Revolutionizing Diesel Fuel Filtration: Unlocking Peak Performance and Engine Longevity
Diesel fuel filtration is critical yet underappreciated in heavy-duty engine optimization, easing maintenance, gaining optimum performance, and extending engine life. Unfortunately, the fuel filtering systems on the heavy-duty trucks rolling off assembly lines today are not as effective as they could be at optimizing fuel delivery to their engines.
This article reviews the limits of standard diesel fuel filtration systems and describes how advanced systems like AirDog® fuel systems take fuel filtration to the next level and provide numerous benefits. Whether you are a fleet manager or an independent trucker, understanding the value of superior fuel filtration can save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.
Are Standard Diesel Fuel Filter Systems Good Enough?
Ideally, diesel fuel filtering systems remove contaminants before the fuel enters the engine, ensuring optimal engine performance and longevity. The filtering process removes various diesel fuel contaminants such as particulates, bacteria, moisture, and air, with the standard approach working in two stages with a primary and secondary filter. Generally located between the fuel tank and the fuel pump, the primary filter commonly removes particles down to ten microns or one-tenth the size of a grain of sand. The secondary filter is positioned before the injectors and often removes particulates in the five-micron range. That sounds impressive, but is it good enough?
Of course, the larger the particulates your filters allow to pass through, the more damage they cause when the injectors blast them against internal engine parts, causing slow but sure damage. As important, standard filtering systems fail to remove moisture to the needed level and are not designed to remove entrained air as needed to achieve maximum fuel efficiency and power.
AirDog® Heavy Duty Diesel Fuel Systems Work Differently
AirDog® fuel systems work differently. They provide cleaner fuel by first, sending it through a water separator that eliminates moisture and particulates down to 30 microns. Next, the fuel passes through the AirDog® particulate filter, featuring a superior quality Microglass media, removing particulates to at least 6 microns. An added benefit to the AirDog® Fuel Preporator, which is not found in typical filtration systems, is the removal of entrained air from the fuel, ensuring your engine receives pure fuel uncontaminated by air. The integrated fuel pump of the AirDog® sends pure diesel fuel to the engine at a regulated positive pressure. The positive pressure reduces the opportunity for air to enter the system by keeping vapors out and reducing vapor-causing cavitation.
Enhanced Engine Performance
Standard fuel filters do not attempt to remove air from the fuel, resulting in retarded injection timing, lower torque or power output, increased fuel consumption, increased exhaust emissions, and poor throttle response. Clearly, removing air from diesel fuel is critical.
AirDog® systems ensure the diesel fuel entering the engine is the cleanest, purest stream of fuel possible sent under optimal pressure. This combination allows for significantly enhanced throttle response and power delivery because the engine receives air-free fuel at better and consistent fuel pressure. Eliminating air in the fuel leads to improved fuel spray patterns, which results in increased horsepower. The improvement is especially noticeable when driving at higher elevations, where traditional fuel systems struggle.
Improved engine performance translates into smoother shifting and a better driving experience, allowing for safer operation and a better experience for the drivers who are your organization’s lifeblood.
Improved Diesel Fuel Efficiency and Cost Savings
The purer, air-free fuel sent to engines by AirDog® fuel systems typically results in a five percent better fuel economy than that obtained by a standard fuel system. In the real world, a truck with a standard fuel system averaging 6 miles per gallon will get 6.3 miles per gallon with an AirDog® fuel system, and at 120,000 miles per year, its fuel use drops by 950+ gallons per year, leading to cost savings that pay for the AirDog® system within 3 to 4 months. You pocket your fuel savings for the remainder of the truck’s life.
Of course, the improved fuel efficiency is due to the fuel burning more efficiently. Burning diesel more efficiently means that AirDog®-equipped engines also reduce the emissions sent into the environment and provide long-term benefits for everyone. Additional environmental benefits come from reducing the need for oil and helping engines last longer.
Please note, fuel economy results vary, and depend on fuel quality, driver habits, duty cycle, terrain, and more. A few tenths MPG savings are typical with the AirDog®, but results can vary, in either direction.
Reduced Engine Wear and Tear
Yet another benefit of effective air and water separation is that your injectors remain cooler and are better lubricated, which promotes longevity. Standard fuel filters allow air and vapor in the injectors, delaying the pressure buildup and injection and retarding injection timing. Also, because the air bubbles in the fuel are unevenly distributed, the amount of entrained air varies from injection to injection and impacts the fuel spray pattern.
AirDog® Fuel Systems solves these problems by eliminating entrained air and water from the fuel. The fuel sprays evenly and consistently, leading to less engine wear. As mentioned earlier, the smaller size of the particulates in the fuel also reduces the sandblasting effect inside the chambers.
Easier Maintenance Procedures
AirDog® fuel systems also simplify the maintenance process. Changing filters is more straightforward because they are more accessible, sitting right on the frame. You can change AirDog® filters without special tools. A standard wrench is all you need to remove the filter. In fact, the process is so simple that fleets often have their drivers bring extra filters on the road and change them as needed.
Switching to AirDog Fuel Systems
Traditional fuel systems fail to purify diesel fuel to levels achieved by AirDog® fuel systems. By providing pure fuel to the engine, AirDog® systems improve engine performance and fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and extend the longevity of critical engine components. They ensure the engine receives the cleanest and the purest stream of fuel possible under the right pressure.
The combination of financial, engine performance, driver experience, and environmental benefits will make investing in an AirDog® fuel system among the best decisions you can make to enhance your vehicle’s performance and your company’s bottom line.
We are eager to help you make the right decision. For more information on AirDog® systems and how they can help you get the most out of your diesel, contact us by contacting us here.
