If you purchase a product through one of our links, Drive and its partners may receive a commission. read more.
When you are on the road, your car engine is sucking in fuel, just like Kobayashi inhaling a plate of hot dogs. To handle such a heavy load, your fuel pump delivers fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. Along the way, the fuel passes through the filter.
Like all filters, fuel filters can become clogged as a result of successfully completing their duties for a long time. The longer the filter works, the more particles it captures until it can no longer be captured. When this happens, fuel delivery may be interrupted and your engine may starve to death.
In order to prevent your car from dying on random highways, it is important to identify the early symptoms of possible problems. Drive’s information team wanted to help with this, so we collected guidelines on fuel filter clogging. Dig in.
The fuel filter is a device in the automobile fuel system that filters out unwanted debris when the fuel passes through. It is usually made of a metal or plastic shell and contains different materials designed to trap harmful pollutants floating in the fuel. By doing so, it can protect the engine and fuel injectors from harmful particles.
The fuel filter will be located somewhere between the fuel tank and the engine, here are some useful tips to find it.
Fuel filters have different designs.
If the fuel filter is clogged, the engine may not get enough fuel, which may cause many problems. If you notice these symptoms, it may be caused by an old, dirty, and/or clogged filter. Please note that these symptoms may also be caused by fuel pump failure or other reasons.
Your engine needs fuel to start. If the filter is clogged and cannot deliver fuel, it may not start.
If you start a car and it sounds like an asthmatic howler monkey at idling speed, it may not be able to get the proper fuel level at a consistent RPM to run at idling speed.
Every time you step on the forward pedal, fuel rushes toward the engine. If the amount of arrival block is insufficient, it may be the result of a clogged fuel filter.
If the normal combustion cycle is out of balance due to lack of fuel, the engine may overwork or its own pressure is too high, which may lead to unhealthy high temperatures.
If your engine is not getting enough fuel, the resulting pressure may cause fuel efficiency to decrease.
In general, it is recommended that the filter be replaced or inspected at least once every 30,000 miles. Some manufacturers recommend longer, others recommend shorter, so it's best to check your user manual for instructions.
For more information about the fuel filter replacement process, please read The Drive guide, How to Replace Fuel Filter.
Cars use filters to filter air, fuel, oil, etc.
Although The Drive's operating instructions are detailed and easy to follow, no car is exactly the same, and not all car maintenance or repair tasks can be done easily. This is why we are working with YourMechanic and its network of mobile car technicians. When you use the promotional code THEDRIVE, our readers can get a $10 discount for service calls over $70.
You have a question, the drive has an answer!
Answer: Is it possible? Maybe, but we don't recommend it. If the necessary fuel is not expected, the engine may be damaged or malfunction. Repair the problem as soon as possible.
A. The most common fuel filters use cheap materials (such as paper) as the real filter membrane, so it is better to replace these materials instead of trying to clean them. If you have a reusable metal filter, you need to clean it.
Answer: As far as the parts themselves are concerned, the price of the fuel filter is $10-150. Additional professional labor costs may increase by one hundred or two, depending on the location of the filter.
We are here for all How-To related expert guides. Use us, praise us, yell at us. Comment below and let's talk! You can also yell at us on Twitter or Instagram, this is our profile.
Jonathan Klein: Twitter (@jonathon.klein), Instagram (@jonathon_klein)
Tony Markovic: Twitter (@T_Marko), Instagram (@t_marko)
Chris Teague: Twitter (@TeagueDrives), Instagram (@TeagueDrives)
Is there a problem? Are there any professional tips? Leave us a message: guidesandgar@thedrive.com
Other "engine and performance" comments you might like:
Sign up for our newsletter
Send technology, performance and design to your inbox.
© Brookline Media Inc. All rights reserved.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that aims to provide us with a way to earn money by linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.