What P556916 Actually Is
This is a spin-on style diesel fuel filter using cellulose paper media, built for the front-mounted fuel filter housing on Detroit DD13, DD15, and DD16 engines. It catches rust, asphaltene sludge, and machining debris before that material reaches the high-pressure pump and injectors, where repair costs stop being a filter conversation.
The media does the work, but the seal matters just as much. A threaded steel cap and nitrile O-ring keep the housing sealed under constant chassis vibration. A dry-rotted or double-stacked O-ring pulls air into the suction side, and you chase a hard-start complaint that has nothing to do with the media itself.
Our version is an aftermarket direct replacement built to the P556916 pattern. PartStop is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by any engine manufacturer. Every number listed here exists so you can identify the filter you already have.
Why These Numbers Cross
P556916 and Donaldson 23518482 describe the same physical filter: same thread and seal interface, same can dimensions, same media class. Filter numbering runs on parallel tracks — the engine builder assigns a service number, the filter manufacturer assigns its own catalog number, and both land on one production part. Neither number tells you anything the other does not.
That is why a parts book, a shop invoice, and the number printed on the old can may all disagree while pointing at one filter. Supersessions add another layer. A number that ran for years gets replaced by a newer one when media or seal material changes, and both stay in circulation on shelves for a long time afterward.
Treat this cross-reference as a starting point, not a fitment guarantee. Confirm by VIN, or read the number off the filter you are pulling. Housings get swapped during engine work more often than paperwork records, and the can in the truck beats the catalog every time.
Checks Before You Order
Pull the old filter and read the can. If it is illegible from heat and road grime, measure the can height and outside diameter, then check the thread size at the base. Compare that against the housing opening. A filter that threads in but bottoms out early is the wrong pattern regardless of what any list says.
Look at what comes out of the old filter when you drain it. Black sludge points to fuel quality or tank contamination. Rust flakes mean a steel tank or line is shedding. Water in the bowl on a short interval means the tank is taking on moisture and the filter alone will not solve it.
P556916 Cross-Reference & Interchange Numbers
These manufacturer and aftermarket numbers commonly cross-reference to P556916. Use them to identify the part — then confirm the exact fit by VIN or the number stamped on your old unit before you order. An interchange is a starting point, not a fitment guarantee.
| Brand / Line | Cross-Reference Numbers |
|---|---|
| Donaldson | 23518482 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Donaldson 23518482 the same filter as P556916?
Both numbers point to the same physical filter — same thread interface, seal, and media class. One is an engine service number, the other a filter catalog number. We list them for identification only. Verify against the number on the filter you are removing before you order.
Will this fit my DD15 without modification?
It is built as a direct replacement for the front-mounted DD13, DD15, and DD16 fuel filter housing, so it threads into the factory location with no adapters. We do not promise fitment from a cross-reference alone. Confirm by VIN or by matching the number on the old can.
What causes a fuel filter to clog early on these engines?
Contaminated bulk fuel is the usual answer — asphaltene sludge, biodiesel blend fallout in cold weather, or tank rust. A filter that plugs well before its interval means the problem is upstream. Inspect the tank, check the pickup screen, and pull a fuel sample before you blame the filter.
Not sure it fits? We check before you pay.
Run your VIN and we’ll match parts to your exact truck, or call the counter — a person who knows trucks verifies fitment by OEM number before the order ships. No wrong-box returns.
Engine parts hubs
This part runs on these engines — browse the full aftermarket parts range for each.
More cross-reference guides
Need the part, not just the reading?
Every part below is a Premium Quality aftermarket Direct Replacement with published OEM cross-reference numbers, a 6+ month warranty and same-business-day shipping from Tacoma, WA. Not sure it fits? Run your VIN — or call and a person who knows trucks will verify fitment before you pay.