Fuel filter pressure gauge

[veeman]

I found a clogged fuel filter on my caddy TD lately.  Almost left me stranded on a cold, rainy morning.

I've heard people say that you can install a pressure gauge after the filter to help identify a filter that's getting clogged.  Has anyone here done this?   Is it as simple as getting a 1/4" NPT tee and some barb fittings for the clear supply line and a gauge?  

What should the gauge read when flow is not blocked?  Zero?  How much vacuum on the gauge should warrant a replacement filter?

[anarchyx34]

I would imagine vacuum would be higher with a clogged filter.

[veeman]

I would imagine vacuum would be higher with a clogged filter.[/quote}

Whoops...I'm sorry, that's what I meant, actually.  It would have to be a gauge that registered vacuum.

[DieselsRcool]

You can use a vac/boost manifold pressure gauge. Then use a solenoid valve to switch between fuel pressure and manifold pressure. Presto! Two gauges in one. In my Cummins I switch between the exhaust back pressure and turbo boost. It works great.

[veeman]

Just a little update on this thread.

I was ordering some supplies for my home oil furnace and the rep mentioned a new furnace fuel filtration kit aimed at people running biofuels (like me).  He told me about a "filter vacuum gauge" made by Westwood (F100-14) that's included in the kit.

I ordered one up ($9.99) and got it yesterday:



Pretty neat... it's 1/8" NPT on the threaded end and clearly shows inches of mercury and the three colored zones.  I had read that 12 inches of Hg is about the limit for a furnace pump to operate reliably...that's in the yellow on this gauge.

I'm running 10 micron filters on my furnace now, but I'd imagine the principle would be the same for our diesel filters.  

I think it'd be relatively easy to get a tee and install 1/4" barbs on each end and the gauge in the center to install after the fuel filter on the vehicle.  I might give it a try after I install this one on my furnace.

[fatmobile]

Pretty gauge.
 I like how it has green in the low vaccum area.
 With the auto fuel economy/vacuum gauges the red is low and green is in the high numbers.
 Only problem with using this one in a car is it isn't lighted for night driving.

[monst]

That gauge is fine but you'll be mounting it
in the engine compartment.......
You will have to make the effort to check it....
I haven't had a chance yet to get a gauge...
I will get one and mount it inside.....
I read that .... there are two things...
to get in a gauge... one that it is lighted....
and two... that the vacuum from zero
to 5 on the gauge be a larger distance
repectively on the gauge than say 5 to 10 inches...
(the idea is to better see the difference in vacuum)
zero  is clean filter
3    is    make sure you have one on hand
5   is     clogged..........................
Yeah, too much ^**t to do............ haven't
got to this one yet..... When I find a nice
dash mount gauge for this I will post it.....
MOnst

[hillfolk'r]

you would need 2 guages,one on each side of the filter
inches of mercury(InHg) guages should show you a restriction,but if they arent sensitive enough you may need a  inches of water guage(InH2o)
if you used a lift pump to feed your IP ,then you could use conventional pressure guages
i tried  a InHg(mercury) guage years ago to try to read air filter restriction,its not sensitive enough for that
i found a InH2o(water)  guage in a peterbilt in a junkyard

some big trucks with cat engines have a fuel filter restriction  guage in the cab, and if im not mistaken,they read in InH2o(inches of water)