An Overview of Onboard Coolant Filtration for Heavy Duty Diesel Engines

Coolant filters have been used for nearly 50 years by heavy duty engine manufacturers but little has been published in the technical literature documenting their performance. In heavy duty cooling systems an extender is periodically added to the system to prevent the coolant from becoming corrosive and replenish additives that stop the build-up of deposits which reduce heat transfer. Not only is the coolant filter the most convenient and reliable method to deliver the extender to the cooling system, it also removes debris from the coolant which can cause deposits and wear, aggravate corrosion, and even plug heat exchangers. Additionally, the used coolant filter serves as a diagnostic trouble shooting tool.

This paper concentrates on the value or importance of filtering debris from the coolant of heavy duty diesel engine cooling systems.

Published literature is reviewed and recent data from lab testing is reported. Effects of recent changes in coolant and in cooling system maintenance and technology are discussed with respect to whether or not the need for coolant filtration has increased or decreased. It is concluded that the need for on board coolant filtration for heavy duty diesel engines has increased, and that the benefits of coolant filtration help reduce the total cost of operation.