Fuel Filter Economics

[ShenandoahJoe]

The manual for my Kubota says that every 100 hours I should rinse off the fuel filter with kerosene. The smallest jug of kerosene I can find costs $7.55. A new fuel filter costs $6.85. I estimate I could rinse off the filter twice, from that gallon jug.

Given how much I run the tractor, it looks like I can put in a brand-new filter at every service interval for a cost of about $3 a year. Is there any reason I would not want to do that?

 

[KennyV]

WoW...
You use 1/2 gallon to rinse your filter??
If you like you can also use diesel fuel to rinse with BUT really you should be using a LOT less than 1/2 a gallon, I might use 1/2 pint. KennyV

 

[mrennie]

That's a good question...I have a B26 and think I will likely replace the filter instead of trying to clean it. Less messy, and considering how small the filter is, probably a better idea anyway.

 

[RickB]

I can put in a brand-new filter at every service interval for a cost of about $3 a year. Is there any reason I would not want to do that?

No reason whatsoever. Rinsing paper fuel filters is reserved for emergencies (holidays, weekends, etc), third world countries where the new filter is a 100 mile trek throught the jungle, and folks who just don't know any better under normal circumstances.

The potential for compromising the filter and damaging far more expensive fuel system components is too high to make rinsing filters standard practice.

 

[joes_427_vette]

Are there different composition filters ? Rinsing a paper element doesn't make sense. I would check that a little closer. Maybe foreign countries have a different set up, same manual for all though.

 

[some zilch]

if yoiu have to buy kero from a department store in one gallon jugs, i would just be changing the fuel filter

 

[ShenandoahJoe]

Wilco.

KennyV, that'll be my new standard. If it takes more than a cup to clean it off, it's time to buy a new one.

 

[lightninboy]

Hmm. Large diesels can typically go a thousand hours before needing the fuel filter changed.

 

[ModMech]

^^^ Right!

"Big Bore" diesels can be operated thousands of hours (100,000 miles or more) between fuel filter changes with some filters (Davco is a prime example).

But, out SCUT/CUT/UTs SIT for extended periods where algea and moisture can accumulate and our tanks are not heated to improve flow in cold weather. So haveing a clean, low restriction filter element, can be a bigger deal for us.

 

[Highbeam]

I think it is silly to wash and reuse a fuel filter. You need to consider the risk to your equipment and the time you spend washing it. When you are dunking this filter in kero there is a good chance that you could slosh dirt onto the clean side of the element and send that dirt through the injection pump and injectors.

My Kioti manual, if I recall correctly, also says you can wash the air filter which is the standard paper donaldson design. I don't do that and those filters are much pricier.