| Heavy Duty A way to fuel filter success By Layne Gobrogge, Director, Heavy Duty Marketing and Product Development, Luber-finer A fact of life for the maintenance Federal efficiency and emission regulations are making the fuel filter an even more important component in guaranteeing that heavy duty truck engines are powered by the cleanest fuels and operate at peak efficiency. Photo courtesy of Luber-finer DPF regeneration modes explained 1. Passive – This occurs when the load and speed of the engine produce temperatures greater than 350 degrees C, and it burns off the trapped soot as the vehicle operates. 2. Active – If the duty cycle does not produce high enough exhaust temperatures, the DPF becomes loaded with soot, which is indicated by its pressure sensors. Active regeneration is then required. During active regeneration, raw fuel is injected into the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) to achieve appropriate regeneration temperatures in the DPF. Neither active generation nor passive regeneration require input from the vehicle operator, and no check engine light codes are shown on the vehicle dashboards for either regeneration process. 3. Manual – This type of regeneration occurs only when the vehicle is stationary, and it requires action on the part of the vehicle operator. The check engine light will illuminate on the vehicle dashboard, usually after an extended period of idling (when hydrocarbons build up and can cause overheating of the DPF). The vehicle operator must set the park brake and enable the parked regeneration to begin. Engine rpm increases and raw fuel is injected into the exhaust gas at the exit of the engine to generate the appropriate regeneration temperatures. The stationary vehicle manual regeneration processes take about 30 minutes. Information provided by Daimler Trucks North America manager of any heavy duty fleet is to set and keep a schedule for preventive maintenance for the rolling stock, knowing that a well-maintained fleet will maximize its time on road and minimize the idle time spent in maintenance bays. An aid to setting maintenance schedules is the heavy duty engine OEMs who provide recommendations regarding the inspection and change intervals for all of the critical components that help power and protect the engine. From there, however, it gets tricky. While the engine OEM might suggest the proper change interval for a fuel filter, for example, the task of identifying and implementing the best fuel filter for the job is left to the fleet. Today, there are many variables to consider when choosing fuel filters. One of the most important is the type of fuel that is powering the engine. In recent years, biodiesel and ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) have become more prominent. Specific to ULSD, it requires fuel additives to help with lubrication of the fuel system components, which was previously provided by the higher sulfur content in the fuel. Additionally, the presence of water in biodiesel can lead to microbial growth that can compromise the fuel’s performance. Water itself is also damaging to the fuel injectors and other fuel system components and negatively affecting heavy duty engine efficiency and performance with low power output and engine shutdown being common occurrences. TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS The increased use of biodiesel and ULSD has prodded fuel filter manufacturers to design next-generation filter technologies that can effectively remove excess water and contaminants from biodiesel and ULSD. One of the latest technological advances in filter media, to be specific, is a micro glass/synthetic laminate that is ultra efficient in removing water and other contaminants like dirt, scale and rust from the fuel before they can harm the fuel injectors and overall fueling system. The increase in the number and types of fuels that can be used to power heavy duty engines is not the only significant change that has led to the evolution in fuel filter design and performance. Federal agencies, like the U.S. EPA, are constantly revising and tightening the regulations concerning engine efficiency and emissions, which make the fuel filter an even more important component in guaranteeing that heavy duty truck engines are powered by the cleanest fuels and operate at peak efficiency. Using the cleanest fuel possible is also important because fuel injector clearances have been reduced and injection pressures have been increased over the years to provide improved performance and better combustion, which results in a cleaner-running engine. These changes require the fuel filter to be more efficient at removing particulates from the fuel in order to protect the fuel injectors from damage and keep the engine running at its highest level of performance. These new-age operational demands have driven fuel filter manufacturers to develop products that can adequately and reliably remove any impurities from the fuel before it is burned, while being compatible with today’s engine designs. PERFORMANCE The environmental conditions in which the heavy duty vehicle operates also can affect the performance of the fuel filter. Most fuel filters/water separators work fine until the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) is reached. At this point, the fuel no longer flows through the filter and there is a corresponding increase in the risk that water or moisture will freeze in the filter and break the plastic bowl, and that will send the vehicle to the repair shop. Attaining the highest level of fuel purity is even more important during the cold weather months. Luber-finer, by way of example, has found a way to overcome the challenges created by today’s fuel recipes, regulatory requirements and severe operating environments with its new MP995 Fuel Filter. It protects the latest Common Rail High-Pressure Fuel Injection Systems by being 99.5 percent efficient at removing particulates and 95 percent efficient at removing emulsified water from biodiesel. These filters also help engine OEMs meet federal efficiency and emission regulations, and overcome the challenges in operating in cold weather atmospheres. Layne Gobrogge is the director of heavy duty marketing and product development for Luber-finer (www.Luber-finer.com), a global brand leader of filter products for heavy duty on-highway vehicles, vocational vehicles and off-road equipment. 18 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ APRIL 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
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