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Fuel Filtration
Biodiesel Awareness

What You Should Know FUEL FILTRATION

Biodiesel is a clean burning, renewable, alternative fuel All Donaldson fuel filters can be used with up to 20%
created specifically for diesel engines. It’s produced from biodiesel blends (B20). If your customer is looking for a
domestic renewable sources, including animal fats and fuel filter that works with up to B20 biodiesel and also
plant oils. Biodiesel blends are created by combining offers extended service options, see our Donaldson
biodiesel with petroleum diesel - allowing it to be used in Endurance™ fuel filters - such as our popular EFF7917
most diesel engines without any modifications. for Detroit Diesel engines - to meet their needs for longer
filter life. For more information about our standard life
The blend percentage can vary quite drastically between or extended life fuel filters, contact your Donaldson
regions. For example, diesel fuel purchased in Illinois is Representative or our Customer Support Team.
commonly 11% biodiesel where other states are in the 2%
to 5% range. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) no
longer requires percentage disclosure to the public for Key Points –
biodiesel blends less than 5%. This may be important for Impact on Fuel Filtration
customers experiencing fuel filter life issues.
• Fuel filters used today are generally compatible
All biodiesels are not created equal. with biodiesel blends up to B20
Know your suppliers and ensure they are providing good
biodiesel. The adoption of biodiesel is still in its infancy. • Most plugging problems can be traced back to the
Fuel stations are learning how to specify and store biodiesel fuel quality
properly. Industry specifications ASTM 6751, BQ-9000 and
EN 14214 exist for your protection, but alone these do not • Recommendations to minimize plugging problems
ensure proper storage. Consider keeping a fuel log to trace include:
issues to specific suppliers. - Applying bulk filtration on storage tanks.
- Implementing a preventative maintenance
For more tips http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/ program.
FuelQualityandPerformanceGuide.pdf
- Requesting compliance documentation from
First time users are often most affected. Older equipment your fuel supplier.
may have built up deposits or certain contaminants - Adding a fuel water separator to older vehicles
throughout the vehicle’s fuel system (i.e. tanks, lines, etc.). not already equipped.
Even quality biodiesel blends will tend to act as a system
solvent. The first time user may experience a period of
cleaning and short filter life due to this effect. Rest assured Common Causes of Fuel Filter
that these filters are removing the harmful contaminant
and the plugging will subside. The most harmful thing one Plugging and Shortened Filter Life
can do during this period is find a more "open" filter that
would allow the filter to last longer but would let larger Using the wrong fuel for your operating climate will
contaminant to pass through to fuel injectors. also shorten filter life. Fuels used in cold climates
contain additives to help counteract the effects of the
temperature. When using a fuel not intended for a cold
Switching from ordinary diesel to biodiesel - flush or climate, the fuel can gel or thicken, plugging the filter and
clean system first! greatly reducing filter life.
When first used in an engine, biodiesel has a cleaning
solvent effect. The hydrocarbon deposits that have
accumulated throughout your fuel system will be cleaned
out. These deposits will become trapped in your fuel filter
- shortening overall filter life. This issue will resolve itself as
you continue to use biodiesel blends.

We recommend cleaning areas of the fuel system located
downstream of the filters. There is no filtration protection
for the injectors if a deposit breaks free after the secondary
filter system. This type of cleaning is similar to changing to
organic coolant. All scale, for example, will flush away and
often end up with leaks.

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