Dirty fuel is a
fact of life.
You´ve heard
all the stories about contaminated fuels. No. 2 diesel fuel is one of today´s
most variable fuel sources. Its quality and purity range unpredictably from
very good to very poor. Current API specifications allow "acceptable"
levels of impurities (sulfur and wax) and contaminants (dirt, ash, and water).
It´s likely that these regulations will weaken even further in the future.
The deterioration
of fuel is almost inevitable. Contaminants are introduced into the fuel system
through mixing, transferring, and storage.
Micro-organisms can quickly become major problems.
Colonies of fungus
and bacteria, both aerobic and anaerobic, feed on your fuel. Commonly known
as humbugs, they spread rapidly in the presence of moisture. They ride along
with the fuel, easily pumped from one tank to another. As the micro-organisms
accumulate, they will spread through the fuel system and quickly plug the
fuel filter. A coating of slime will develop over the entire surface of the
media. Chemical treatment with a biocide is the only effective solution to
the problem of bacterial and fungal growth.
Contaminants arrive
in your fuel in two forms — precipitates and particulates. Precipitates
are non-combustible materials formed when fuel oxidizes. They may also form
if, as sometimes happens, two incompatible fuels are blended. Significant
swings in temperature accelerate the precipitation problem. Because precipitates
are generally heavier than fuel, they tend to settle to the bottom of tanks.
Decanting or carefully drawing off the fuel will leave the precipitates behind.
Particulates, sometimes called "asphaltines," are black, tar-like
contaminants. A residue of the refining process, particulates plug filters
quickly. There is no known chemical treatment for the removal of these contaminants.
Wax, in moderation,
is a desirable fuel component. It adds energy to the fuel. In operation during
cold weather, however, control of wax becomes necessary, usually by applying
additives or changing to a higher grade of diesel fuel. Like water, wax begins
to thicken at colder temperatures. As wax gels, it can restrict and eventually
stop fuel flow. Wax thickening involves a couple of critical temperature points:
- cloud point,
the temperature at which solid crystals of wax begin to form — the
fuel looks opaque, but it still flows.
- the pour point,
the temperature at which the gel forms — the fuel cannot be poured.
Potentially
the most damaging of the contaminants, water destroys the lubricative properties
of your fuel. With lost lubricity, the fuel can scour pumps and even blow
out injector tips. At colder temperatures, water in the fuel can freeze and
contribute to total fuel stoppage. The good news is, water can be removed
from fuel — within limits. There are three common mechanisms of water
removal.
- Stripping. A silicon-treated
medium inhibits the passage of water, but allows fuel to flow freely.
- Coalescing. Gravity drags
water droplets (heavier than fuel) out of slow-flowing fuel.
- Absorption. A filter medium
with a high affinity for water and a low affinity for fuel absorbs the
water in the fuel.
Some OEMs use fuel/water
separators relying on a stripping mechanism. Several difficulties occur with
these separators.
Plastic bowl
separators are subject to road hazards and chemical attacks, resulting in
cracks and leaks.
Replacement
bowls are not easily available, and the replacement process is difficult,
increasing costs and downtime.
The configuration
of the plastic bowl creates an additional path for leaks.
Baldwin
fuel filters designed to perform better.
Baldwin filters
have been designed and tested to perform according to structural specifications
for:
- varied service
environments.
- expected service
life.
- flow requirements.
- working and
maximum pressures.
- surges and
fluctuations of pressure.
Baldwin
filters have been tested against the constraints of SAE J905, the official
standard for determining fuel filter performance. In each case, the Baldwin
filter was asked to perform under:
- an accumulation of fine dust
(particles 2 to 40 microns in size).
- a constant flow rate.
- a constant termination pressure.
- a constant temperature (100
degrees F.).
- a constant contaminant add
rate.
These SAE
specifications address the principal determinants of on-the-job performance:
-
efficiency
in removal of contaminants
-
capacity
for removal of contaminants (as measured in holding capability of the
media over the desired change interval)
-
the filter´s
ability to meet needed flow rates for fuel.
Tank after tank,
Baldwin helps your fuel flow freely. Dirty fuel can sap your engine´s
power and drain its longevity. It can rob you blind. Baldwin fuel filters
protect your engine from the harmful effects of water and contaminants in
fuel. Baldwin filters will pay for themselves many times over in increased
engine performance and longer engine life.
See
The Baldwin Difference.
Heavy-Duty Baseplate is joined to the can with a double-rolled tuck lock seam
to resist leakage due to high pressure.
Heavy-Duty, All-Metal
Housing provides unequaled burst- and pulse-withstanding strength.
Spiral-Seamed Centertube
helps prevent collapse caused by a sudden difference between internal and
external pressure.
High-Efficiency
HydroShield™ Media repels water and other contaminants.
All-Metal Self-Venting
Drain eliminates the need to separately vent the fuel system prior to draining
while adding superior structural strength and ease of service.
Easy-Opening Valve
has one seal instead of three and requires 88 percent less torque to open
and close.
