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Topic: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles (Read 791 times) previous topic - next topic

Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

I've had a stopped up fuel filter every 5000 miles since I've owned my unit. It has sat most of its life. 1999 with approx 60k miles. Question is, could my tank be full of algae and the fuel  need flashing, cleaned like my old sail boat did? Or, is it normal to need the filter changed that often? Just wondering............

Dennis Davis
1999 36 ft. 270
Subaru toad
Dennis Davis
1999 U270 36'

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #1 –
Cut open the fuel filter and check what is plugging it. Could be algae but I think a plugged filter every 5000 miles might be excessive.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #2 –
Yup, find out what you are dealing with by cutting open the filter.

And, as with your sail boat, you can have a "fuel polisher" clean the fuel/tank.

If algae/bacteria contamination, use a good Biocide such as Biobor.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #3 –
I've been fighting a problem on our C8.3 thought same thing. Didn't find anything in filters. Found out a mud wasp had built a nest in the tank vent hose.
              Blow out hose from tank end. Now fuel tank doesn't pull a vacuum. Now I have a spare transfer pump and extra filters. :o
Just a thought.    Mark C.

1994 U280
Build #4451
"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking"

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #4 –
Don't know if it applies here, but our coach supposedly sat in storage for almost ten years and then was resurrected. Our coach has a 100 gallon STEEL tank and apparently rust flakes had/have been dropping off the inside of the tank. So much so that flakes and algae backed up in the 5/8" I.D. suction hose for three inches and blocked the check valve.
The blockage created a nightmare for us. I changed filters (2 @time) and even went so far as to drain the tank and give the fuel away. Eventually so frustrated we took the coach to someone who knew & understood our 8.2L DD turbo-charged engine. He found the problem first time out.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #5 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Don't know if it applies here, but our coach supposedly sat in storage for almost ten years and then was resurrected. Our coach has a 100 gallon STEEL tank and apparently rust flakes had/have been dropping off the inside of the tank. So much so that flakes and algae backed up in the 5/8" I.D. suction hose for three inches and blocked the check valve.
The blockage created a nightmare for us. I changed filters (2 @time) and even went so far as to drain the tank and give the fuel away. Eventually so frustrated we took the coach to someone who knew & understood our 8.2L DD turbo-charged engine. He found the problem first time out.

My '99 has an aluminum tank, I am guessing Dennis' is the same.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #6 –
Quote from: craneman –
My '99 has an aluminum tank, I am guessing Dennis' is the same.
Correct.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #7 –
Aluminum tank. I haven't used a biocide to kill algae. I will cut them up but I  know I'll find that black algae. Thought on my side is that the pre-filter is a larger micron size than the final filter. And both very effective. Back in the day, the filters built by Bosch and installed on Volvo's during the 80's were forever stopping up. I attributed it to small micron passage and our dirty fuel back then. Maybe the same here unless everyone else is getting 10,000 or more on filters. I'm using oem filters.
Dennis Davis
1999 U270 36'

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #8 –
So, what are the micron ratings of the primary and secondary fuel filters?

If that is not available, what are the brand and PN's?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #9 –
Both filters are Fleetguard, numbers FS19931 and FS1022.

Dennis Davis
1999 U270 36'

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #10 –
I get 15k on my filters just about.  I change them with the oil filter every 15k miles. I probably could go longer but figured it is simpler to keep everything on a simple schedule.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #11 –
Finding someone to polish fuel away from the coasts can be hard. I found a Cummins Coach Care shop in Kansas City that had the equipment. The process was to bring the coach in with a 1/4 tank of fuel, they added a chemical catalyst. Then send you to fill up the tank.  You parked in their RV site and the next morning they started recirculating filtering your tank for 6 to 7 hours.  It was well worth the cost of about $400. 

Roy
2009 42ft Nimbus
Roy Dameron
Ex 2009 42ft Nimbus
Jeep Unlimited

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Dennis Davis –
Both filters are Fleetguard, numbers FS19931 and FS1022.


The FS19931 crosses to a 14 micron element-- a reasonable primary
The FS1022 crosses to a 2 micron element-- a reasonable secondary
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #13 –
Without the specified micron size filtration specified by the engine Mfr one could be spending a whole lot more to have the injectors unplugged!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #14 –
You are wasting time and money until you correct the source. Either replace the fuel tank, or find a shop that will acid wash the inside and recoat it. Just my opinion, been there done that on a Ford with a rusting steel tank. Biocide and polishing may - MAY - work if it's algae. 
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #15 –
Quote from: toyman –
You are wasting time and money until you correct the source. Either replace the fuel tank, or find a shop that will acid wash the inside and recoat it. Just my opinion, been there done that on a Ford.

Dave,

Assume you are referring to Norm's steel tank, not the newer aluminum tank like to OP has.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #16 –
Yah Brett, Al is a different animal. Problem I've had with them is corrosion from the outside, under mounts and straps. Esp on boats.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Stopped up Fuel Filter every 5000 miles

Reply #17 –
Another opinion,get the tank as low as you can,I know the different brands of filters have different micron sizes but there is no
"wrong filter" if it is a cross reference number.Get the tank cleaned some way,either you do it or get some one else.I would use
something like varsol or something comparible with diesel fuel or else you will be trying to clean the cleaner out when done.
Another method would be get the biocide and use it then get extra filters and keep changing frequently until you think its
filtered out.I read the beamalarm specs and it reccomends the filter change at 6K anyway.This is not the first tank this has happened to,hang in there it will get fixed.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.