A drain control device for a filter system for filtering a media flow of a first medium and a second medium, wherein the filter system has a collecting chamber collecting the second medium separated from the media flow and provided with a media outlet, has a sensor arrangement with at least a first sensor unit. The first sensor unit detects a filling level of the second medium in the collecting chamber. The first sensor unit has a first optical sensor. One or more shut-off valves are arranged at the media outlet. The first sensor unit is coupled with the one or more shut-off valves to automatically drain the second medium from the collecting chamber through the media outlet when a predetermined filling level of the second medium in the collecting chamber is reached. A filter system with such a drain control device is provided.

A drain control device for a filter system for filtering a media flow of a first medium and a second medium, wherein the second medium separated from the media flow collects in a collecting chamber of the filter system, has sensor arrangement with at least a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit. The first and second sensor units detect a filling level of the second medium in the collecting chamber. The first and second sensor units operate based on a different action mechanism, respectively. One or more shut-off valves are arranged at a media outlet of the collecting chamber. The first and second sensor units are operatively connected with the one or more shut-off valves to automatically drain the second medium from the collecting chamber through the media outlet when a drain criterion is reached. A filter system with such a drain control device is provided.

An integrated fuel water separator filter system is provided. The fuel water separator filter may include a plurality of fuel water separator filters, with at least one fuel water separator filter including electronic sensors to monitor the life of the fuel water separator filter and the amount of water present in the fuel water separator filter. A heater heats the fuel in the fuel water separator filter.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle including an engine and a fuel system. In one embodiment, a water drainage system for a fuel system comprises a fuel tank, a fuel-water separator in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and a purge tank in fluid communication with the fuel-water separator and the fuel tank, the purge tank separate from the fuel tank. The water drainage system further includes a fuel property sensor for detecting a presence of water and a purge line in fluid communication with the purge tank for removing fluid from the purge tank, a flow of the fluid from the purge tank controlled by a check valve.

A fuel water separator is provided. The fuel water separator includes a filter having a top end cap and a bottom end cap. A sensor is coupled to the top end cap of the filter. A probe is configured to be coupled to the sensor and to the bottom end cap. The probe is configured to be positioned outside the filter between the top end cap and the bottom end cap.

A water separator for water contained in fuel has a water separator housing with a separator element. A water collecting chamber is arranged in operation of the water separator below the separator element. A water collecting chamber through opening fluidically connects the water collecting chamber with the separator element. A drainage through opening has a first end which leads, for draining water from the water separator, out of the water separator. A second end is connected fluidically by an overflow valve to the water collecting chamber. The overflow valve has a float closing off a connection between drainage through opening and water collecting chamber when a water filling level has not reached the overflow valve. The float has an average density of 700 kg/m.sup.3 to 1,000 kg/m.sup.3 so that the float, when the water filling level is reached, opens the connection between water collecting chamber and drainage through opening.

Disclosed is a fuel filter (10) for fuel, in particular diesel fuel, of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, and to a filter element of such a fuel filter. A housing (12) has at least one fuel inlet (26) for the fuel to be cleaned, at least one fuel outlet (18) for cleaned fuel, and at least one water outlet (30) for water which has been separated from the fuel. The filter element (36) is arranged in the housing (12), said filter element sealingly separating the fuel inlet (26) from the fuel outlet (18). The filter element (36) has a filter medium (38) which is designed as a hollow body and which can be permeated from the inside to the outside or from the outside to the inside in order to filter the fuel. The filter element (36) has a coalescing medium (58) designed as a hollow body for separating water contained in the fuel. The coalescing medium (58) is arranged downstream of the filter medium (38) in the flow path (78) of the fuel, around said filter medium, or in the interior (45) delimited by the filter medium. The coalescing medium (58) includes at least one regenerated-fiber coalescing system consisting of a coalescing material (60) which is suitable for coalescing water and which has at least 20 wt. % of regenerated fibers, preferably at least 50 wt. %.

A filter assembly comprises a filter housing defining an internal volume, a filter element positioned within the internal volume, and a gasket retainer. An outer edge of the gasket retainer is coupled to a top end of the filter housing, and an inner rim thereof forms a gasket retainer ledge. The filter assembly further comprises a retainer loop comprising a retainer loop main body. A plurality of retainer arms extend axially from the retainer loop main body towards the gasket retainer. Each of the plurality of retainer arms comprise a retainer arm ledge extending radially towards the retainer loop main body and snap-fit to the gasket retainer ledge. A retainer loop sidewall extends from the main body away from the gasket retainer. An outer surface of the retainer loop sidewall defines a curvature. A sealing member is removably positioned around the outer surface of the retainer loop sidewall.

A filter assembly comprises a filter housing defining an internal volume, a filter element positioned within the internal volume, and a gasket retainer. An outer edge of the gasket retainer is coupled to a top end of the filter housing, and an inner rim thereof forms a gasket retainer ledge. The filter assembly further comprises a retainer loop comprising a retainer loop main body. A plurality of retainer arms extend axially from the retainer loop main body towards the gasket retainer. Each of the plurality of retainer arms comprise a retainer arm ledge extending radially towards the retainer loop main body and snap-fit to the gasket retainer ledge. A retainer loop sidewall extends from the main body away from the gasket retainer. An outer surface of the retainer loop sidewall defines a curvature. A sealing member is removably positioned around the outer surface of the retainer loop sidewall.

Various example embodiments relate to an automatic drain system for use with a fluid water separator. The automatic drain system includes a liquid-in-fuel sensor configured to detect a liquid level in a water sump. A pump includes an inlet in fluid communication with the water sump and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet. The pump has an active state and an inactive state. The active state causes the pump to draw liquid in from the inlet and direct liquid toward the outlet. A battery is configured to power the pump. A circuit board is operably connected to the pump and battery. The circuit board includes at least one circuit having a first state and a second state. The first state prevents power flow from the battery to the pump. The second state facilitates power flow from the battery to the pump, transitioning the pump from inactive to active.