Thread: Fuel Filtration For Common Rail Diesels

Originally Posted by TonyC

So is the fuel flow in a CRD constant out of the tank, and the what the motor doesn't use is returned to the tank? If so this would make the filtering easier/more consistent would it not?
Would it also mean that you are constantly filtering and re filtering the contents of the tank, and would that lead to less gunk in the tank?

In theory yes, in practice no. The field tests show that the injectors get dirtier fuel than the injector manufacturers specify.

CRD engines also heat the fuel in the tank up quite a lot - which causes other issues.

Originally Posted by spudboy

Hi Tony - Am thinking of putting some extra protection on my PUMA, so I gave Baldwin in Adelaide a call to get some prices ($185 + GST for the 65 series unit. $25 + GST for the filters BTW. They would not budge or give a trade price ).

The bloke I spoke to said forget the 2 micron and go for the 10 micron. He thought the 2 micron would clog quite quickly.

Any thoughts on this? If I fitted it After the standard fuel filter, would this be better with 2 micon than before the standard filter?

Thanks
David

Personally I am not a big fan of Baldwin - however have used some of their filters in the past.

Filters should always be installed coarsest to finest (in direction of flow).

Originally Posted by isuzurover

...
Personally I am not a big fan of Baldwin - however have used some of their filters in the past.
...

Problems with them? Racor better?

And just to note: the genuine LR filter is labelled 5 microns....

Originally Posted by djam1

Just how do you put in another inline filter with a TD5 pressurised lines with strange path through the system

td5 isnt common rail engine, and will run on nearly any clean combustible fluid, it only has the simplest filter system ever, what doesnt get flung out of the centrifugal filter obviouslt doesnt bother the injectors
Dennis

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

td5 isnt common rail engine, and will run on nearly any clean combustible fluid, it only has the simplest filter system ever, what doesnt get flung out of the centrifugal filter obviouslt doesnt bother the injectors
Dennis

Umm, the centrifugal filter is on the lube system, not the diesel supply.

TD5's do have an issue with dirty fuel as they are unit injector type, pumping the fuel up to bloody high pressure so if it isn't clean it sand blasts the tips.

When the Storm/TD5 engine came out LRA replaced a stack of injectors under warranty because of this, and at the time they cost LRA over $2000 each.

A mate of mine was a consulting engineer to LRA during this period (working on military stuff, including the TD5) and his advice to anyone then was fit another filter inline with the original one.

Good to know we can protect injectors but what options are out there to really test them. In the old days (non common rail) we could just swing the fuel line away from the motor with the injector connected, give the motor a turn and visually inspect the spray. Not high tech but good for some degree of confidence. What works today? I'd like to know if mine are OK. They've certainly gone through some nasty passages.

Any advice for testing please?

Many fine suggestions about putting additional filters in a TD5 but no one has actually said how to do it.
It was suggested in another old post by Blknight that it would be easiest to tap the tank and run an external pump to circulate the fuel through the filter as the system is under pressure and closed.
Has anyone come up with another way to actually put an additional filter in the TD5 system?

IMO, Sometimes we (humans) seem to worry to much

I've never had a fuel issue and just regulary change my fuel filter.
I'm also careful with my fuel choices and in questionable areas have even pumped some into a jar first to inspect before topping the tanks!!!

Our engines are a 400-500,000km engine effectively... And in most circumstances will run fine to EOL...

Just drive the bar stewards.....

Originally Posted by Tombie

IMO, Sometimes we (humans) seem to worry to much

I've never had a fuel issue and just regulary change my fuel filter.
I'm also careful with my fuel choices and in questionable areas have even pumped some into a jar first to inspect before topping the tanks!!!

Our engines are a 400-500,000km engine effectively... And in most circumstances will run fine to EOL...

Just drive the bar stewards.....

Barring catastrophic failure, an engine's lifespan is usually determined by the standard of filtration and lubricants.