DIESEL ENGINE FUEL FILTER PERFORMANCE EXPERIMENT

Abstract

Diesel fuel contamination with particulate matter is an increasing threat to the proper performance and durability of modern high pressure fuel injection system components, even when the particulate matter content is within the permissible limits (ISO 4406). The high pressure fuel injection system components are not only affected by the amount of particulate matter (measured by weight), but also by their size.This paper presents the results of a study on diesel engine fuel filters. The results show that the filtration efficiency of a used fuel filter is significantly lower than that of a new filter and no longer meets the manufacturer's specifications. Observations with the used filter showed a significant number of particles of 4 µm, 5 µm, 10 µm or larger. Tests with the new fuel filter showed particle sizes of 1 µm, 2 µm and some 3 µm. It was also observed that the increased fuel pressure upstream of the filter is indicative of filter clogging, the presence of particulate deposits on the walls of the filter fibre, which allows smaller particles to pass through the larger pores of the filter fibre.