Diesel Equipment Filters


Semis, haul trucks, excavators, dumpers, cranes, backhoes, drills, pickup trucks…there is so much equipment that keeps our economy moving forward. If you own or operate a piece of diesel machinery, it’s vital that your equipment operates smoothly and efficiently.
At Fleetguard, we’re passionate about keeping your equipment running at peak performance with our advanced filters. No matter what it is filtering—air, fuel, oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid—every filter has the same purpose: to remove contaminants and enable flow. As we explore equipment filters in this guide, you’ll learn more about our full range of filters for every application. We’ll walk you through all the ins and outs of diesel equipment filters to help you understand their function, answer frequently asked questions, and cover how to select the right (and best!) filter for your equipment.

Why Are High Quality Diesel Equipment Filters Important?
When it comes to diesel equipment, having a high quality filter capable of withstanding all operating conditions is vital for profitability. 
Take a moment to consider how this equipment impacts your bottom line. Using inefficient and ineffective filters can lead to all sorts of issues, like requiring more maintenance, replacing filters more often, causing wear and tear on engines, incurring downtime due to equipment needing to be serviced, increasing fuel and oil consumption, reducing horsepower, and so on. In other words, the impacts can quickly (and exponentially) multiply. 
Using the correct high quality filter from a manufacturer like Fleetguard can mitigate these issues, helping to protect your equipment and your profits. For example, Fleetguard’s heavy duty oil filter product range includes some of the most advanced full-flow lube oil filters in the industry. We introduced StrataPore®, a revolutionary filter media technology, which works in combination with our own patented NanoNet® media to provide highly effective filtration for heavy-duty engines. Fleetguard lube filters made with our proprietary media can reduce engine wear by as much as 60% in some applications.

How Many Types of Diesel Filters Are There?
The number of filters that heavy equipment uses depends on the specific systems that are in place. In general, fluids and air need to be filtered to protect all the different components of the equipment. Let’s take a look at all the different filters that you might find: 

  • Air Filtration
    • How many air filters are in a truck? It depends on your equipment’s setup. For example, with semi trucks, you will probably find three to five air filters. It’s important to remember that with any equipment there are two types of air filters: cabin air filters and engine air filters. As the names imply, the cabin air filter removes impurities and contaminants from the air in your working environment—the cabin of your truck. The engine air filter (or filters) does the same for your engine. Just as dirty air can impact your health, it can also impact the health of your engine. Taking in contaminants like dust and dirt can cause engine wear, reduced performance, and expensive maintenance. Using a high quality air filter for your engine and cabin is an important part of preventing unhealthy working conditions.

  • Fuel Filtration 
    • How many fuel filters do most diesel engines have? For diesels, you’ll typically find two filters—the primary and secondary diesel fuel filters. The pre-filter is usually located between the fuel tank and fuel pump along the frame rail on the undercarriage. The primary fuel filter function is to remove contaminants before the diesel reaches the fuel pump. The secondary filter is located in the engine bay, catching any remaining contaminants before the fuel reaches the injectors.

  • Hydraulic Filtration
    • For trucks that use hydraulics, you may have three different types of filters in different locations.
    • Suction filters are found inside the pump’s hydraulic reservoir or in the suction line. They are also sometimes known as strainers or safety filters.
    • Return line filters are, of course, in the return line, taking out the particles before the hydraulic fluid is returned to the reservoir. 
    • Pressure filters are usually installed between the pump outlet and the other components in your hydraulic system. 

  • DEF/Urea Filtration
    • DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) and urea filtration are a part of the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) aftertreatment system. These filters help reduce emissions from exhaust. You’ll typically find just one filter in the exhaust system. 

  • Lube Filtration
    • You will usually find one lube oil filter in your engine, unless you have both full-flow and by-pass systems. 
    • Full-flow filtration removes contaminants between the oil pump and the engine. Fleetguard filters ensure that all of the oil pump output is filtered before going to the engine.
    • By-pass filters are an additional system that helps with the continuous cleaning of the oil. They are usually used together with full flow filtration. If your truck has a by-pass filter, then you will probably have two oil filters to change. 
    • A combo filter is a unique arrangement where the full flow and by-pass filtration are combined into one filter.

  • Transmission Filtration
    • There is generally one transmission filter that is typically located above the transmission pan. These filters help your engine perform better by removing the contaminants in the transmission fluid. 

If you’re keeping count, your equipment could have anywhere from eight to 14 filters. This will, of course, vary depending on the equipment you are using.

Frequently Asked Questions
The filters that most people are familiar with are air filters and oil filters. With that in mind, let’s explore some FAQs around these types of filters.

Air Filters 
  • How Long Does an Air Filter Last?
    • Different manufacturers will have their own recommendations for how long your filter lasts and it will vary depending on what type of equipment we’re looking at. Driving conditions will also affect the life of your air filters. At Fleetguard, our filters provide superior engine protection, lowest total cost of ownership and long service intervals—keep in mind that filter service intervals will vary depending on the engine and original equipment manufacturer requirements. 
  • How Often Should Equipment Air Filters Be Replaced?
  • Your air filters should be replaced either before or right when they become ineffective at filtering air. Going by the miles outlined above is a good guide, but you should also monitor your filters in case they start to go before that timeframe. If you start noticing these signs, it may be time for a truck air filter replacement:
    • Engine air filters - One major sign is a decrease in gas mileage. In order to function properly, the engine needs good airflow. As filters become clogged with dirt and debris, the air can’t move as freely into the engine. As a result, your engine has to work harder, using more fuel. 
    • Cabin air filters - When you start to see dust in your cab, that’s a good sign that your cabin air filters aren’t doing their job anymore. 
    • Wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly when to replace your filters? Of course! And that’s why we have developed FleetguardFIT™, a real-time filtration monitoring system that helps you know exactly when to replace. More on this in a moment! 
  • How Much Does an Air Filter Cost?
    • The equipment air filter price depends on the filter you are replacing and which brand you choose. While it may seem like a good idea to go with the least expensive option, the reality is that you get what you pay for. Inexpensive filters typically don’t last very long or do an inefficient job, leading to poor gas mileage and bad air quality for your working environment. 
  • The filter you choose can make a huge difference! For example, for engine air filtration Fleetguard NanoForce air filters combine an innovative filter pleat design with a nanofiber media to give you:
    • Up to 5x longer service intervals 
    • 30% lower annual expenditure 
    • 99.99% filtration efficiency
  • Do Air Filters Increase Horsepower?
    • Yes, air filters can impact horsepower, both positively and negatively. If you have clean engine air filters that are functioning well, this can help your engine performance. If your filters are clogged and dirty, on the other hand, this can decrease your engine’s horsepower. 

Lube Oil Filters
  • Is There Really a Difference in Oil Filters?
    • Yes, just like with air filters, the quality of your oil filter can impact the performance of your engine and how often you need to replace the filter. Lube oil is the lifeblood of your engine, and by removing the particles and contaminants, your engine can last longer. Fleetguard lube filters use superior filtration techniques to accomplish this goal, targeting soot that forms sludge in the oil. By keeping this highly-abrasive material under control with Fleetguard filters, your engine will be protected from wear and lower performance. 
  • Is a High Performance Oil Filter Worth It?
    • It depends on the filter and your goals. It’s worth investigating the manufacturer to make sure that any high performance or extended service products will actually function as intended. 
  • How Much Are Oil Filters for Equipment?
    • Like air filters, it depends on the type of filter you are replacing and the manufacturer you choose. Here at Fleetguard, we’ve paired our NanoNet® media with StrataPore® media to create a new breed of lube filter that offers higher efficiency, higher capacity and the best cold-flow vs restriction available. With 100% synthetic NanoNet media that is engineered to last, Fleetguard filters are the superior choice, especially in challenging environments.

What Is a Heavy Duty Engine Filter for Diesel Equipment?
A heavy duty filter is any filter that has been designed to fit heavy duty equipment and withstand and capture multiple levels of damaging particulates that could pass through internal engine parts. For example, the Fleetguard NanoForce® air filter range uses advanced nanofiber technology for optimal performance in on- and off-highway applications. These heavy duty equipment filters are able to remove the smallest of dirt particles from the intake air without compromising airflow. In fact, NanoForce™ filters can reduce the amount of dirt entering the engine by up to three times that of standard air filters. These filters are typically selected for heavy duty equipment that is operating in severe conditions—like mining machinery. 

What Other Filters Are Commonly Used for Diesel Equipment? 
In addition to heavy duty engine filters, medium or light filters are selected for the various sizes of equipment. Medium duty vehicles are in truck classes 6-7, while light duty diesel vehicles are typically passenger vehicles with a diesel drivetrain, like a full size pickup truck or a sedan. Each class of diesel equipment uses the corresponding filter type.
The two most important aspects of filter selection are: 
  • Selecting the right size filter for your specific equipment, and, 
  • Choosing a high quality filter that will protect your investment. 

How To Choose the Right Filter for Your Diesel Equipment
The best way to choose the right filter is to use a lookup tool. For example, if you’re searching for an oil filter lookup, you can find the correct oil filter for your equipment using the Fleetguard part search. No matter what filter you’re looking for, from air, fuel, oil CV, hydraulic, coolant, or any other type, you can use our parts search and be confident that you’ll receive a filter that fits your needs—from literally fitting into place to keeping your equipment fit as a fiddle. 

How Do You Cross Reference a Filter?
Your equipment came with the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) filters already installed. When it is time to replace those filters, you may find it difficult to determine which filter is best suited for your equipment. For example, if you want to switch to a Fleetguard filter, our cross reference feature is a helpful way to ensure that you get the right one. 
Ready for some good news? Fleetguard is one of the world’s largest diesel engine component companies, supplying many OEMs worldwide. Your truck may already have a Fleetguard filter, making it easy and simple to look up your replacement filter using our parts search, with no need to cross reference brands. 

What is the Best Filter for Your Equipment?
The difference between a good filter and a great filter is the media inside. The quality of the filter impacts the price—and the performance of equipment. When asking questions like “what oil filter is best?” or “which is the most powerful type of air filter?” The more important question is: “what is the best quality filter available?” 
Here at Fleetguard, we are proud to provide the highest quality filters for every application. From oil to fuel to air and beyond, Fleetguard filters are made from advanced technology with quality materials and attention to detail. In fact, we go above and beyond OEM specifications because we know that dependability and reliability are vital for the hardworking folks who use our products. Our filters cover a wide variety of applications, including semis, industrial equipment for construction, mining, agriculture, and marine applications (and more). 
We’re so confident in the quality of our filters that we stand behind them with a warranty that is unmatched by any other filter manufacturer. Our filters are backed by the only full-coverage warranty in the industry. If our product fails, causing engine damage, we will completely reimburse you for the repair or replacement of your engine to get it back to like-new condition. Our competitors typically only pay up to the value of the engine at the time of failure, rather than getting your engine back to its prime condition. We provide this higher level of warranty because we are confident in the quality of our filters and we know how much you depend on your engine functioning the best it can. 
 
How Do You Know if Your Filters Are Working Correctly?
The best way to know if your filters are functioning properly is to use condition-based monitoring. With FleetguardFIT™, there’s finally a way to take advantage of the advances in technology. Our filtration intelligence technology (FIT) provides full visibility into filter and oil life through intelligent sensing and advanced data analytics. Using pressure sensors, FleetguardFIT monitors restrictions in oil, fuel, and air filters. This information is collected by a control module, then transmitted to the cloud so that you can analyze and view the data through a web portal or mobile app. The FleetguardFIT system is exclusive to our filters, only takes a few hours to install, and can be fitted on any OEM engine or engine size. 
It’s time to stop guessing if your filters are working properly or need to be replaced. With FleetguardFIT, you know. 

Nothing Guards Like Fleetguard!
At Fleetguard, you’ll find filters and filtration products that protect your engines from the harmful contaminants and particles that come with a rough and rugged work life. Keeping your diesel equipment functioning properly is our goal, and our filters and filtration products are designed to do just that. In fact, we’ve been making filters since 1958, supplying equipment filters all over the world. Our commitment to quality is unmatched, with products backed by the best warranty on the market today. 
Find a Fleetguard dealer today or explore our filter options to learn more about our offerings. If you are a dealer who would like to start providing Fleetguard filters, please contact us to learn more.