Filters

Coolant filter and chemistry maintenance is dependent upon many things. Additionally, traditional Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCA) are available in three formulations, Standard Service Interval, Slow Release, and Extended Service Interval. Each one of these SCA formulations have specific maintenance requirements.

For coolant filters containing SCA, the best starting point for the answer to your question is the information published by your filter supplier for the type of SCA being used. This information is commonly packaged with the filter or published in the manufacturer's Master Catalog.

If you are using a coolant filter that does not contain SCA, as a general rule, do not use the filter for more than 50,000 miles, 1,000 hours, or one year.

Extended oil changes require a careful and informed process that should involve your filter, fluids, and equipment suppliers. Several items influence just how long is too long, including simple things like operator habits. There are engine oil filters that are manufactured with more durable materials that are intended to function in extreme conditions and/or extended time periods. If you are considering an extended drain program, it is important to speak with your filter and fluid providers for their product recommendations.

However, even when choosing the filter and oil recommended by the manufacturer, you should always incorporate oil analysis while setting up the extended drain program and during the oil's extended service life. Only with oil analysis can the actual condition of the oil be determined. Also, care must be taken to ensure that other maintenance that was regularly conducted during routine oil changes doesn’t go too long without proper attention. Corrosion inspections, brakes, lights, and all the other safety and operational inspections and services must be adjusted to the new oil drain program, especially if the vehicle/equipment is attended to less often.

There are a few things to keep in mind should you chose to use biodiesel. First, make sure the fuel and the biodiesel both meet the appropriate ASTM specification prior to blending.

Second, when first placed into a system, a biodiesel blend has the tendency to "clean" a fuel system. This includes the storage and the on board vehicle fuel systems. Therefore, it is not unusual for fuel filters to become filled to their capacity or plugged prematurely when biodiesel is first introduced. This is a temporary situation and the overall cleanliness of the system prior to the introduction of the biodiesel is the biggest factor in how many or how few filters are prematurely plugged. If fuel filter plugging continues, or starts again after biodiesel has been used for a period of time, the fuel system should be checked to make sure all components (i.e. solder, linings, tubes and pipes, fittings) are compatible with biodiesel.

Third, most major engine manufacturers and filter manufacturers have stated that the use of proper quality biodiesel blends up to B20 are acceptable for use with their products.

Finally, keeping biodiesel clean and dry is paramount to ensure successful and safe usage. Biodiesel stored for a long time or stored improperly can result in oxidation that produces high acid numbers, filter plugging sediments and gums, and a higher fuel viscosity.

A micron rating is commonly used to infer some type of level of filtration efficiency. However, with no industry, SAE, or ISO standard, there is no universal, apples to apples, methodology for the determination or reporting of a “micron rating.”

It is important to know that a micron is a term for a linear unit of measure equal to one millionth of a meter. Put in perspective, a human white blood cell is about 25 mm in diameter. The Filter Manufacturers Council of MEMA has an excellent Technical Bulletin (TSB 89-5R3) that covers this topic in detail.

To quote from TSB 89-5R3, “A filter that is marked or rated ‘10 micron’ has some capability to capture particles as small as 10 micrometers. However, when you see a filter marked ‘10 micron,’ you do not know exactly what this means unless you also have a description of the test methods and standards used to determine the filter rating. The results from the different test methods may not be comparable as their methodology varies greatly.” The full TSB can be downloaded from the FMC's web site at HERE.