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Diesel Fuel Filter FAQ


Those working in industries where diesel equipment is pushed to its limits have first-hand knowledge of how improper fuel filtration can lead to costly and disastrous results. Our passionate team understands the importance of diesel equipment filters better than anyone. This is why we have created this piece on fuel filters to serve as a fundamental guide to answer some common questions and shed light on an area that can often be an afterthought.

How Do Fuel Filters Work? 

As important as this piece of equipment is, its function is rather simple. A fuel filter aims to screen out contaminants such as dirt, dust, debris, and rust particles from the fuel. This filter protects the more vital parts of an engine, like a fuel injector, where even the smallest piece of debris could ruin it. The injectors can be quite expensive to replace, so having a proper fuel filter is vital for an engine's health.

What Fuel Filter Do I Need?

A diesel machine needs to be partnered with the right filter for it to run correctly. The best way to find the right filter for a machine's needs is by using a look-up tool. This tool will allow someone to search for parts that meet the equipment's specific needs. The great news is that Fleetguard has its very own look-up tool that can aid in these searches.
The next hurdle for many who are searching for the right filter is finding a few options that appear to be the perfect fit. So, how does someone determine whether a filter is good or great? There is not going to be a one size fits all filter. The one thing that everyone can do is avoid getting a cheap filter in order to save some money.

You can indeed save money upfront with low-quality filters, but you’re also more likely to pay for expensive repairs down the road. And depending on your business, increased downtime can cost more than the parts and labor combined. Beyond the financial impact, cheap and lower-quality filters take a heavy toll on your engine.

One way to determine the quality of a fuel filter is to look at a fuel filter micron rating chart. A micron is a unit of measurement for the unwanted particles found in today's fuels. These particles cannot be seen with the naked eye, so ratings help guide buyers to find a filter that fits their needs. For example, a filter with a micron rating of 5 will filter out any contaminants of 5 microns or higher.

Along with this rating, filters will also have a percentage listed with the micron rating. So, a 5 micron fuel filter with a 97% efficiency rating will remove 97% of particles at or above the 5 micron size. These kinds of comparisons can get confusing, which is why we recommend both using a look-up tool and talking with an expert from a reputable organization like Fleetguard. This ensures that you get the right fuel filter for your needs.

Are Bigger Fuel Filters Better?

Traditionally, a piece of equipment can only have a filter the same size that came on it because there isn't enough space under the hood to add a filter that is a size you would prefer. The question of if bigger is better may apply to certain communities that mod parts of an engine, but for diesel equipment on a job site, this is a non factor. It is also important to note that this mention of "bigger is better" does not relate to micron size either. This still leads many to wonder, “what is better, a 10 or 100 micron fuel filter?”. Let's compare.

10 Micron vs 100 Micron Fuel Filter 

For some equipment, a 10 micron fuel filter could get the job done while a 100 micron filter may actually not be fine enough to filter out the necessary material. However, do you want to take chances with your expensive equipment? Of course not. That’s why here at Fleetguard our diesel equipment filters are made with NanoNet® media that offer a .1 to 1 micron size. To put that into perspective, a strand of human hair is 70 microns! These low micron filters help ensure that anything with potential to damage the engine is filtered out.

How Often Should a Fuel Filter Be Changed?

Diesel fuel tends to contain various contaminants, so diesel fuel filters must be carefully monitored to ensure they are replaced before it is too late. Each filter and engine pairing will function slightly differently. Filter life is highly dependent on the equipment and operating conditions, so it is vital to follow the manufacturer recommendations for filter replacement for your specific diesel equipment.

However, you can also keep in mind some of the other signs that you need to change your fuel filter, like: 

  • Poor Engine Performance: Likely the most obvious sign to watch out for, poor engine performance can come from a variety of issues. Even if the cause seems obvious, it is always a good idea to check out the fuel filter any time you see problems arise with your engine. 

  • Hard Starting: While it is rare for a fuel filter to be the sole cause of a hard engine starting, it still happens. This occurrence is higher among older vehicles or equipment where the fuel filter has never been changed or has been without maintenance for several years. Checking the fuel filter is also recommended when buying used equipment as it is much less of a headache to fix before it gets put to work. 

  • Unusual Sounds: If a fuel pump starts to emit irregular sounds, especially under high-level workloads, this could be a sign that the fuel filter is not working correctly.

While avoiding a faulty or failing fuel filter from time to time is impossible, the problems can be mitigated by scheduling regular replacements. Any range that you find online discussing the best time to change a fuel filter is just a suggestion. Even the range we gave above is simply a starting point. If you are ever in doubt about what course of action to take, it is always a good idea to consult with the manufacturer.

Another common question that we see is, "What causes a clogged fuel filter?" It is normal for the clogging of a filter to come from metallic fragments of various types. There are myriad other reasons as well, such as:

  • Rust from a decaying steel fuel tank, steel fuel lines, and fittings

  • Sediment from poor-quality fuel

  • Silt deposits or water from a filling station's in-ground storage tanks

If you are wondering if there is a better option or method to monitor when a filter needs to be replaced, you’re right. The wonderful news is that we have just the system. FleetguardFITTM is a filtration monitoring system that works with Fleetguard filters. We noticed that there was a major problem regarding fuel filters, which was the steep maintenance costs related to filters and oil, as well as equipment downtime for a variety of applications. Both of these problems needed to be heavily minimized.

FleetguardFITTM is able to achieve this by utilizing intelligent sensing and advanced data analytics. Here is just a basic idea of the benefits our system can provide your equipment.

  • Establish a predictive condition-based maintenance framework that also optimizes Fleetguard filter spend
  • Enables early problem detection to help avoid costly downtime
  • Helps protect the engine through real-time monitoring

Using FleetguardFITTM means you no longer need to guess about the condition of your filters and risk being too late to replace them before significant damage has been done to the engine. We have a web and mobile app that makes monitoring your filters a breeze. The app also provides filtration system information on every installed application.


Common Problems After Changing a Fuel Filter

The benefits of changing a fuel filter cannot be understated. Keeping an engine healthy is vital to the longevity of the vehicle or equipment. Unfortunately, some of the common problems can be the same as those to watch out for if a fuel filter needs to be replaced (like the ones listed above). Here are a few different ones to keep an eye out for after a replacement. 

  • Poor Fuel Economy

  • Engine Misfire

  • Stalling

These problems can arise from anything like the right filter being improperly installed or someone mistakenly putting the wrong filter in a piece of equipment. The best way to avoid these all together is to work with a team like Fleetguard, which guides each customer through a new purchase or replacement process to ensure everything fits.

Fuel Filter Replacement Cost

The good news is that fuel filters are not the most expensive piece to fix or replace when it comes to engine components. However, with multiple diesel machines operating all day, the price of fixing all of them can start to add up. Unfortunately, with so much variance depending on the type of filter, we cannot give an accurate price range that would still be accurate in a year's time. Another reason it is difficult to nail down an average price is that there will also typically be a labor fee tacked onto the replacement cost. It should be noted that diesel fuel filters will be on the more expensive side compared to their non-diesel counterparts.

Are Aftermarket Fuel Filters Good?

There is a lot of talk around the topic of aftermarket fuel filters. We feel that the best place to start would be defining what exactly an aftermarket filter is. For example, if you purchase an engine from a manufacturer that uses Fleetguard filters, you can swap it out for other filters made by our team without any significant issue. However, any other filter you use besides the type provided by the manufacturer will be considered aftermarket. This does not always mean that an aftermarket filter is worse than one used by the manufacturer, but it can lead to compatibility issues. On the other hand, if you purchase an engine and discover they use cheaper filters to save on overhead costs, using an aftermarket Fleetguard filter will likely yield better results. In the end, it all comes down to making sure that the filter you place inside the engine is a compatible match for the fuel you plan to use.

Another important element to consider when it comes to filters, aftermarket or not, is the warranty that comes along with it. The Fleetguard fuel filter warranty is both robust and fair. If our product is determined to have a warrantable failure, we will repair, replace, or refund the defective product at our sole discretion. Some aftermarket warranties will leave you few options if the filter stops functioning due to something out of your control.


Who Makes the Best Diesel Fuel Filters?

Engine filters are often treated as commodity products where brands are compared primarily by their price and availability rather than what is the best fit. One major reason that our team at Fleetguard is so confident in our services is that many original equipment manufacturers (OEM) use our products. This gives us the ability to be more agile with what we are able to offer and cater to our customer's needs.

To get started with some best-in-class fuel filters, find a dealer today.