Duramax Issue
For those of you who are considering which tow vehicle to purchase, I wanted to share my recent experience with my 2008 Silverado 3500 HD Duramax. I bought this vehicle new in 2008 with the idea that...
Forum Discussion
For the past decade the diesel engines have been using high pressure common rail fuel systems that operate at extremely high pressures, up to 40,000 PSI. The Duramax fuel system is at 29,000 PSI and any particles in the fuel are hitting the solenoids for the injectors at very high velocity.
The ACDelco fuel filter that supposedly removes 98.7% of particulates at the 4-micron level is not a great fuel filter. It allows 6-micron and 8-micron size particle to get past the filter media and the 1.3% of 4-micron and smaller particles equates to over 240,000 particles getting into the injectors with each and every gallon of diesel fuel that is burned.
Fuel filter actually perform better over time with loading as they trap particles, much like air filters. The sensor will alert you to when the filter needs to be replaced and it is going to depend on the number of gallons of fuel that have been burned and not the number of miles that have been driven.
My 2011 Duramax MPG varies between 18 MPG on the freeway with no load down to 10 MPG with a heavy load and averages 14.5 MPG with daily driving. When towing there is nearly double the amount of fuel burned and that many more particles being trapped by the filter media - hopefully. I replace the filter when the engine sensor detects a drop in pressure and alerts me that the filter needs to be replaced.
The easiest and best way to fix the injector wear problem is to use the best possible fuel filters. Changing the ACDelco filter more often accomplishes nothing whatsoever. Using additives to fix the problem is even more foolish. Additives can be used to reduce problems with algae growing in the fuel tank and clogging the filter but that does nothing for the injectors.
The best direct replacement filter for the LML engine is the Baldwin BF9882 which has the bottom threading for the WIF sensor. It is a 2-micron filter. The Baldwin fuel filter sells for less than the ACDelco so it is a win win in every way.
If you do not mind dispensing with the WIF sensor then there is the option of buying a $90 Nicktane fuel filter adapter that allows you to use the much better CAT 1-R0750 2-micron fuel filters. There is no better filter than the CAT one available at this time. Fleetguard announced their new FF5814 that removes 90% more particles than the CAT filter, but it is not being sold by any of their distributors or dealers in the USA.
The ACDelco fuel filter that supposedly removes 98.7% of particulates at the 4-micron level is not a great fuel filter. It allows 6-micron and 8-micron size particle to get past the filter media and the 1.3% of 4-micron and smaller particles equates to over 240,000 particles getting into the injectors with each and every gallon of diesel fuel that is burned.
Fuel filter actually perform better over time with loading as they trap particles, much like air filters. The sensor will alert you to when the filter needs to be replaced and it is going to depend on the number of gallons of fuel that have been burned and not the number of miles that have been driven.
My 2011 Duramax MPG varies between 18 MPG on the freeway with no load down to 10 MPG with a heavy load and averages 14.5 MPG with daily driving. When towing there is nearly double the amount of fuel burned and that many more particles being trapped by the filter media - hopefully. I replace the filter when the engine sensor detects a drop in pressure and alerts me that the filter needs to be replaced.
The easiest and best way to fix the injector wear problem is to use the best possible fuel filters. Changing the ACDelco filter more often accomplishes nothing whatsoever. Using additives to fix the problem is even more foolish. Additives can be used to reduce problems with algae growing in the fuel tank and clogging the filter but that does nothing for the injectors.
The best direct replacement filter for the LML engine is the Baldwin BF9882 which has the bottom threading for the WIF sensor. It is a 2-micron filter. The Baldwin fuel filter sells for less than the ACDelco so it is a win win in every way.
If you do not mind dispensing with the WIF sensor then there is the option of buying a $90 Nicktane fuel filter adapter that allows you to use the much better CAT 1-R0750 2-micron fuel filters. There is no better filter than the CAT one available at this time. Fleetguard announced their new FF5814 that removes 90% more particles than the CAT filter, but it is not being sold by any of their distributors or dealers in the USA.
