Filters, Fuel and Common Rail Diesel Problems

Can any fuel and filter combination stop, or avoid, common rail diesel problems?

As you know, if you have been following BDG for some time now, fuel and contamination are the main causes of common rail diesel problems, and the correct filtration is certainly the main and first line of protection in preventing damage to common rail system components.  While the older systems used filtration down to approximately 5 microns, the latest low-tolerance and high performance systems are filtering down to a level of around two microns.  Will this two micron filtering prevent premature common rail diesel problems and failures? Unfortunately not all the time

The search for cleaner emissions has driven the manufacturers to design common rail systems with higher and higher pressures and tighter tolerances, demanding cleaner fuel to operate. This need to filter out smaller particles and more of the water out of the fuel makes the design and maintenance of the filtration system critical to avoiding common rail diesel problems related to the injection and combustion system.

We all know that the most critical step in maintaining your common rail vehicle is ensuring that the fuel that goes into the system is properly filtered at each step of the injection process. Can the right filtration set-up avoid problems when you receive a really bad dose of fuel? Probably not. But it can make the problems easier to deal with and repair.

Please remember that one of the most important parts of the filtration system is a proper water separator on the delivery rail. If there is any chance of water entering the fuel system, it must be eliminated. Remember, water in the fuel does not just come from a bad tank of fuel. The extreme changes in temperature between daytime highs and nighttime lows cause massive condensation, which must be eliminated.

One last thing to remember when you are taking active measures to avoid early (and unexpected) common rail diesel problems. Proper filtration and water separation are absolutely essential, but they are not the only consideration. Has your vehicle been sitting up for a few days, or a few weeks? Consistent operation of your beast is essential to keeping the entire fuel system clean. In order to achieve the low-emissions goals the government has put in place, your fuel has chemicals which act as contaminants; causing corrosion and making the injectors stick and fail prematurely.

Just remember, filter properly, filter often, and drive your beast regularly to avoid any fuel system problems!

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