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Thread: Clogged fuel filter

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
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    Granby, Missouri, USA
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    Default Clogged fuel filter

    We have an 02 GMC 6.6L here at work, and this morning the truck died and refused to restart after warming up for 15 minutes.

    I checked the fuel, and drained the filter. What came out of the filter was a yellow liquid that I have not been able to identify. I first thought that someone had accidentally filled up the tank with gasoline, as the truck was filled up with fuel on Friday. However, after pumping some fuel out of the tank, it came out the normal green diesel. I pumped up the filter several times, and kept getting the yellow liquid.

    I finally decided to replace the filter. Truck fired up and has been running normal since. I'm a bit stumped at what actually came out of the filter. Here's a picture of the fuel in question:



    I drained at least 6 cups of fuel out of the filter, and they all looked that.

    The general manager said he's been using a Lucas fuel additive. I've yet had a chance to examine this additive to make sure it's compatible with diesel fuel.

    Anyone else ever experienced anything like this?

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  2. #2
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    Default

    I can say for sure it doesn't act like gasoline. We tried burning one of the yellow samples, and it did not want to burn well. Not volatile like gasoline.

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  3. #3
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    Default

    The Lucas additive says its compatible with diesel fuel....
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  4. #4
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    Default

    I have a customer that I've been working with regarding some drivability issues with a known good tune on a LMM. I put my restriction gauge on his truck and it was pushing 9" hg. He had 7,000 miles on the filter in use so we changed it. I thought that the fuel looked a bit yellow to me as we poured it out, but did not pay close attention.
    Kennedy Diesel-owner
    More than just a salesman-I use and test the products that I sell on a daily basis!
    Superflow Lie Detector in house
    2002 Chev K2500HD D/A CC Long LT 11.77@ 124mph at 7700# fuel only-e.t. needs help
    2005 Chev K3500SRW D/A CC Long LT(SOLD)
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    2012 GMC K3500SRW D/A CC Long LTZ Happy Birthday to me! Built 1 working day after my birthday and delivered 7 days later.
    2016 GMC K3500SRW D/A CC short LTZ

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  5. #5
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    Jefferson City, MO
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    Default interesting

    I am following this post with most interest.
    Any biodiesel involved? I use commercial bio about I/2 the time for fillups and am always concerned for the health of my 2001. I always use additives in every fill up.

  6. #6
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    Default

    No bio that I'm aware of. The only thing I can think of is that the GM has been adding healthy doses of fuel additives to try and cut down the smoking. (I think it's time for injectors.)

    The only other thing I can think of is that we are loosing engine coolant. It's at the shop now checking for leaks in the hoses, etc. I don't see any way that coolant could end up in the fuel system pre-filter, though.

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  7. #7
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    Mar 2001
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    Jefferson City, MO
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    Default clogged filter

    Vandalism?

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hillbilly Jim View Post
    Vandalism?
    That actually crossed my mind......

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  9. #9
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by arveetek View Post
    The Lucas additive says its compatible with diesel fuel....
    Is it "compatible with" or is it "made for" diesel?

    As Dr Lee once told me, gasoline and diesel are quite different and what works for one does not necessarily work for the other.
    Kennedy Diesel-owner
    More than just a salesman-I use and test the products that I sell on a daily basis!
    Superflow Lie Detector in house
    2002 Chev K2500HD D/A CC Long LT 11.77@ 124mph at 7700# fuel only-e.t. needs help
    2005 Chev K3500SRW D/A CC Long LT(SOLD)
    2007 Chev K2500 Classic EC Short LT (Sold)
    2012 GMC K3500SRW D/A CC Long LTZ Happy Birthday to me! Built 1 working day after my birthday and delivered 7 days later.
    2016 GMC K3500SRW D/A CC short LTZ

    Custom tuning in house using EFI Live tuning software!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Yukon Canada
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    1,612

    Default

    I pulled some strange liquid out of a snowmobile tank.
    A friend of mine bought one for his kid's,came from B.C.He picked it up in the dead of winter,it had been frozen for weeks.He left it in my shop to thaw,i looked in the tank and there was a white blob in the bottom,we pulled it out wit a suction gun and put it in a clear bottle.If you shook the bottle it would mix with gas,but it would fall right out as soon as you stopped.Put it outside it was close to -40 and it would not freeze.Still acted the same.
    Weird.
    And the stuff in the cups... I watched a guy try to use a styrofoam cup to carry some gas,the bottom fell out in about 6 ft.
    Thomas
    90 Chev 3500 c/c 4x4,6.2na,400 auto,4:10 gears.DSG Timing gears,main girdle, isspro tach, pyro,boost,oil and trany temp.Dual Tstats, High volume peninsular pump,on shelf, Custom turbo and intercooler 85%complete. Change of plans for the dually, it's going to get a Cummins. Both trucks are Blue 90 4x4 crews

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kennedy View Post
    Is it "compatible with" or is it "made for" diesel?

    As Dr Lee once told me, gasoline and diesel are quite different and what works for one does not necessarily work for the other.
    I haven't had a chance to inspect the Lucas additive myself. I suspect it's one of their "one size fits all" formulas, and is not made specifically for diesel engines.

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yukon6.2 View Post
    I watched a guy try to use a styrofoam cup to carry some gas,the bottom fell out in about 6 ft.
    Thomas
    When I first suspected gasoline, I realized fairly quickly that it must not be, due to the fact that the styrofoam cups were not melting....

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  13. #13
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    Jul 2003
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    Allentown, PA
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    Default

    I actually think it might be normal. It looks a little "brighter" of a yellow to me, but whenever I've collected diesel from the filter purge, I've used clear containers. But, it does appear more yellow to me, than green. I think it might just be the extreme whiteness of the cup that is skewing the color. When you pumped the fuel from the tank, did you also put it in the same, white cups?
    1998 K2500 Suburban 6.5L TD 3.73 rear, Ron Schoolcraft 18:1, Kennedy ECM & IC, Timing gears, Splayed main caps, 3.5" Kennedy Exhuast/No Cat, K&N Filter, Boost/Tranny Temp/EGT(Pre Turbo), Ceramic-coated Manifolds, 195 Stat's, 265/75's (VSSB Adjusted) 7,000lbs (on a scale) Remote Mount Oil Filter, Remote Oil Pressure Sensor

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