Diesel Fuel Filters

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Diesel Fuel Filters

Diesel Fuel Filters And Fuel Water Separator Filters

Your vehicle's fuel filter location is in a particular area based on the year, engine manufacturer, make, and model.

The Fuel Filter's responsibility of this device is to trap large particles in the fuel to prevent them from getting into the engine. Because of the tremendous force behind the up-and-down motion of the engine's pistons, which compress the air-fuel mixture so that it will burn more efficiently, any large particles in the fuel could potentially cause severe damage to the engine.

Large particles in the fuel also can clog fuel injectors, depriving a cylinder of precious fuel and requiring that the Fuel injector nozzle is cleaned or replaced. Therefore, maintaining a clean filter is imperative to the performance of your engine.

Due to the vast differences in fuel delivery systems, each fuel filter is different. The fuel filter is made of metal or plastic, with an inlet protruding from one end and an outlet tube protruding from the other.

Cummins Filtration - Fleetguard provides diesel fuel filters that meet and exceed the OEM performance requirements for your engine.

Due to the high-pressure fuel injection system, the fuel lines must be made of metal. Sometimes, the fuel filter in a high-pressure fuel injected system is placed in a low-pressure section and may be connected to rubber hoses with hose clamps, much like in a carbureted system.

However, the filter in a high-pressure fuel injection system is equipped with a threaded fitting on each end that screws into the fuel lines on either side. When changing the fuel filter in your vehicle, there are a couple of precautions you need to take. In a vehicle with a high-pressure system, you will need to check your shop manual for more specific instructions.

To be sure the fuel filter works correctly, you will also need to take care to place it so that the flow travels in the right direction. Most fuel filters mark one side as "in" and the other as "out."

The inlet should connect to the fuel lines that come from the fuel tank underneath the back of the vehicle, while the outlet should connect to the fuel lines that can be traced to the engine.

Sometimes the filter will have a different fitting on each side so that it can only be installed in one direction. Because the fuel filter is one of the key components in protecting the engine from hazardous foreign particles, it is critical to replace the fuel filter or filters on a regular basis.

Some mechanics recommend replacing the filter yearly during the regularly scheduled tune-up, but other engineers disagree.

Your fuel filter may need more frequent attention if you live in a particularly high-pollution area or if you put more miles on your car in a year than the average person.

Why do you need to replace your fuel filter?

  • A clean fuel filter ensures a longer life for your fuel pump.
  • A dirty fuel filter creates more restrictions on the fuel pump to push the fuel through the restricted filter to maintain the specified pressure at the injectors.
  • A clogged filter can cause a no-start condition.
  • Clogged filters are the main reason why fuel pumps go bad, and depending on the vehicle, that can be a costly repair.
  • It lowers the fuel flow to the engine.
  • A clogged filter can block as much as 65% of the fuel flow.
  • Restricted fuel flow causes your engine will run lean. - Not enough fuel, too much air
  • Lean engine operation causes overheating greater wear on parts and detonation.
  • A decrease in performance and fuel economy.
  • Lower pressure at the injectors means a lean mixture, which kills mpg and will eventually set a code in the PCM for long-term fuel trim.

Diesel Fuel Filters Remove the Solid Contaminants From your Diesel Fuel

Today's diesel fuel contains small suspended particles such as sand, rust, rubber, and dirt. Larger particles and objects such as pebbles, leaves, and paint chips are also present due to improper fueling procedures. The small particles create substantial wear rates in today’s tight tolerance high-pressure common rail diesel fuel injection systems. The most common cause of plugged filters is organic sludge, referred to as asphaltenes. Additional fuel filtration decreases the likelihood of short filter life-affecting equipment performance. By installing premium quality diesel fuel filters that utilize proprietary media, such as StrataPore™ multi-layer melt-blown media and technologies such as EleMax™, fuel filtration that is specifically designed to remove your diesel fuel containment's, you will ensure the long-term viability of your fuel injection system. 


Why do I need to use a Premium Grade Diesel Fuel Filter on my Diesel Engine?

The fuel filter is your primary Defense Against Dirty Fuel.
Based on research done on the purity of today's Diesel Fuel, the analysis shows that fuel contamination levels have doubled over the past few years. The average gallon of diesel fuel can contain over 18 million potentially harmful particles. Bad diesel fuel leads to plugged filters, causing a host of problems for your engine. Real-world testing that simulates engine vibration shows how previously captured particles are released into the downstream fuel supply. Using a Premium diesel fuel filter will minimize the damage done to your entire fuel injection system by removing these contaminants. 

KLM Performance offers the following types of fuel filters:

A fuel filter has a rating that portrays the ability of the filter to remove suspended particles from the fuel. The standard unit of measure is referred to as a Micron.


What is a Micron?

A micron is a thousandth of a millimeter, a millionth of a meter, or .000039 of an inch. Micron is the unit of measure used to determine the size of particles in a fluid that is filtered out by the filter.


What is the difference between Absolute Micron and Nominal Micron ratings?

The filters Micron rating is the size of particles that are filtered out by the filters filtration media at a positive efficiency rating.

Absolute Micron Rating - When the fuel filter efficiency rating is at least 98.6%, we speak about the absolute micron rating or filtration rating.

Nominal Micron Rating - This term is just a commercial trick for all filtration efficiencies that are lower than the Absolute Micron Rating of 98.6%. This Nominal Micron Rating is a fuel filtration rating means that for the same micron rating in the case of nominal rating, not all particles suspended within the fuel will be captured in the filter as in the case of Absolute Micron Rating.

NOTE: As a consumer, you must be aware that the engine manufacturer specifies an Absolute Micron Rating to ensure the preservation of your costly fuel injection system. Using the proper filter will help ensure the trouble-free operation of the motor. Looking for a less costly filter that does not meet your engine's requirements will affect you in the long run.


KLM Performance carries these fuel filters for premium diesel fuel filtration to keep your fuel system running clean, efficient, and powerful. If you do not see the diesel fuel filter you are looking for, please do not hesitate to call us or contact us. KLM Performance offers quantity discounts on all filters. This filter discount is applied when three or more filter numbers are ordered.