Frequently Asked Questions

Separ filters are next generation in-line diesel fuel filtration filters that effectively separate water and particulate contaminants from fuel before it reaches the engine. Separ filters are engineered and manufactured in Germany by Willibrord Lösing Filtertechnik.

Separ filters are high-quality diesel filters made in Germany, designed specifically to eliminate water contamination from fuel. The SWK range has five stages of filtration, a compact design, and is also available as switch-over duplex units. EVO-10 and LFK automotive or industrial filters are also available.

Separ diesel filters have proven to be extremely effective in marine and heavy-duty diesel applications worldwide. With their compact design and advanced five-stage filtration, they are trusted by leading shipbuilders and are approved and certified by global industry leaders.

Yes. Separ Filters (NZ) Limited is the authorised distributor for Separ filtration products in New Zealand.

You can purchase Separ fuel filters by contacting us via our website. We deliver throughout Christchurch and nationwide across New Zealand. Order online or give us a call directly.

The Separ 2000 filter uses five-stage filtration to effectively eliminate water and dirt contamination from diesel fuel before it reaches the engine, providing longer engine life and reduced downtime.

You can buy Separ filters in a range of fuel flow rates from 5 to 260 litres per minute. These are the sizes available:
– SWK-2000/5
– SWK-2000/5/50
– SWK-2000/10
– SWK-2000/18
– SWK-2000/40
– SWK-2000/130
Options include clear bowl, metal bowl, electrical contacts, and switchable versions.

Separ filters are designed to eliminate water contamination, which helps reduce the risk of microbial growth. Purafiner filters are designed to control bacteria. Used together, they provide strong protection against diesel bug contamination.

Yes. Separ and Purafiner filters are complementary and can be installed in-line in the fuel system for enhanced diesel fuel protection.

Separ filters are replacement service items that are simple to change at specified intervals. A fuel restriction gauge can be used to indicate when a filter change is due. Separ filters are also designed to be back-flushed, enabling the extension of element changes.

Yes. We carry a full range of Separ filter parts and replacements in our New Zealand warehouses. Common element sizes include:
– Separ 00530
– Separ 00510/50
– Separ 00530/50
– Separ 01030
– Separ 01830
– Separ 04030

Yes. Separ filters are suitable for all fleets with diesel engines. With strong presentation in the Marine industry, Construction, Agricultural, Generators and also within the growing Data centre industry, with increased demand for effective diesel fuel polishing.

Purafiner is not a biocide; it does not kill the bug. It is a bio-control unit. It affects the living organism by disrupting its environment and breaking the biomass down into individual plasmolysed cells of less than 1 micron in size. These pass through the fuel filter and burn up in the engine.

The treated cells remain dormant and inactive for long periods. The time frame depends on the environmental conditions, but it is long enough for the for the cells to be consumed by the engine. The fuel tank is slowly cleaned up in the process.

Purafiner Distributors NZ Ltd retained the School of Ocean Sciences in the University of Wales at Anglesey, UK to conduct an experiment to prove the effectiveness of Purafiner. The methodology of the test was devised by the School of Ocean Sciences in conjunction with Lloyds Register of Shipping type approval Department of Engineering Services, reference ta/40397/67488/94rel.

The experiment was devised to determine the effect on a magnetically protected filter compared with an unprotected one when circulated with microbiologically contaminated fuel.

The result was that the unprotected filter became an ideal environment for microbiological growth and the filter became blocked. The protected one remained unblocked. The filter life was increased by a factor of 10.

The results were so impressive that the university submitted them to the leading journal in the field of biological contamination for publication. The article was accepted and was published in Volume 14(3) 1999 of Biofouling.

Yes. The continual use of expensive and toxic biocides and the associated hazards are eliminated.

No. The field is depleted after it moves about 80mm from the unit. In addition, the field is absorbed by adjacent ferrite materials.

No. The result would be the same but the cost greater.

Three magnets are not necessary. One magnet is all that is required to disable bacteria. The claim that the bacteria is killed by the magnet is also incorrect, as the individual bacteria which cling together causing element clogging are separated by the magnetic field, and then burnt up as they go through the exhaust. A small magnetic field with the power of a radio speaker magnet will not kill bacteria.

In the early ’80s Mr Colin Wickham, a Chartered Engineer and inventor of the use of a magnetic field to control bacterial contamination in diesel fuel, designed his first unit. Mr Wickham was a Member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, MIMarEST.

This first unit was designed to look like a fuel filter for better acceptance by the trucking industry. The use of three magnets was only to fill in the body.

Mr Wickham went on to design a new unit, cheaper and without the problem of sludge collecting in the bowl where it promoted the growth of the bacteria it was intended to control. This new model was the first Fuel Mag unit, one magnet and simple to fit. From this grew a range of units up to large capacity model with 6″ flanged outlets.

The fact that the three magnet system is patented means nothing other than to lock the manufacturer into higher cost. The use of a magnetic field to control this problem has been in the public domain since the earlier 1980’s and thus cannot be patented.
The Purafiner unit uses either one or two magnets for convenience in manufacturing but either number is equally efficient.

Purafiner makes no claims that a magnetic field has any effect on fuel economy. There are too many unsubstantiated claims made without any scientific proof to support these conclusions.

However, bearing in mind that the Purafiner controls the growth of microbiological contamination in the fuel, then the answer is yes, it will save fuel costs. This is because uncontrolled contamination will result in the following by-products of microbial growth:
-large biomass causing fuel flow restrictions
-secretions of organic acids into the fuel and consequential damage to fuel injection equipment
-conversion of fuel molecules into new cells and metabolites such as surfactants which assist in the emulsification of water in the fuel, carbon dioxide, high-density polymers.

As well as the conversion by cellular enzymes of fuel into these various by-products, the by-products themselves adversely affect combustion conditions.

Clearly, if these problems are eliminated, some form of fuel saving or the prevention of fuel loss and improved combustion will result. Whilst we have made no laboratory tests to verify this particular aspect, there exists a wealth of anecdotal evidence in the marketplace to support it.

Yes. By periodically circulating the fuel through a Purafiner the microbial matter can be maintained in a controlled, dormant condition.

Yes, most definitely.

Quite simply the biological contamination is removed and fuel quality is improved. If the system is contaminated then as it becomes cleaner the combustion process improves, giving cleaner, faster and more complete combustion of the fuel injected into the combustion spaces.

Well, it depends on the circumstances. If your system is biologically fouled the Purafiner will deal with the contamination, clean the system up and keep it clean.

If your system is not contaminated, then the aim is to keep it that way. You never know when you are likely to receive contaminated fuel.

Think of it in terms of your computer. Why do you install a virus protection programme?
-to deal with any existing virus contamination
-to protect your files from any virus that gets downloaded from an external source

The same principle applies to the installation of Purafiner.
-to deal with existing contamination
-to prevent any introduced bug from making a comfortable home for itself and degrading your engine system

Yes, you do. The microbiological growth has approximately the same specific gravity as the fuel or oil that it is growing in. This means that the centrifuge, which is designed to remove contaminants that are heavier than the fuel or oil, e.G. Dirt and water, will not remove lighter particles. The microbial material will pass through with the fuel or oil.

Your system will be equipped with primary or important means of protection against contaminants. What you want Purafiner to accomplish is to break down the microbiological contamination to minute components so that it will pass through the filters into the engine and away in the exhaust. Install the Purafiner in the fuel supply from the tank before it enters any filtration or treatment unit.

Enginaire precleaners are centrifugal air precleaners designed to extend filter life and service intervals by removing dust before it reaches the engine air filter.

Enginaire precleaners eliminate up to 97% of dust contaminants by centrifugally removing them before the air enters the filter assembly. This prevents premature clogging and extends filter life.

Yes. We are proud to have represented Enginaire in the New Zealand market for over thirty years, supplying heavy-duty aluminium and stainless steel constructed units as well as composite material units.

Enginaire precleaners are ideal for vehicles operating in dusty environments, such as agricultural machinery, mining vehicles, construction equipment, and trucks.

Yes. Enginaire precleaners can be used in conjunction with other air filtration systems for even greater protection.

Diesel bug is microbial contamination that creates sludge or slime in fuel tanks. It can clog fuel filters, block injectors, cause engine corrosion, reduce and poor performance, and potentially even damage engines. Using a Separ filter with a Purafiner fuel conditioner controls the growth of diesel bug without the need for toxic chemicals.

Hydrocarbon distillates such as diesel fuel are organic fluids. They are food for bacteria, yeast and mould that rapidly deteriorate the quality of the fuel. Humid conditions and condensation create ideal conditions for diesel bug growth.

Yes. Our Purafiner diesel conditioners and Separ filter units are complementary. They are often used together to provide superior light diesel filtration with water separation and diesel bug control.

Common signs of microbial contamination include:
– Plugged, slimy fuel filters
– Dark, hazy fuel
– Jelly-like slime in tanks
– Reduced engine power
– Excessive smoke
– Corroded injectors
– Foul odour

The most effective long-term solution to prevent diesel bug contamination is to install a Separ fuel/water separator and a Purafiner diesel conditioner together. This combination keeps water and microbial contamination under control.

You can get long-term diesel bug treatment through Purafiner units, which control microbial growth without using harsh chemicals. We supply Purafiner products nationwide in New Zealand, and they are often paired with Separ filters for maximum protection against diesel bug.

Purafiner should be installed in the fuel supply line from the tank before it enters any filtration or treatment unit. This positioning allows the Purafiner to break down microbiological contamination into minute components so they can pass through filters, be burned in the engine, and removed in the exhaust.

Yes. Purafiner conditioners can be retrofitted to any diesel-fuelled engine. However, this is not fitted to the diesel engine itself or to the fuel tank; it’s fitted to the fuel line between the tank and the first fuel filter.

Purafiner conditioners do not require servicing. They are fit-and-forget units with a direct flow-through design, self-cleaning capability, and no moving parts.

Installation of Separ and Purafiner products is relatively straightforward, but it is necessary to know how to bleed a diesel fuel system. For this reason, we recommend that installations be done by a qualified diesel technician.

The Purafiner technology was invented in the early 1980s by Colin Wickham, a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (MIMarEST). He was the first to apply magnetic fields to control bacterial contamination in diesel fuel, designing a unit that grew into today’s Purafiner range.

Yes. Purafiner has independent scientific validation. The School of Ocean Sciences at the University of Wales, in conjunction with Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, conducted experiments on microbiologically contaminated fuel. The results showed that filters protected by Purafiner remained unblocked while unprotected filters became clogged. These results were published in Biofouling, Volume 14(3), 1999, confirming Purafiner’s effectiveness.

For reliable diesel filtration in Christchurch and New Zealand, Separ Filters (NZ) Ltd is the authorised distributor of Separ filters. Alongside Separ, we also supply Purafiner fuel conditioners and Enginaire precleaners, giving complete solutions for diesel bug control, water separation, and air filtration. We deliver throughout Christchurch and nationwide.

Purafiner units are available across New Zealand through Purafiner Distributors NZ Ltd. You can order directly from our website or contact our team to arrange supply. We ship nationwide and can also recommend installers in your area.

Yes. For technical support, please contact us directly by phone or email.

Geoff Johnston – North Island
Email: orders@purafiner.com
Phone: +64274936861

Richard Johnston – South Island
Email: sales@separ.co.nz
Phone: +64272659111

Yes, we supply Separ and Enginaire products nationwide across New Zealand. We also supply Purafiner products both in New Zealand and to clients worldwide.

To get a quote or enquire about becoming a distributor, please contact us directly.

Yes. Separ, Enginaire, and Purafiner products are suitable for both marine and land-based diesel engines.

For all enquiries about Purafiner, Separ, and Enginaire products, please contact us directly.