The performance of a heavy-duty truck depends on the quality of the diesel fuel delivered to its engine, and a critical component in ensuring fuel quality is the fuel filter. Optimal filtering performance comes from a high-quality fuel filter that matches the engine specifications and gets replaced as needed. Fuel filters have a limited lifespan, so it is essential to know when to replace your diesel fuel filter to obtain optimal performance from your engine and truck. Recent years have brought changes in diesel fuel, diesel engines, and system components like fuel filters, so this blog post provides a guide to regular maintenance and the signs suggesting the need to change your fuel filter. The Importance of a Diesel Fuel Filter The fuel filter plays a crucial role in heavy-duty diesel engine performance by removing contaminants and ensuring high-quality diesel fuel reaches the engine. With today's high-pressure fuel injection, it is more important than ever that the fuel filter minimizes the air, water, and other contaminants. Without effective filtering, these impurities damage the engine over time and degrade performance and efficiency. In addition, since replacing fuel filters is far less expensive than replacing damaged fuel injectors, it is common sense and intelligent business practice to monitor and replace your fuel filters as needed.   Identifying the Need for a Diesel Fuel Filter Replacement There are two primary methods to identify the need to replace your fuel filter. One approach is consistently checking the fuel filter as part of your regular maintenance practices. While consistent checking is necessary, it cannot prevent fuel filter problems resulting from contaminated fuel or other challenges. Since some fuel system challenges are difficult to anticipate, knowing the warning signs that you may need to replace your fuel filter is essential. So, here are a few warning signs of the need to replace your diesel fuel filter and reduce the potential for future engine problems.  Decreased Fuel Efficiency or Performance A drop in fuel efficiency or performance is among the first indicators of a worn-out fuel filter. A clogged filter restricts fuel flow to the engine and affects the fuel system's ability to deliver the proper fuel volume to the engine consistently. Insufficient fuel flow can cause the engine performance to suffer because the engine does not always inject fuel at optimal levels. As the engine strains for fuel, it may also receive more than optimal, reducing fuel efficiency. A drop in performance when accelerating or on a grade and a decrease in fuel efficiency that shows up at the pump suggests the need to check your fuel filter.  Strange Engine Noises The inadequate fuel supply from a clogged fuel filter can cause the engine to sound like it is choking. At the same time, the increased strain on the fuel pump can create a buzzing sound as the pump tries to pull fuel through the obstructed filter. Difficulty Starting the Engine or Rough Idling Diesel engines require the most fuel when starting, and a clogged fuel filter [...]

Diesel fuel is the lifeblood of heavy-duty trucks and critical engine components. Ensuring its purity and efficiency is essential for smooth engine operation and longevity. One often overlooked issue that can compromise diesel fuel quality is water contamination. Water in diesel fuel can result in rust particles entering the fuel, promote the growth of bacteria and microorganisms, and, more directly, cause premature wear and corrosion in fuel injectors and other engine parts.  Water contamination became a critical issue after we began using ultra-low sulfur diesel because it attracts more water and is less resistant to microbial growth than previous diesel fuels. Moreover, modern diesel fuel systems are less forgiving of water in the fuel, so it is more important than ever to minimize the opportunity for water to enter a truck's fuel tank and to keep any water that does enter the tank from reaching the engine. In this blog post, we'll explore common ways water infiltrates diesel fuel and discuss methods for removing it. The Water-Diesel Fuel Connection It may surprise you, but water and diesel fuel are more connected than many realize. Diesel fuel has hygroscopic qualities, meaning it attracts and absorbs moisture from the air at the molecular level, so it almost always contains some water. The key is to minimize the water level by managing the more substantial sources of water contamination and filtering out the remaining water to maximize fuel efficiency and protect your engine. Let's dive into how water can infiltrate your diesel fuel and what you can do to prevent it. Water Detection Filters Most fuel retailers and distributors use water-detecting filters in their dispensing equipment to prevent water from entering your fuel system. However, these filters are effective only when adequately maintained. When these filters become saturated, they may allow water to be dispensed with the fuel. To safeguard against this problem, always buy your diesel fuel from reputable sources with well-maintained systems to minimize the risk of water contamination. Leaky Storage Tanks and Human Error Water can find its way into diesel fuel through other means, including leaky storage tanks or human error. Poor or degraded tank seals can allow water into storage tanks, and human errors such as leaving a fuel tank cap off also invite water contamination. Human error plays a significant role in water entering a fuel tank, so emphasizing the importance of proper fueling procedures and maintenance should be a critical issue for fleets and independent truckers alike. Condensation Another often overlooked source of water contamination is condensation. Condensation can occur in storage tanks, especially in above-ground tanks, and in truck fuel tanks. Some condensation results from everyday temperature fluctuations, but the more significant challenge is operating the truck and drawing down the fuel in the tank. Unlike gasoline, diesel fuel does not create vapor pressure in the tank to displace air, resulting in air entering the tank as the fuel draws down during operation. Often, the air is drawn into the tank while operating in warmer [...]

AirDog® has introduced an innovative water separator and filtration system for heavy-duty diesel fuel systems. Like all filtration systems, it’s necessary to change filters periodically. Knowing how to change your AirDog® fuel filters correctly is essential for maintaining a healthy and efficient fuel system in your diesel engine. In this guide, we’ll take you step-by-step through the process of changing your filters – making filter replacement a breeze. Soon, your AirDog® filtration system will be running perfectly and ensuring you get the most from your heavy-duty diesel engine. [videopress gw7Y8f0W] How to Change Your AirDog® Fuel Filters When it comes to heavy-duty diesel engines, some maintenance jobs are a lot easier than others. Changing AirDog® fuel filters definitely falls under the category of “easy.” As long as you are prepared with the proper supplies and follow the steps below, you can change your filters easily – even when you are out on the road. In fact, we recommend all AirDog® users keep a spare set of filters in their trucks at all times. The need for a filter change can come at any time. If you want to ensure the optimal performance of your engine, keeping your AirDog® filtration system running right should be a top priority. Step 1: Gather Your Tools and Supplies Before you dive in and start changing your filters, make sure you have the necessary tools and supplies ready. To change your AirDog® filters, you will need the following: A replacement AirDog® water separator and fuel filter set A clean container for used filters Nitrile gloves to protect your hands A rag or paper towels for cleaning A socket or wrench set (if required) A way to wash your hands (even with gloves, you may get diesel on you when changing your filters) Step 2: Safety First As you know, when performing maintenance on a heavy-duty vehicle, safety should always be your top priority. Basic safety protocols when changing fuel filters include: Park in a well-ventilated area. Engage the parking brake. Turn off the engine. Keep rags ready to clean up any fuel spills. Be prepared for proper disposal of the used filters before you remove them (have a container to put them in, know local regulations for disposal, etc.) We especially want to emphasize the importance of changing your filters in a well-ventilated area. Our new water separator is an impressive improvement to our filtration system – but it does require you to fill it with diesel before installation. It’s a necessary step that should only be done in a well-ventilated area for safety reasons. Step 3: Identify Your AirDog® Filters AirDog® provides high-quality water separators and fuel filters specifically designed for heavy-duty diesel systems. There are multiple different filter types designed for different systems, which means they are not one-size-fits-all. Make sure you have the correct replacement filters for your specific system before you take off your old filters. For the water separator, AirDog® now offers a new model that includes a Hydrosorb media, [...]

Power, efficiency, longevity – we expect a lot out of our heavy-duty diesel engines. Unfortunately, even the best engines struggle to deliver top performance without clean fuel. That’s why the choice of a fuel filtration system is so important. Conventional fuel filtration can keep a truck on the road and ultimately get the job done – but it’s never going to deliver exceptional performance. There are simply too many limitations with such a basic technology. In contrast, AirDog® takes every aspect of fuel filtration to the next level. AirDog®Heavy Duty Diesel Fuel Systems optimize diesel fuel delivery to achieve ideal fuel conditions for heavy-duty engines. Far more than just a fuel filter, AirDog® uses state-of-the-art technology to remove virtually all contaminants, including particulates, moisture, and even entrained air and vapor. That means pure, consistent fuel and all the benefits that come with it. Conventional Fuel Filtration is Designed to Be “Good Enough” Conventional fuel filtration for heavy-duty diesel engines has kept your rig on the road this long. So what’s the problem? 99% of the fuel filters on the market are simply a spin on the filter canister that’s been in use for decades. They remove most contaminants and deliver fuel that is clean enough to keep the engine running and in decent shape. But the fuel system is far from optimized. Standard fuel filters can leave behind contaminants. Entrained air and vapor can come along with the fuel, as well as water from condensation rainwater in fueling stations and other routes. Heavy-duty diesel engines are tough, and they can handle it. But they won’t run at their best ability if the fuel supply is less than optimal. “Good enough” might be alright when there isn’t money on the line. But if you are using heavy-duty diesel engines, chances are you are trying to get a job done. Time is money, fuel efficiency is of paramount importance, and the less downtime your engine spends in the shop, the better. AirDog® Solves All the Problems Conventional Fuel Filtration Doesn’t The manufacturers of the AirDog® understand the limitations of standard fuel filtration. AirDog® has an integrated fuel pump to address suction issues common with engine fuel pumps. The AirDog® runs fuel through a water separator first to address moisture problems. The integrated pump ensures the fuel is pressurized when going through the advanced filter and keeps it pressurized till it reaches the fuel injectors. The positive pressure feed from the AirDog® prevents entrained air and vapor from redeveloping. The end result is pure, clean fuel arriving at the fuel injectors consistently, which delivers numerous benefits. Fuel efficiency is measurably improved. Engine performance is smoothed out and enhanced. And hard-working components, like fuel injectors, are saved from unnecessary strain and premature failures. Fuel Efficiency Redefined Experience a revolution in fuel efficiency with AirDog® systems. Clean, air-free fuel ensures optimal combustion, which is why trucks equipped with AirDog® consistently outperform counterparts with standard filters. Commercial trucks using AirDog® consistently see fuel efficiency gains of [...]