All About Diesel Water Separator Filter

Diesel fuel naturally contains more impurities compared to unleaded gasoline and must be filtered before reaching the engine. Filtering low-quality fuel ensures the health of the engine. A diesel water separator filter can act as an additional line of defense for your vehicle’s system, filtering out water and fuel particles before they reach the engine.

Using a diesel filter ensures that the fuel flow reaching your vehicle’s engine is completely clean. On the other hand, all filters have a specific service life and must be replaced at the proper time. The replacement time depends on the type and quality of the filter.

Recognizing the signs of failure of this product and also the proper replacement time ensures that the engine can operate at its maximum efficiency and consume less fuel.

Introduction to Diesel Water Separator Filter

Since the density of water is higher than diesel fuel, water tends to settle in diesel. This can cause serious issues when fuel flows inside the engine. Using a diesel water separator filter solves this problem. The filter separates and drains the water droplets present in diesel, preventing damage to the engine.

This filter is a type of industrial filter designed specifically for diesel engines, which are prone to contamination by various solid and liquid pollutants present in the fuel. These filters are very simple in operation.

How Diesel Water Separator Filters Work

When diesel fuel enters the filter, it first passes through a special medium that captures suspended water droplets. Then, as it passes through the cartridge, solid pollutants are absorbed. As a result, clean fuel free of contaminants reaches the engine.

At the top of this filter, a paper element is used, while at the bottom, there is a reservoir or bowl. Since water has a higher density than diesel, it settles at the bottom of the filter until it is drained.

One of the most important factors that heavy-duty filter brands compete on is their ability to capture pollutants at the smallest sizes. For this type of filter, the minimum absorption size is up to 10 microns for suspended water droplets and up to 30 microns for solid pollutants, as stated by reputable manufacturers.

Pollutants smaller than these sizes can pass through even the highest-quality filters. However, such small pollutants have very little effect on engine performance or the lifespan of hydraulic engine parts.

Advantages of Using Diesel Water Separator Filters

Diesel fuels used in many internal combustion engines contain various types of solid and liquid pollutants. Using diesel filters removes dust and other solid contaminants before they reach the engine, improving performance. However, standard diesel filters are not efficient at removing liquid contaminants like water.

For this reason, diesel water separator filters were designed and are now widely used in many engines. In addition to removing solid pollutants like regular diesel filters, they also act as water filters, capable of absorbing and removing water droplets from diesel fuel. Using this product significantly increases the efficiency of diesel engines.

When to Replace Diesel Water Separator Filters

Diesel water separator filters have a specific lifespan and must be replaced after a period of use to maintain engine performance and reduce fuel consumption. The replacement time varies depending on the filter type.

The type and quality of the fuel used also affect the replacement time. If the fuel contains many impurities, the filter will wear out more quickly and need replacement sooner. Typically, after replacing the diesel oil filter twice, it is recommended to also replace the diesel water separator filter.

Signs of Diesel Water Separator Filter Failure

Contaminants in fuel usually result from tank corrosion or dirty fuel lines. The presence of these contaminants affects engine performance, leading to reduced efficiency.

There are several signs of dirty or failing filters that must be checked as soon as they are observed. Below are some of these symptoms:

• Difficulty starting the engine
• Poor acceleration
• Frequent stalling or sputtering
• Strong odor
• Engine shutting off
• Low engine performance

Some types of filters have metallic elements that can be cleaned using special methods and reused. Others, such as bowl-type filters, can be cleaned by draining the collected water and reused. However, most filters can be easily replaced.

Conclusion

Although liquid contaminants like water do not wear down the engine like solid pollutants such as dust and do not deposit in the cylinder head, they reduce engine performance and efficiency in other ways.

Water entering the engine prevents complete combustion of the fuel and, due to instant vaporization, causes engine vibration and prevents the combustion temperature from reaching the desired level. Using a diesel water separator filter eliminates water and prevents it from entering the engine, solving these issues.

Knowing how this filter works, when to replace it, and the signs of its failure ensures protection of diesel engines against fuel contaminants and improves their overall performance.