SIGNS OF FILTER CONTAMINATION

Filters play a crucial role in the smooth functioning of any engine, be it in a car, truck, or industrial machinery. Over time, these filters can become clogged and contaminated due to various reasons such as soot, oil, fuel, and coolant debris. This contamination can lead to a host of problems, from decreased engine performance to engine damage.

Ignoring filter contamination can result in expensive damage to your aftertreatment system. In this Aftermarket DPF article, will be focusing on the signs of filter contamination, which is essential for maintaining the health of your engine. We will discuss how to identify these signs and what steps you can take to diagnose the issue further.

So, whether you are a seasoned mechanic or just someone who wants to keep their aftertreatment system in top condition, read on to learn about the signs of filter contamination and how to keep your engine running smoothly.

 

Contamination Type: OIL

 

Oil Contamination Indicator:

• Blue smoke emitting from the exhaust pipe. This occurs when oil is burned through the aftertreatment system.

 

Causes:

• Failure of internal engine block leading to cylinder compression and piston ring issues
• Failure of internal engine cylinder head including valve seals, stems, and guides
• Cylinder head gasket failure
• Failure of oil cooler
• Failure of Oil Cooled EGR Valve
• Failure of internal VGT Turbo (Oil Cooled)
• Any component that causes oil to enter the exhaust system

 

To determine the cause of oil contamination, inspect the system thoroughly:

• Check for oil smell
• Check for oil loss
• Look for excessive blue smoke emission
• Look for fault codes related to oil pressure, oil loss, or related systems

 

Contamination Type: FUEL

 

Fuel Contamination Indicatior:

• White or black smoke emitting from the exhaust pipe. This occurs when the diesel fuel is not being burned correctly or raw fuel is entering the system.

 

Causes:

• 7th Injector is stuck open.
• Leaking fuel injector.
• Misfiring cylinder.
• Over fueling is occurring.
• Potentially any component that causes fuel to enter the system.

 

To determine the cause of fuel contamination, inspect the system thoroughly:

• Check for visible signs of fuel leakage.
• Identify excessive white smoke or black smoke out of exhaust pipe.
• Check to see if you smell the location of the fuel leak.
• Check fault codes to determine if any active codes are related to the aftertreatment fuel injector or shut off valve.

 

DOC Inlet	DOC Outlet	DPF Inlet

 

 

Contamination Type: COOLANT

 

Coolant Contamination Indicator:

• White smoke emitting from the exhaust pipe. This occurs when various failures occur that are caused by coolant entering the system.

 

Causes:

• Internal failure: engine block.
• Gasket failure: cylinder head.
• Part failure: EGR cooler (cooled by coolant).
• Part failure: EGR valve (cooled by coolant).
• Part failure: internal VGT turbo (cooled by coolant).
• Potentially any component that causes coolant to enter the system.

 

To determine the cause of fuel contamination, inspect the system thoroughly:

• Check for signs of coolant odor.
• Check coolant level to determine if losing fluid.
• Identify excessive white smoke.
• Check fault codes to determine if any active codes are related to the coolant or related components/system.

 

DOC Inlet	DPF Inlet	SCR Inlet

 

 

 

- RETURN TO HOMEPAGE -