A Word About Filters

June 27, 2006   It is not enough to choose the right filters, use good fuel and select the best oil for your truck. These service items require regular attention and they are also subject to inspection and analysis. Looking at the various filters shown below you could conclude that they were neglected and some of them were. Some of the filters were subjected to contamination which affected the entire system. If you regularly change your filters and they look like they are collapsing or folding then you should consider reducing the mileage between service intervals. The oil filter on the left was subjected to more than 10,000 miles of use according to the customer's service records. It is not good for your engine to run with restricted filters because doing so will drastically effect performance, fuel economy and cause internal engine damage.

Low fuel pressure below 45 PSI can cause serious damage to 6.0L fuel injectors. Seriously clogged filters and pick-up screens have been known to cause fuel pumps to over heat and fail. Failure to maintain you vehicle will not only cause problems, in some cases it will void the warranty for related repairs. An ounce of prevention is well worth a pound of cure. Please take a good look at these filters. IF your filters and fuel system resemble any of these you need to take action. If your filters look like the ones on the left, reduce your filter change interval. If your fuel system has deposits in the secondary fuel filter housing your truck likely has a very serious contamination problem requiring the entire system to be cleaned.

Did you know that most injector failures are now caused by low fuel pressure? Does your engine smoke heavily? Run rough when starting? Lack power? Miss during acceleration at low RPM's? We understand that the price of the filters or a service is a little high but it's much less than a new set of injectors! These are high performance diesel engines - treat them as such. Technicians who observe filters in this condition should advise their customers to change their filters more frequently and explain to them why. Show them their filters - seeing is believing.

Here is the official Ford Technician guideline

If the vehicle is being used in "Normal Service" the oil and oil filter should be changed every 7,500 miles. The recommend fuel filter change interval is 15,000. If the vehicle is being used in "Severe Operating Conditions", the oil and oil filter should be changed every 5,000 or 200 hours of engine operation whichever comes first. Under "Severe Operating Conditions", the fuel filters should be changed every other oil change, 10,000 miles or 400 hours of engine operation whichever comes first.

Severe operating conditions as defined by Ford

• Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier
• Extensive Idling and /or low-speed driving for long distances as in heavy commercial use such as delivery, taxi, patrol, or livery
• Operating in dusty conditions such as unpaved or dusty roads
• Off-road operation
• Use of Bio Diesel, up to and including 5% Bio Diesel (B5)
• Short trip in cold operating conditions