UFI winter tips for diesel fuel filter maintenance
The diesel filter plays a crucial role in the fuel systems of heavy vehicles. The main function is to capture any impurities present in the fuel, which could damage the engine. Since trucks and HGVs are such important work vehicles, any interruption in their operation could incur significant costs.
For this reason, UFI Filters recommends correct maintenance of the fuel filtration system during the winter period.
Low temperatures can, indeed, lead to the formation of crystalline wax particles in diesel fuel, which could block the filter and cause problems with the engine.
As such, it is important to use winter diesel which is able to remain fluid at low temperatures, or arctic diesel for use in extremely low temperatures. This should be combined with a high-quality filtration system, equivalent to the one installed with the vehicle’s original equipment.
A clogged diesel fuel filter can cause a range of problems, including:
- Loss of engine power
- Lack of acceleration
- Difficulty starting
- Unusual noises and black smoke from the exhaust
- Higher fuel consumption
Choosing a lower quality product during vehicle maintenance to save money can be a false economy, considering the potential cost of a vehicle stoppage, according to UFI Filters.
It adds that it’s essential to put your trust in a spare parts manufacturer which works directly with the main vehicle manufacturers.
UFI Filters offers OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) representing 50 per cent of global truck and industrial vehicle manufacturing both filtration and thermal management systems.
As concerns filtration, UFI Filters says it provides customers in the aftermarket sector with products of the same quality as the original equipment.
With trucks and HGVs, the choice of the right filter is of fundamental importance. These vehicles often use both a pre-filter and a main filter. The pre-filter has the task of separating the water and protecting the low-pressure pump, while the main filter performs the fine filtration function and protects the high-pressure pump and the injectors.
The range of filtration products from UFI Filters covers both filtration phases (primary and secondary), thus claiming to guarantee the highest levels of performance in terms of water separation and filtration efficiency.
Moreover, thanks to its experience in the production of filter media, UFI Filters offers a high-quality medium for heavy vehicles, known as FormulaUFI.H2O, composed of cellulose fibre coupled to synthetic or glass fibres.
This medium maximises the filter’s efficiency, achieving up to 99.5 per cent for four micron particles, improving the capacity to retain dirt and separate water.
A concrete example of this excellent performance is the filters and pre-filters chosen by Ford Truck for the Ford F-Max Euro 6. The UFI 24.166.00 offers filtration efficiency of greater than 99 per cent for particles down to four microns, while the UFI 24.028.00 pre-filter plays a key role in separating water from the fuel, with 99 per cent efficiency for particles down to 25 microns.
MAN Truck & Bus has also chosen UFI Filters diesel pre-filters for its TGS and TGX Euro 6 vehicles. It stands out with its FormulaUFI.H2O filter media, based on cellulose and synthetic materials, guaranteeing over 90 per cent filtration efficiency at 25 μm.
It offers optimal compatibility with biodiesel and excellent water separation efficiency of more than 98 per cent. The replacement part is available in the UFI Aftermarket catalogue under code UFI 24.035.01.
Or the UFI 26.044.00 fuel filter for FPT Iveco Stralis Euro 6, designed to guarantee maximum filtration performance for biodiesel, too. The aluminium housing and the plastic body ensure strength as well as weight savings.
In conclusion, UFI says fuel filter maintenance is key for trucks and work vehicles, most of all during winter. Regular changes help protect the engine, improve vehicle efficiency and optimise fuel economy, helping avoid forced stoppages and costly repairs.
Paying attention to any clogged filter signals and putting your trust in original quality spare parts will help keep your vehicle in perfect condition.