Every fleet revolves around routine maintenance. Without it, not only do costs increase, but you lose out on some of your most valuable resources: time and trust. There’s no doubt that routine tasks like oil and tire changes are on maintenance to-do lists. But in many cases, one critical component is left forgotten – until an engine cleaning or worse is required.
Fuel filters, like oil filters, remove fine impurities like dirt, rust, paint, scale and water to protect the engine system. These filters are often forgotten, as they don’t need to be replaced as regularly as oil counterparts. Without a premium fuel filtration system, engines simply can’t maintain the high performance demanded of them. After all, heavy-duty trucks must operate at top efficiency despite consistent harsh driving conditions. Remembering to replace fuel filters promotes fleet uptime and can save you from avoidable costly repairs.
Curb Engine Clogs
While diesel fuel itself is not inherently dirty, it can pick up contaminants during storage and transportation. Fuel filters screen out pollutant particles before they can enter the engine. Naturally, these filters will reach capacity over time, allowing more and more of those tiny fragments to make their way into the engine and throughout the fuel system.
Water in diesel fuel mixes together with these materials to form a sludge that can plug fuel injectors and carburetors. In turn, clogged engines lose power and responsiveness; they are more prone to misfiring or may fail to start at all. Simply switching out your fuel filters will eliminate these hassles. Always inspect the filter first for any visual sludge, dirt, grim or other impurities and change per the manufacturer’s recommended interval. Each fleet will be different depending on the truck’s use and condition.
Keep Corrosion at Bay
Not only does water in diesel fuel cause sludge, but it also leads to serious corrosion. The small particulates that a replacement fuel filter would remove are abrasive and, when mixed with water and fuel acids, are a recipe for more than just unnecessary wear and tear.
Even newly installed engine components can quickly become corroded when exposed to these conditions. And without a new fuel filter installed, this deterioration will continue to drive up repair costs. As soon as corroded parts are identified, it’s also a good idea to check fuel filters.
Worry Less about Water
Water in diesel and biodiesel fuel is inevitable. As discussed, water can wreak havoc on engines and fuel systems without proper filter maintenance. Choosing a primary fuel filter with a fuel/water separator provides the best protection against these effects. Minimizing water in your fuel greatly increases fuel injection system longevity, lowers the risk of engine overheating and promotes overall uptime.
Give Your Engine the Best Support
With fleets, having a high-efficiency fuel filtration system is essential to maintaining top engine performance and longevity. WIX Filters has been at the forefront of filter innovation for more than 80 years and continues to create revolutionary solutions. With a history in heavy-duty filtration, WIX fuel filters feature new synthetic/cellulose media and Quickvent® for improved particulate retention efficiency and water removal capabilities. To learn more about our signature heavy-duty fuel filters and other products, visit www.wixfilters.com.
