Fuel Filter

Time to Change Your Fuel Filter?

Quick, think fast, how many fuel filters do you have on your vehicle? Most people think they only have one. You might be surprised to know that you probably have several. Modern fuel injected vehicles typically have a pre-filter in the tank to protect the fuel pump. They also have another fuel filter located somewhere between the pump and the fuel injectors. This is the filter that is normally replaced during normal maintenance. Then there is a final filter screen inside each fuel injector too. A four cylinder engine will generally have four injectors and a six cylinder engine will have six injectors and so on. So, if your car has a six cylinder engine your probably have eight fuel filters total.

Why would those crazy engineers design a car with that many fuel filters? Because it is extremely important that fuel contaminants are removed before they can get to the fuel injectors and clog them. The small holes or orfices in the fuel injectors are very small and easily plugged. It is also very important that the fuel pump in the tank does not have to exert extra pressure by trying to push fuel through a partially clogged filter. If it has to do that for very long it's life can be severely shortened. And those pumps are typically pretty expensive to replace.

The fuel filter between the fuel pump and the injectors is the one that should be replaced during normal maintenance on your vehicle. This filter is the one that keeps dirt and debris out of the injector filter screens. How often should this filter be replaced? That depends on several factors. The area of the country that you live in and where you purchase your fuel are two of the more important factors to be considered. Most shops recommend replacement of this filter between 15,000 and 30,000 miles.

The fuel filter in the tank is rarely replaced. The ones in the fuel injectors can be cleaned on the car with specialized modern equipment. Other than that, they are replaced only when the fuel injectors are removed from your engine or replaced. That procedure is often expensive. Replacing the serviceable fuel filter at regular intervals is relatively inexpensive insurance to keep the rest of your fuel system in good shape and avoid expensive repair bills. Replacement of this critical filter now could save you expensive repairs, breakdowns and headaches later.