Hitachi Fuel Filter / Ad Blue Issues

[JamieBGW]

Morning all, does anybody else here seem to have recurring fuel filter and/or ad blue faults (crystalizing) with their Hitachis? We seem to be replacing fuel filters at a sporadic rate, I know the machine filters are 4 micron and the filter in the refuelling hose is also 4, I would guess the main issue would be the 'rose' which you dip in to the fuel tank to draw the fuel in to the machine would be the issue as it's 30 microns. Has anyone else had these issues and more importantly is there anything that we can do to try and eradicate these issues.. we have diesel bug solution in each of our tanks every 2-3 fills and regular service intervals @ 500hr from Hitachi themselves who change the fuel filters on the refuelling hoses also but on some occasions we only hit 100hrs before the filters get clogged up again. We've had dip & water tests on our tanks which have come back as satisfactory.

The adblue sensor seems to have no tolerance to the slightest bit of moisture neither which is annoying, I can't really see any way around this other than ensuring touch points (e.g. funnel) are clean and dry before use.

 

[V8Druid]

Morning all, does anybody else here seem to have recurring fuel filter and/or ad blue faults (crystalizing) with their Hitachis? We seem to be replacing fuel filters at a sporadic rate, I know the machine filters are 4 micron and the filter in the refuelling hose is also 4, I would guess the main issue would be the 'rose' which you dip in to the fuel tank to draw the fuel in to the machine would be the issue as it's 30 microns. Has anyone else had these issues and more importantly is there anything that we can do to try and eradicate these issues.. we have diesel bug solution in each of our tanks every 2-3 fills and regular service intervals @ 500hr from Hitachi themselves who change the fuel filters on the refuelling hoses also but on some occasions we only hit 100hrs before the filters get clogged up again. We've had dip & water tests on our tanks which have come back as satisfactory.

The adblue sensor seems to have no tolerance to the slightest bit of moisture neither which is annoying, I can't really see any way around this other than ensuring touch points (e.g. funnel) are clean and dry before use.

can't see why the 'rose' would cause issues with a 4 micron filter beyond it ... the 30 micron's to deal with bigger tish in the tank presumably .... can you get a 1 micron to replace the 4 in the dip line? ........ or ... don't dip the pick up in too deep and avoid whatever is lurking further down the depth of the tank
Tim Rayner (traxcavator's) advice was always follow the level down with the dipper tube, as the level dropped and only ever draw from the top few inches of the tank/drum if you're not 100% certain of the tank/drum's condition/contents ... has always worked well for me

 

[Alan caddy]

We only use new 10ltr drum of add blue to save contamination, make sure you drain fuel tank every morning to, there is also a mesh filter in the fuel lift pump on them

 

[doobin]

Anyone else experiencing trouble getting AdBlu currently?

 

[hiluxman]

Anyone else experiencing trouble getting AdBlu currently?

Nope

 

[craig]

Anyone else experiencing trouble getting AdBlu currently?

The price is shooting up, the reasons given are a knock on from fertilizer production/energy prices/co2 so guessing its the same reasons for supply.

 

[Mark]

Anyone else experiencing trouble getting AdBlu currently?

Price is shooting up rapidly for adblue 44p per litre i just paid for 1000L. In contrast to what I was paying 1 1/2 year ago 24p per litre.

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

When you store the adblu, store it indoors don’t let it get to cold, but also don’t let sweat in the sun, it changes it’s calorific value, and you then get errors and dosing faults!

 

[Bri963]

When you store the adblu, store it indoors don’t let it get to cold, but also don’t let sweat in the sun, it changes it’s calorific value, and you then get errors and dosing faults!

X 2. Adblue degrades in sunlight. UV changes the composition, and the small clear containers don’t keep the UV out.

 

[JamieBGW]

can't see why the 'rose' would cause issues with a 4 micron filter beyond it ... the 30 micron's to deal with bigger tish in the tank presumably .... can you get a 1 micron to replace the 4 in the dip line? ........ or ... don't dip the pick up in too deep and avoid whatever is lurking further down the depth of the tank
Tim Rayner (traxcavator's) advice was always follow the level down with the dipper tube, as the level dropped and only ever draw from the top few inches of the tank/drum if you're not 100% certain of the tank/drum's condition/contents ... has always worked well for me

I am going to take one of the pick up hoses to a filter supplier this week and see if it's something they can change over for me. The operators are not dipping too deep in the tank from what i'm being told and after the sample tests that were taken this would tell me there is no underlying issue within the tank. I just wonder whether anyone else has the issue. Bizarre but thanks for your advice mate.

 

[V8Druid]

I am going to take one of the pick up hoses to a filter supplier this week and see if it's something they can change over for me. The operators are not dipping too deep in the tank from what i'm being told and after the sample tests that were taken this would tell me there is no underlying issue within the tank. I just wonder whether anyone else has the issue. Bizarre but thanks for your advice mate.

how were the samples taken? static or moving, like a suction pick up would create ?
how are the dip tubes held in position as they're used ... some sort of float to keep them just submerged in the upper fuel level would ensure they pick up the cleanest possible fuel .. what's the tank? plastic/metal/whatever?

some covert observation of the operation might throw some light on just how they are being refuelled

 

[diggerjones]

Not sure its relevant but the agricultural contractor by me runs alot of john deeres. Was telling me the other day if he dosent change fuel filters at 500hrs the sensors put it in limp mode. Hes says its the bugs in the deisel. Think john deere recommend 1000hrs.
He puts the potion in the main tank at every fill up at a extra cost of a few pence per litre

 

[GazCro]

Not sure its relevant but the agricultural contractor by me runs alot of john deeres. Was telling me the other day if he dosent change fuel filters at 500hrs the sensors put it in limp mode. Hes says its the bugs in the deisel. Think john deere recommend 1000hrs.
He puts the potion in the main tank at every fill up at a extra cost of a few pence per litre

I wonder if its to do with the hygroscopic nature of the fame content in the fuel carrying water and swelling the paper in the filters? In theory fuel additives should stop water being suspended if its present in the fuel and it should settle in sediment bowls. I know my loadall has some crap in the tank from when i got it which won't come out through drain plug and i can't be arsed to take tank off to get it out. I just settle for emptying sediment bowl on a fairly regular basis (its a pop to be fair). When fuel supplier change red to higher fame content it stopped needing bowl cleaned out until i realised bulk tank was starting with diesel bug and started getting additive in and bowl started collecting crap again. I put it down to higher fame diesel carrying the crap (water) through the system rather than it separating in sediment bowl.

 

[GazCro]

The adblue sensor seems to have no tolerance to the slightest bit of moisture neither

I think that needs a better explanation as adblue is over 60% water so moisture is bound to be there. I have heard that newer stuff has quality sensors and not all adblue is equal in composition.
The biggest trouble with adblue systems seems to be that a lot of manufacturers don't know enough about the systems to begin with. Those with links to trucks where it was first used seem to have a lot less issues.

 

[Gecko]

Anyone else experiencing trouble getting AdBlu currently?

It's becoming a major issue in Oz and much of Asia as china has stopped exporting Urea (the main ingredient of Adblue).

What is AdBlue and why is a global shortage threatening to send the price of everything soaring?

You might not have heard of AdBlue, but you'll be all too aware of it if the supply shortage isn't sorted out. In the worst case scenario, Australia's economy could be brought to its knees.

www.abc.net.au

Diesel exhaust fluid shortage threatens Korea’s supply chain - KED Global

A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) shortage in South Korea is feared to disrupt the supply chain in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The lack of the liquid used

www.kedglobal.com

 

[V8Druid]

It's becoming a major issue in Oz and much of Asia as china has stopped exporting Urea (the main ingredient of Adblue).

What is AdBlue and why is a global shortage threatening to send the price of everything soaring?

You might not have heard of AdBlue, but you'll be all too aware of it if the supply shortage isn't sorted out. In the worst case scenario, Australia's economy could be brought to its knees.

www.abc.net.au

Diesel exhaust fluid shortage threatens Korea’s supply chain - KED Global

A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) shortage in South Korea is feared to disrupt the supply chain in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The lack of the liquid used

www.kedglobal.com

oh **** if it ain't fuel it's p*ss .... that'll cause yet another round of panic buying in all sorts of places

 

[Shovelhands]

I think we know where it’s all gone……