How To Tell If You Need A New Fuel Filter

You wouldn't potable unfiltered water from a stream, right?

Why is that?

Considering it's ofttimes riddled with harmful bacteria!

The same goes for the fuel we put in our cars, which, thankfully, passes through a filter before reaching the engine.

What are the symptoms of a bad or chock-full fuel filter?

The most mutual signs that yous need a new fuel filter include starting issues, a bank check engine light, or reduced performance. You may also discover your engine stalls or misfires while accelerating. Replacement costs range between $50-$150 at a shop, or you can do it yourself for about $fifteen-$60.

Thankfully, in this guide, we will wait at each of these symptoms in detail.

Just start, we will explicate how a fuel filter works to help y'all sympathize why you should replace a clogged fuel filter.

Let'southward go started with the essentials!

How A Fuel Filter Works

Fuel starts in your gas tank, where it'southward then pumped into the fuel lines via the fuel pump. Depending on the design of your organisation, the fuel filter sits somewhere in between. The purpose of the fuel filter is to screen out harmful droppings earlier it wreaks havoc on the rest of the system.

Once filtered, the fuel gets sent to the injectors. These disperse a measured amount of fuel into the combustion chambers of each cylinder.

In one case in that location, it'south mixed with oxygen and then ignited. This causes the pistons to movement upwards and downwardly, therefore powering the engine.

There are ii principal types of fuel filters, the spin-on kind, and the cartridge kind. Spin-on fuel filters come up in a metal housing and simply screw into place. Cartridge fuel filters sit inside a fixed, protective casing, and but the cartridge itself is replaced.

A general rule of thumb is to supervene upon your fuel filter every 2-years or 30,000 miles. Though, you tin can likely push this to 60,000 miles or more on a newer vehicle.

Regardless, your all-time bet is to have a mechanic perform a pressure test with each oil change to ensure plenty fuel can flow through. Each vehicle has a specific PSI range, then be certain to consult the manual for your model.

Now that you sympathize the basics backside how a fuel filter works, let'southward look at the symptoms that propose it's time to replace it.

Signs You Need A New Fuel Filter

Your Car Has Trouble Starting

There are many reasons an engine might struggle to turn over, such as bad spark plugs, a dead bombardment, or an issue with the alternator.

However, it can also hateful that not plenty fuel is flowing to the combustion chambers.

A force per unit area examination showing low PSI will point if information technology's something in your fuel system, like a faulty fuel pump, chock-full injectors, or a bad fuel filter. Though, an engine non starting likely won't exist the first sign of a clogged fuel filter. Be sure to check if it coincides with any of the below symptoms.

If and so, y'all can count yourself lucky, because the other reasons your engine won't start are far more than costly to resolve.

The Cheque Engine Lite Appears

If yous're like most car owners, you probably have a beloved/hate human relationship with the "bank check engine" lite. Sure, information technology likely ways a repair bill is near at hand, only information technology also ensures matters don't worsen to a point where substantial damage occurs.

A check engine lite volition illuminate for an endless number of reasons. Thankfully, many newer vehicles feature built-in pressure sensors that will give off a specific code if at that place's an event in the fuel system.

To diagnose the issue, you take several options.

The first is to purchase an OBD2 scanner yourself and use it to read the lawmaking. The second is to pay a shop to use their OBD2 scanner, which usually carries a diagnostic fee attached to information technology.

The 3rd choice is to take your auto to a local auto parts store, where near will read it for costless.

Your Engine Stalls

An engine typically stalls for one of three reasons, a lack of fuel, power, or air. With this in heed, information technology should come every bit no surprise that if there'southward non enough fuel making its manner through, your engine might stall.

Your engine may crank up merely fine since in that location'due south likely fuel nevertheless in the fuel lines. The issue is when you accelerate or tackle a steep incline since more is needed as yous press the pedal. The same goes when towing a load, since the engine has to work harder to haul, thus requiring more than fuel.

Many things can cause an engine to stall, so be certain to await out for additional symptoms on this list.

The Engine Misfires

Simply put, when an engine misfires, an error occurred in one of the combustion chambers that caused it to skip a stride. Many things tin can cause an engine to misfire, including worn spark plugs, a faulty ignition whorl, or a bad camshaft sensor.

However, since the fuel passes through the fuel filter before reaching the fuel injector. If it's disrupted for any reason, it tin can likewise cause the engine to misfire.

This is peculiarly true when yous're demanding more from your vehicle, such as when stepping on the gas, towing a load, or going up a steep hill.

Typically, this will feel similar a slight jerk as the engine skips a beat, unremarkably coupled with hesitation in the delivery of power.

You Detect A Subtract In Performance

Some other notable sign of a bad or clogged fuel filter is a drop in engine performance. Like to the last two symptoms, this is ordinarily most noticeable while accelerating, hauling a load, or heading up a steep incline.

This happens because the ECM restricts ability to prevent any damage when it notices a lack of fuel existence sent to the injectors. While this doesn't necessarily signal to a clogged fuel filter, it does suggest it. Peculiarly if this symptom matches up with others on this list.

Price To Supervene upon A Bad Or Clogged Fuel Filter

Thankfully, replacing a fuel filter isn't too plush, especially if you feel comfy doing it yourself. Expect to pay between $50 to $150 at a shop, or betwixt $15 to $60 for the filter by itself.

While information technology's non hard to replace a fuel filter yourself, information technology does take a bit of know-how. If you don't already have the required tools, you might also just take it to a shop. If you do decide to tackle information technology at home, be sure to cheque out the video beneath for step-by-step instructions.

Final Thoughts

Nobody enjoys having a automobile that's struggling to go along upwards. Rather than ignore information technology, tackle it caput-on.

If you notice your car is having trouble starting, it'due south stalling, or if an engine low-cal appears, have a store perform a fuel pressure test. You can likewise use an OBD2 scanner to determine if the event stems from the fuel system.