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The purpose of this fuel filter test method is to provide standardized methods for evaluating the performance characteristics of fuel filters by bench test methods. This, combined with data obtained from application tests, may be used to establish standards of performance for filters when tested by these standard methods. Many variations in requirements of filtration to protect fuel supply equipment on engines and variations in operating conditions make it difficult to specify meaningful "in-service" performance standards by which a filter may be judged. By the use of these standard test methods, test conditions are always the same, and comparisons of the laboratory performance of filters may be made with a high degree of confidence. Once the requirements of a particular application are known, performance standards for suitable filters may be established by these test methods, and adequacy of performance of filters for the job may be determined.

This test method describes laboratory testing of final stage fuel filters used to protect engines from abrasive contaminant. It has been developed to provide a standardized method of rating fuel filter performance in terms of flow, pore size, contaminant holding capacity, efficiency, and media migration. Although development of this test method was based on diesel fuel filters, it is applicable to all types of liquid fuel filters used on automotive type internal combustion engines. Typical filter systems, service and space problems, environmental and other special factors which influenced the development of this test method are covered in more detail in “Fuel Filter Test Methods” (SAE Technical Progress Series, Vol. 1). Since the contaminant used in this test is a hard, dry, and abrasive material, the ratings for efficiency and contaminant holding capacity are not necessarily applicable under conditions where a soft, gummy, sludge type contaminant is present.

The resistance to flow test determines the pressure loss which will result when standard test fluid is passed through the filter under standard conditions of flow and fluid viscosity. This procedure may be used to establish flow capacities, and is the method for measuring resistance to flow of sample filters against an established performance standard.