It also helps eliminate air entrapment because the inlet and outlet ports are at the top of the unit. The fuel changes direction only twice, creating less flow resistance and allowing longer pump and element life. Most solid contaminants are removed by the depressurizer cone in the bowl before reaching the filter element, which has extra media. These characteristics allow the element to last up to 40,000 miles under normal conditions. The fuel is directed down through the centertube.
Fuel rises upward and most of the solid contaminants and water settle into the bowl's quiet zone.
As the fuel rises upward, any remaining small water droplets collect on cone, baffle and bowl surfaces. The size and weight of the droplets gradually increase causing the droplets to flow downward into the sump. Fuel is then filtered completely by the filter element. The clean fuel then continues up through the outlet port to the pump and injection system.