Signs of a Bad Fuel Filter

A fuel filter is a small, but vital component in most internal combustion engines. It is the size of half a soda can whose main duty is to screen out any large particles in the fuel and keep them from reaching the vehicle’s engine. Your vehicle’s engine needs a stream of purified fuel to efficiently burn and transform into usable energy. It is important to change a bad fuel filter because if the rapidly moving pistons in the engine finds itself too large of a particle, it will disrupt the mechanical flow and can cause significant damage to a rod bearing, leaving you with a $3,000 repair or more if you need to swap your engine out completely.

Before getting yourself on an expensive trip to the mechanic all from a little debris, know the signs of a bad fuel filter and replace it before anything goes wrong. This article will tell you the top 5 bad fuel filter symptoms along with how you can replace it on your own.

Top 5 Signs and Symptoms of a Clogged Fuel Filter

Over time the fuel filter will collect foreign particles and become clogged, causing less or inconsistent fuel flow to the engine. When this happens, the engine begins to act up. Here are five signs that can let you know it’s time to change a bad fuel filter.

1. Check Engine Light Turns On

Modern vehicles come with a dashboard indicator light that is triggered by changes in fuel pressure, engine misfire, and many more. The warning light does not give much detail unless you have a computer that can read the warning codes your vehicle is giving off.

2. Less Power on a Stressed Engine

The engine needs more power when the vehicle is driving uphill, carrying a heavy load, or accelerating quickly. In these situations, the engine requires more fuel to burn into energy. With a clogged fuel filter, only a minimal amount of fuel can flow to the engine. With less fuel than required, your vehicle will not be able to perform tougher tasks and can underperform to where you feel your vehicle is sluggish during these times.

Misfiring can also occur when there is not enough fuel to keep the vehicle powered. A bad fuel filter can make the car sound like it’s popping popcorn kernels as it’s chugging and misfiring.

3. Engine Turns Over, but Won’t Start

When the clogged fuel filter lessens to a substantially low fuel flow, the engine won’t have enough amount of fuel to start. This, in turn, makes it difficult to start the car. Bear in mind, there are many other factors to a difficult starting car.

Other possible reasons for a difficult start are: low battery voltage, bad battery connection, failing starter, no fuel.

4. Rough Idle/Less Power When Slowly Driving

When your vehicle is not demanding a heavy amount of fuel, fuel may not be forced strong enough to get through a substantially clogged fuel filter. This lowered fuel pressure can cause a noticeably lowered power when driving slowly. This can also be felt while your car is idling. You can feel strong vibrations and the tachometer will constantly dip to a lowered rpm as your vehicle struggles to stay on.

5. Premature Fuel Pump Failure

As the fuel travels from the fuel tank to the fuel pump, it passes through the fuel filter. A clogged fuel pump will not provide the proper amount of fuel flow. Because of this, the fuel pump will work harder to force the smaller amount of fuel to the engine. The overworked and added stress on the pump will quicken its lifespan, causing a premature fuel pump failure.

It is common and often recommended to change out the fuel filter while performing fuel pump replacement.

These symptoms will happen when you do not change a bad fuel filter. You can confirm a low fuel pressure with a fuel pressure gauge. Bear in mind, the fuel system heavily relies on each other and can all create symptoms of low fuel pressure. A physical diagnosis of the fuel system is needed to pinpoint what is causing these symptoms.

Postponing to solve a bad fuel filter will continue to add stress on the fuel pump and will be more and more noticeable overtime. To fix this issue, you can either take the car to the mechanic or try to fix it yourself. Being a regular maintenance item, the vehicle’s owner’s manual will have the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for replacement, which usually lands between every 40,000-80,000 miles.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Fuel Filter?

As per the data from auto services costs, the average cost to replace a bad fuel filter falls between $53 and $165. You can buy a new fuel filter for $14 to $60 depending on your vehicle and the type of fuel filter. As per repairpal report, the labor cost, which is dependent on the mechanic you go to and the complexity of your vehicle, is estimated between $80 and $101.

What You Need to Change the Fuel Filter

Before taking on this task, you should know that for some cars this is a fairly straightforward procedure,but daunting for cars whose fuel filter is located in hard to reach places like European luxury cars. First, have a plan. You can check where the fuel filter is located in the vehicle’s owner’s manual and see if it’s in a position where you need to take your car apart to access the fuel filter. Most fuel filters are along the fuel line on the bottom of the car or in the engine bay on the line leading to the fuel rail. You can then determine if it will be worth the time and effort to try to do it yourself or if it’s worth paying a professional mechanic to do it for you.

To do it yourself, you will need:

• Safty goggles
• Gloves
• Needle nose pliers or plastic tweezers
• Jack and Jack Stands
• New fuel filter
• Screwdrivers
• Open-end wrenches
• Rags
• Bowl to catch fuel
• Cloth
• Replacement fuel filter clips

How to Change the Fuel Filter Yourself

Gasoline is highly flammable. Work in a well-ventilated area away from any flammable objects. The fuel filter can be mounted in different areas of the vehicle. You may find a better guide tailored to the make and model of your vehicle elsewhere. But here are steps for changing the fuel filter on a gasoline-run engine as listed on wikihow.

1. Relieve the Pressure in the Fuel System.

• Remove the fuse for the fuel pump in the appropriate fuse box.
• Place your automatic vehicle on park or standard transmission vehicle on neutral.
• Start the engine. The engine may start and die off as the fuel pressure is relieved. If your engine is still running, have it continue for a minute before shutting it off.
• With the car off, re-insert the fuel pump fuse and place the varied contents you used to access it back on.
• Do not start the engine again.

2. Remove the Old Fuel Filter.

• Disconnect the battery. Using a wrench, loosen the nut of the negative terminal to remove the cable and tuck it away from the negative terminal.
• Locate the fuel filter.
• Jack the car if you need to be under the vehicle to access the fuel filter.
• Place the jack stands in the correct positions.
• Place a bowl beneath the fuel filter.
• Remove the clips holding the filter in place (2) with a flat head screwdriver.
• Slide the fuel lines away from the filter. Gasoline may pour out, aim at the bowl.
• Slide the fuel filter out of its bracket by sliding it towards the back or after removing a bolt depending on how it’s secured.

3. Install the New Fuel Filter.

• Confirm the two fuel filters are the same diameter with the same sized nozzles.
• Slide the new fuel filter into the bracket.
• Fasten the fuel filter snug to the fuel lines.
• Fasten the clips.

4. Return Your Vehicle

• Remove the jack stands by jacking up the car and sliding them out.
• Lower the vehicle back on the ground and remove the jack.
• Reconnect the battery.

In conclusion, a fuel filter is vital for an efficiently run vehicle. If you experience any signs of a bad fuel filter, make sure to have your vehicle checked out and serviced before having to pay a higher price.