How often to change fuel filter?
Although the fuel quality in the UK meets high standards, water or the smallest particles of dirt can get into the injection system through refuelling and cause fatal damage in the long term. To prevent this, a fuel filter takes on the necessary task of protecting the injection system against water and dirt.
To ensure that the filter continues to function properly, it must be replaced regularly. Electropapa offers replacement filters at the best price-performance ratio, which are ideal for self-installation. In this article, we summarise what to look out for when replacing the filter and how often it is necessary to change the fuel filter.
Where is the fuel filter located?
If a filter needs replacing, a garage can be consulted, but with a little knowledge you can also do this quite easily yourself. But where does the fuel filter spend its days?
When it comes to fuel filters, a distinction must be made between petrol and diesel vehicles, as the location of the filters differs between fuel types. The filters of diesel vehicles can be found in the engine compartment and are usually easy to spot. In petrol vehicles, the filter can be located either on the floor of the vehicle or in the engine compartment, so a lifting platform is practical but not absolutely necessary when changing the filter. To find the filter's home, you simply need to follow the fuel line. In the next section, you will find out when it is essential to change the fuel filter and when cleaning it is sufficient.
Cleaning the fuel filter
If the fuel filter is clogged, you may assume you can fix it with a compressed air compress, but we strongly advise against it. If you choose to clean a clogged fuel filter, you will cause more harm than good as the filter element of a petrol or diesel fuel filter is made of a material similar to paper and would be damaged by aggressive cleaning. In principle cleaning is possible, but this must always be carried out by a specialist, as the risk of damage is too high.
With the favourable prices of a replacement fuel filter from vhbw, a change is more worthwhile in terms of cost than cleaning and you will undoubtedly achieve an optimum result. Save yourself a trip to the garage and simply replace the fuel filter yourself. With our step-by-step instructions, the change is child's play.
When to change the fuel filter?
How often should a fuel filter be changed? A fuel filter replacement interval depends on your engine type and your driving habits, but as a general guide it should be replaced at least every 50,000 km . If you notice an impairment of the engine performance, the fuel filter should be replaced immediately.
If the fuel filter is defective or blocked, this will manifest itself in clear symptoms. If a blockage prevents sufficient fuel from reaching the fuel injection system, this fault is detected by the engine control unit and the engine control light appears on the dashboard.
This obvious fault is caused by the fuel filter defect or blockage.
This unmistakable sign is usually accompanied by symptoms that occur with a motorcycle fuel filter just as they do with cars. Look out for the following symptoms of clogged fuel filters:
- Check engine light coming on
- A jerking sound while driving when accelerating
- Loss of usual engine performance
- Problems starting the engine
- Engine failure while driving
These problems are not only inconvenient, but also harmful to the engine and the environment. Insufficient combustion produces pollutants that are deposited and released into the environment. So be sure to take these symptoms seriously and change the fuel filter when they first appear. Our instructions on how to easily change the fuel filter are set out for you below.
Instructions on how to change a fuel filter:
Petrol fuel filters and diesel fuel filters are easy to change with a little basic knowledge. Special tools or a lifting platform are helpful, but not absolutely necessary. First of all, find out where the filter is located, as discussed above in "Where the fuel filter is located". You should also have the following tools ready to hand:
- A screwdriver and wrench
- Gloves and safety glasses
- A container for collecting the residual fuel
- Brake cleaner
To remove the filter, it is important that the ignition is switched off. First remove the clamp attached around the filter by loosening the screws. The clips are only there for extra security - the filter will have loosened after removal, but it will still be attached to the lines. Before loosening the lines, make sure you wear gloves and safety goggles, as this step will cause fuel to leak out, which is highly irritating to the eyes and skin on contact.
Also have a container ready, as the fuel that leaks out should be collected - this can be returned to the tank when the change is complete. The quicker you carry out the removal and installation, the less fuel will leak during the process. Remove the old filter and put it aside. Now place the new filter on the lines in the direction of the arrow and secure it with the clamps you removed earlier. Make sure you follow the direction of the arrow on the filter and that all the lines are connected as before. Now fill the filter with fuel. This is done by starting the ignition and leaving it on for a few seconds.
Don't worry, this may take a few tries, especially if there is a particularly large amount of air in the filter due to fuel loss. However, after a few attempts, the vehicle will start successfully and the change will be complete.
You can return the collected fuel to the tank, provided it has remained free of contamination. If fuel has leaked outside the tank, all residue must be removed with brake cleaner, as the fuel is highly flammable.
To ensure that the fuel remains consistent, you can return it to the tank.
To ensure a consistent ride quality of your car, it is essential to pay attention to the quality of the filter when changing the fuel filter. Inferior products can cause inadequate filter performance and problems that will harm the engine in the long run.
Fuel filters from Electropapa are exactly compatible and offer the highest filter performance at a cost-effective price. VHBW stands for reliable and affordable quality, because a new fuel filter does not have to cost a lot of money these days. Our high-quality products help you avoid the problems that can occur when using an inferior fuel filter.
These include wear and tear on the fuel injection system, reduced engine performance with increased fuel consumption and the necessary repairs that will be required. Fuel filters from vhbw are the ideal replacement filters. We offer a varied selection of compatible filters for a wide range of engines and guarantee a perfect fit so that you can continue to enjoy your engine for a long time to come.