It’s crucial for the fluids in your car to remain clean—especially the fuel. If your fuel gets dirty, it can lead to problems with your engine, which can turn into expensive repairs.
Regularly maintaining and replacing your fuel filter can help keep your vehicle performing its best and save you from potentially costly repairs. Read on to learn about fuel filters, including what they do, how often they should be replaced, and signs you might need a new one.
The gas at the pump is stored in underground tanks, where it can collect rust, particles, and other impurities. When you pump fuel into your vehicle, these impurities come right along with it. The fuel filter is responsible for removing contaminants from the gas before they can reach the fuel injection system—and your engine.
Like other filters in your vehicle, the fuel filter slowly begins to collect and hold onto the particles it removes from your gas over time. These particles eventually clog the filter, impacting its effectiveness. That’s why it’s important to regularly service and replace your fuel filter.
The maintenance interval for a fuel filter varies depending on your make, model, and year. Some vehicles may need a replacement every 20,000 miles, while others can go 150,000 miles on the same fuel filter. If you have a newer vehicle, you may even have a lifetime fuel filter that doesn’t need routine maintenance and replacement.
Always check your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for details on your specific vehicle.
Several factors can affect the lifespan of your filter—like filter quality, vehicle age, and driving habits—so you may need to replace the filter sooner than expected. Clean vs. dirty fuel filters perform differently, and your vehicle will likely let you know when it’s struggling with a clogged filter.
Here are eight clogged fuel filter symptoms that could mean it’s time to schedule an appointment for a replacement.
When you turn the ignition, the fuel pump sends fuel from the tank to the engine. If your fuel filter is clogged, it can restrict this flow and make it difficult for the engine to start. You may notice the engine cranking longer than usual before finally turning over.
If your car struggles to accelerate, especially uphill or when carrying heavy loads, it could be a sign of a clogged filter. During acceleration, a dirty fuel filter can restrict gas flow, causing the engine to hesitate or stumble as it struggles to get the fuel needed for increased power and speed.
Since a dirty filter can limit the amount of fuel reaching your engine, you may experience rough idling. Most vehicles have some level of vibration at a stop, but more intense vibrations or lurching when accelerating can indicate a clogged fuel filter.
If the fuel filter is severely clogged, the insufficient fuel supply may cause your engine to stall out completely. If your car is stalling frequently, especially at an idle, you should stop by your local Firestone Complete Auto Care to have the fuel filter checked.
An engine running with a clogged fuel filter can burn more fuel than usual in an attempt to maintain performance. A clogged fuel filter is just one reason you might have low gas mileage, so it’s recommended you visit professionals for diagnostics.
In some cases, a clogged fuel filter can cause unburnt fuel to escape through the exhaust system, leaving your car's cabin smelling like gas.
A strong gas odor could also indicate other issues, like fuel leaks and fuel injector issues. The pros at Firestone Complete Auto Care can help find the root of and fix the issue, whether it’s the fuel filter or not.
The fuel pump works to maintain proper pressure in the fuel lines. When the fuel filter is clogged, the pump has to work harder to push gas through. The extra effort can cause the pump to produce a strange noise that may be heard inside the vehicle.
As fuel struggles to flow through the clogged filter, it can cause low fuel pressure. This low fuel pressure may eventually trigger the check engine light. The technicians at Firestone Complete Auto Care have the necessary tools to read the diagnostic trouble code, find the problem, and fix it.
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The fuel must be filtered very well in order to avoid any clogging and damage in the fuel system. Poor filtration causes problems such as decreased engine performance, increased fuel consumption, malfunctions in engine operation and shortened engine life. Fuel filters clean the fuel from particles that are very dangerous for fuel systems and engines. For this reason, it is among the inseparable and indispensable parts of vehicles. The fuel filter collects dirt, dust and debris before it enters the fuel system. Thus, any particles that may be in the fuel do not reach the engine by staying in the filter. This helps to extend the life of the engine and prevent damage. For these reasons, fuel filters are among the most important and necessary components of maintaining engine health.
Particulate matter in fuel causes wear on different engine parts due to its abrasive nature. Fuel pump, carburetor and injection system are very sensitive to foreign particles in the fuel. The filters installed in the fuel system of the automobiles should be such as to increase the efficiency of the engine and extend the life of the engine parts. The function of these filters is to prevent the abrasions that may occur in the engine by cleaning the solid particles as well as water, paraffin and organic matter impurities (bacteria that live in water and mix with the fuel) from the fuel before they reach the engine. Choosing the right filter, servicing the filter, and replacing the filter when required will help significantly increase the life of the engine.
In order to increase the performance of the vehicle and the vehicle engine, it is necessary to replace the fuel filter regularly. If a filter is not replaced regularly, it can become clogged with pollutants and cause a restriction in fuel flow, resulting in a significant decrease in engine performance as the engine tries to draw in enough fuel to continue operating normally.
Filter chambers in vehicles show dimensional and positional differences according to manufacturer designs. Due to these differences, fuel filter usage times vary from vehicle to vehicle. The replacement frequency determined by the manufacturer should be taken into account. In addition, how often the fuel filter is replaced depends on several factors, including how clean the fuel is, the type of fuel, and whether it is a primary or secondary filter. It also depends on the driving habits.
Driving with a low fuel level frequently shortens the life of the fuel filter. Sediments are usually collected at the bottom of the fuel tank and driving your vehicle with a low fuel level causes these impurities to reach the fuel filter and clog the filter as a result. It is very important to replace the filter at the right frequency in order to prevent impurities in the fuel from reaching the engine. Otherwise, when the filter becomes worn out, it cannot do its job and may cause the particles in the fuel to escape into the engine.
When choosing a fuel filter, you must first choose according to the model of the vehicle and engine. Although these filters work similarly, fuel filter models may differ according to the vehicle make and vehicle model. For this reason, you need to choose the most suitable filter for your vehicle model and make.
In the filter search section of our website, there is a search by vehicle section, and by typing your vehicle information in this section, you can access the correct filter codes you need to use.
Alternatively, by searching the code of the different make on your vehicle in the "Search by Code" section, you can access the filter code at the appropriate pass for your vehicle in our company.
You can also view our most preferred fuel filters by clicking on the links.
Other issues to consider when choosing a filter;
Pore Size and Efficiency
Fuel filters have different pore sizes. A lower pore size means the filter captures smaller pollutants more efficiently and provides better protection to the engine. However, such filters have a shorter lifespan. Although such filters are efficient compared to filters with large pore diameters, they can become clogged and strain the fuel pump in a shorter time.
Type of Filter Media
Fuel filter media generally comes in two main types: natural and synthetic. Cellulose falls into the natural category made from plant fiber. Cellulose is often preferred because it minimally restricts fuel flow. It doesn't strain the fuel pump, which makes the pump last longer. Synthetic fuel filter media is mostly glass fiber. This type of media filters finer particles and provides better engine protection. However, this also results in a shorter filter life.
What Are the Symptoms of an End-of-Life Fuel Filter?
These signs that you need to replace your fuel filter are usually caused by a dirty fuel tank, a damaged filter, or a clogged fuel line.
Şampiyon Filtre was established in as a small family business, the foundation of which was laid in Iskenderun. Our company, which took its name "Şampiyon" from the goal of "Success in Filtering" that has been its main principle since the first day of its establishment, has transformed into a larger family with more than 35 years of experience and continues to produce high quality oil, fuel, air and hydraulic filters for automotive, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, commercial bus and truck groups in accordance with national and international standards.*