Stuart Comments:
Clean fuel has always been crucial for injector life and smooth engine operation. But with today’s highly sophisticated fuel systems, having the cleanest fuel is not an option––it’s required––and involves very simple science. With injection pressure exceeding 30,000 PSI, the smallest amount of contamination can be a problem. ULSD fuel is more susceptible to condensation collection, amebas, (I hate the word bugs) and chemical properties that shorten fuel filter life and can also corrode the inside of fuel tanks.
It is not the filter that is the problem. Actually, the filter is doing its job, filtering the fuel. Fuel filters are designed to absorb and trap water and filter out debris within the fuel, but as a result, they slow down the fuel flow then, voilÀ, no power.
Also, make sure that you are not buying a higher micron rated filter to mask the problem. Today’s engines may require three- to five-micron rated fuel filters. Buying a 30-micron rated filter is like having a hard drive in a computer: it is not a question if it will fail but when! Injectors are expensive and close to becoming a maintenance item, not like the past when they lasted (or we ran them) forever. Remember the black smoke of the past?
DWS Fleet Management website: www.darrystuart.com