Fuel Filter? Is changing it neccesary?
- The Little Car Advisor
- Sep 22, 2019
- 3 min read
Every car has a fuel filter, and you need to know the importance of it.
In today's post , you will find out more about the often neglected fuel pump in our vehicle, and why constant replacement is necessary.
What is a fuel Filter?
A fuel filter removes any dirt or debris from the fuel before it can get to the fuel injection system. It is usually fitted somewhere along the fuel line, although on some cars it is situated in the fuel tank.
The fuel in our vehicle is usually pumped through the generator from the fuel injector, which will have to go through the fuel filter, which is partially permeable, hence sieving out dirt particles in the vehicle fuel system.
Over time, the filters will be clogged up and dirty with particles as your vehicle ages. This in return, will restrict the amount of fuel that can reach to power your engine.
As such, it is recommended to replace your fuel filter on an frequential basis. Manufacturers recommend about 30,000 miles typically for a replacement to occur, or once every 2-3years.
Symptoms of a bad fuel filter
With all being said, there a few significant symptoms you can observe when dealing with a bad fuel filter. They are:
1) Lack of Engine Power
An overall lack of engine power or "drag" in the acceleration, may be attributed to a faulty or worn out fuel filter. The ECU (Electronic Control Unit) will restrict the amount of fuel that passes through your engine, and sometimes, an fault code may appear.
Having said that, they may be other issues that attribute to a lack of power. They may be a composition of a few other issues such as : Faulty injectors, or Mass air Flow sensor (we will cover in subsequent articles)
2) Engine Stalling under excessive Strain
If taking the car over slopes is a huge issue, then perhaps there may be issues with clogged filters. As mentioned earlier, clogged filter will restrict amount of fuel going through, hence making it difficult to power your vehicle upwards.
What are the consequences of a dirty fuel filter?
Besides the physical differences you will feel when driving your vehicle, such as loss in engine power, stalling etc, the other significant consequence is the damages it may have on your other parts in your fuel system.
One damage may occur on your fuel pump, and you wouldnt want that to happen. The fuel filter is situated in the fuel pump itself, and hence a clogged filter may make the fuel pump work harder, hence leading to premature failure.
Replacing the fuel pump itself, is even more costly as it ranges from anywhere between $250- $500. (including labour and parts). As such, at Drivewise Autoparts, preventive maintainence is always recommended.
Cost Of Replacing an Fuel Filter
Replacing an fuel filter isnt that expensive afterall. Prices ranges from anywhere between $35- $65 (parts itself), and hence, it is recommended to have them replaced frequently to ensure the optimum performance for your vehicle.
At Drivewise Autoparts, we have a wide array of fuel filter for various models.
Conclusion
As usual, all vehicle automotive parts have a lifespan, and as such to let your vehicle run at the most optimum peformance level, preventing other detrimental damages to your vehicle, we should always change our vehicle components before they wear out. This is preventive maintainence.
Need Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Mazda parts? Look for Drivewise Autoparts, the only automotive platform providing you on-demand autoparts, delivered to your doorstep.
+6582635051/ stanns@singnet.com.sg
Comments