a fuel contamination monitor for separating particulate and liquid contaminants from a liquid fuel is disclosed . the fuel contamination monitor has an inner and outer fluid pervious wall forming a cavity therebetween . a tubular filtering element consisting of a plurality of fluid filtering media layers is mounted in the cavity . the plurality of fluid filtering media layers includes an outer layer of particulate matter separating filter media and a layer of superabsorbing media adjacent to the outer layer . the superabsorbing media is backed by a layer of paper media and an inner layer of screen material . the interior of the inner fluid pervious wall communicates with a liquid fuel outlet port . a shut - off valve is provided which interrupts the flow of liquid fuel through the fuel contamination monitor in the event that the media becomes contaminated before effective contaminant separation .