Page 1269 - Catalog filters BALDWIN for tractors

Auto Parts / FUEL FILTERS the potential damage to the engine.
In looking for less-expensive
It may seem obvious, but with fuel alternatives, also watch out where
injection equipment so sensitive – you get the parts. At the last TMC
and expensive – it pays to follow meeting, during a discussion about
the engine manufacturers’ parts counterfeiting, retired
recommendations on filtration. Caterpillar field service manager
That may be difficult in a mixed Bob Wessels pointed out that you
fleet where technicians are can get what look to be genuine Cat
working on different engines, filters at deep discounts on eBay.
because different engines may call Beware, said Wessels: They are
for very different filters. cheap knock-offs that simply won’t
Yet it’s critical that you put on a filter perform.
that’s designed for that application,
Also keep in mind that water in the
say engine manufacturers and filter
fuel can be just as damaging to fuel
makers. If you don’t, the filter can
injection systems. Many truck
plug faster or allow damaging
owners go beyond the standard filter
particles to get past the filter and
setup, opting for additional filtration
damage the injectors.
or fuel/water separation.
After the warranty period is up, some
Fuel/water separators are optional
truck owners are tempted to save
on many engines today. If yours
money and fuel filter changes by
doesn’t have one, add-on fuel
going to an alternative, less- filters/water separators on the
expensive filter. Or sometimes a
suction side of the fuel system can
fleet may want to consolidate two
add additional fuel filtration capacity,
parts numbers for filters that appear
potentially longer fuel system
very similar. But you have to be very
maintenance intervals, easy access,
careful in making those types of
and heating options for cold-weather
decisions.
operations.
Swift Transportation likes to extend
Whether you decide to add
the service intervals out as far as the
fuel/water separators or other filters
engine manufacturer will allow, may depend on your duty cycle. If
using oil analysis to ensure that
you’re trading in your trucks every
lube-oil protection is still okay, says
three years while they’re still under
Vice President Michele Calbi. But
warranty, sticking with the OEM's
she finds that the determining factor
recommendations is probably fine.
today is the life of the fuel filters. But if you're keeping your trucks
Using the recommended filter
longer, the more you've done to
screen sizes, she says they have to
minimize component wear, the
pull a truck in mid-interval just to
better you're going to be from a fuel
change out the fuel filters. “That’s an
system maintenance cost standpoint
enormous lost-opportunity cost,” she
after the warranty runs out.
says, as well as a huge
inconvenience for the driver, And keep in mind that in order to
dispatcher and the shop. Such work properly, water separators
concerns must be weighed against must be drained regularly.
1267 / Auto Parts

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});