Well just changed my fuel filter for the second time (28K on clock) and decided to take a look inside the filter. Man was it wasted! The outside was completely black, and when you would squeeze the filter media dark brown diesel would flow out of media. What really concerned me was the inside of the filter, the paper was a dark brownish tint. I thought changing filter at 15K was a good thing now I will be changing at each oil change, just knowing that the common rail is not real high on dirt in the fuel. I wonder if this could be one reason for injector failure on other trucks. I get diesel from a really busy truck stop that was built about two years ago, so I thought I was getting clean fuel (guess not). Anyone know of a better filter approved by DC and Cummins. I currently use the stratpore fleetgard filter.

 

Sounds like your filters are working just fine....
I change mine every 10,000 miles...

 

Man! I changed mine @ 7K just for kicks and practice. Mine didn't look bad at all. When I let it sit and drain while installing the new one I was surprised how much white was still showing. It looked in real good shape. I guess it must be the type of fuel you get to really get it gunked up.

 

Glad this was mentioned, I just changed mine last night and it wasn't in too bad of shape, I have about 6K miles on this filter. It still had plenty of white showing through but down near the bottom it was like a lighter shade of grey.

 

I change mine every oil change. It's to cheap not to change it that often. Mine always comes out nice and white.

 

Everyother oil change for me. It looks dirty enough to me that is makes me feel good to change it.

 

I changed mine last week and it always seems to come out black. Usually change it every other oil change and never let it go over 10k without a change. As said before it's cheap insurance to change it more often. Probably overkill but with all the fuel questions out there why not.

 

Stratapore seems to be popular, I use Baldwin(is that a good filter?), to each is own. cumminsboy

 

I put a fuel pressure gauge post filter in not to long ago and was wondering how much difference I will read when the filter gets dirty?

 

You might see one pound difference at the most unless you REALLY get a bad batch of fuel, which would still take a lot to clog it to the point of dropping more then a pound.
Actually, I had a pre and post and there was one pound difference in those with a clean filter.
I got a report from a friend the he had a one pound extra drop when his filter was clogged. So there would be two pounds of drop if its getting clogged.

I am sure others will post their findings on this too.

Scotty

 

Treat it with a biocide a couple times and then recheck it.

 

Don't know about your truck but my 2002 owners manual specifies a fuel filter change every 7500 miles.

 

Thanks for the input guy's. I will be changing at 7.5 K for now on.

 

So long as the fuel volume stays high (normal fuel pressure) there is no need to change it at all. The dirtier the filter the more it filters, up to the point where fuel can not get through it.

 

Haulin_in_Dixie,

Not to sure I understand your statement. If the inside of the filter is starting to darken, wouldn't that mean there is a good chance that dirt is getting through the filter and making it's way to the cp3? I always thought you didn't want to see dirt on the inside of the filter. I agree with your statement if you are only refering to the out-side of the filter, the added material would help catch contaminates, but if the inside is looking bad that to me spells death to the cp3 and injectors.