieson – Diesel Care
“Older model inline pumps and low pressure rotary pumps and injectors are more likely to survive a bad batch of fuel, but all common-rail systems are very susceptible to failure from any type of fuel contamination. All these systems only have one factory filter so adding a secondary filter is an absolute must.”
6 steps to cleaner fuel
- There's no substitute for filtration: Your factory fuel filter is cheap and easy to replace – it is essential to replace it regularly. It’s cheap insurance against what can be an extremely costly problem.
- Trust your diesel dealer: Always buy your diesel from a reputable, known source rather than shopping for the lowest price. This way you can be guaranteed that proper filtering has taken place, every time.
- Fuel up at regular intervals: Try to fill up at the same place every time, at roughly the same time. This way if you do end up receiving a bad tank of fuel – you know where it came from.
- Fit a secondary filter: Secondary filters further clean your diesel by running it through media that strains particles as small as 2/1000th of a millimetre (2 micron).
- Clean your tanks: If you’re filling up for a trip, take care with cleanliness. Only use dedicated diesel containers. If you’ve got long-range tanks fitted, be sure to drain off water at regular intervals to prevent condensation and algae building up in your tanks.
- Clean, clean, clean: Fuel cannot be too clean. It should be filtered at every movement; bulk tank to fuel trailer, fuel trailer to vehicle tank, vehicle tank to injection system. Filters are cheap insurance against what can be one of the mostly costly repairs to do to your entire tow vehicle.
Primary or secondary filtration?
Both primary and secondary filter kits have their benefits, but they need to be installed correctly. Diesel Care offers a Primary Filter Kit or ‘pre-filter kit’, which is plumbed BEFORE your factory filter, and a Secondary Filter Kit which is plumbed AFTER your 4WD’s factory filter.
The primary filter will filter down to 30 microns and is intended to prolong the service life of your factory filter cartridge.
The 2 micron secondary filter is your last line of defence and will remove water or fine contaminants that escape your factory filter.
Easy DIY install
Each Diesel Care DIY fuel filter kit includes all the parts you need to ensure your engine is running clean and efficient.
- Start by installing the pre-fabricated mounting bracket. Diesel Care supply detailed instructions to ensure an easy installation.
- Next, you’ll need to plumb up the fuel lines. If you’re installing a 30 micron pre-filter kit, you’ll install the filter in between the tank and the factory filter. If you’re going for the 2 micron secondary filter, connect it up between the main filter and the engine.
- Once the hoses are securely fastened, you’ll need to bleed the air from the fuel system by pumping the primer until it’s hard.
- Then, start the engine and check all hoses and connections for leaks, ensuring all connections and tight and secure. Don’t forget to check this filter every service, and drain any water from the bowl regularly.
