ELBOW 2681565 - Caterpillar

Refer to Systems Operation, Testing and Adjusting, "Cleanliness of Fuel System Components" for detailed information on the standards of cleanliness that must be observed during ALL work on the fuel system.Ensure that all adjustments and repairs are performed by authorized personnel that have had the correct training.Use the following procedure to test for problems regarding fuel quality:
Determine if water and/or contaminants are present in the fuel. Check the water separator. Drain the water separator, if necessary. A full fuel tank minimizes the potential for overnight condensation. Note: A water separator can appear to be full of fuel when the water separator is full of water.
Determine if contaminants are present in the fuel. Remove a sample of fuel from the bottom of the fuel tank. Visually inspect the fuel sample for contaminants. The color of the fuel is not necessarily an indication of fuel quality. However, fuel that is black, brown, and/or like sludge can be an indication of the growth of bacteria or oil contamination. In cold temperatures, cloudy fuel indicates that the fuel may not be suitable for operating conditions. Refer to Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Fuel Recommendations" for more information.
If fuel quality is still suspected as a possible cause to problems regarding engine performance, disconnect the fuel inlet line. Temporarily operate the engine from a separate source of fuel that is known to be good. This will determine if the problem is caused by fuel quality. If fuel quality is determined to be the problem, drain the fuel system and replace the fuel filters. Engine performance can be affected by the following characteristics:
Cetane number of the fuel
Viscosity of the fuel
Lubricity of the fuel
Air in the fuel
Other fuel characteristicsRefer to Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Fuel Recommendations" for more information on the cetane number of the fuel.