I talk to a lot of men and women who are committed to maintaining and repairing their own cars and trucks. I can't tell you how many of them tell me that they've never replaced their fuel filter. They tell me that they know what to look for, and they'll know when their filter is clogged. The problem is with some engines by the time you get a physical reaction from it, it may be too late. A fuel starved engine can run lean, and lean means hot, and excessive heat can mean damage to a number of engine components. There are some tricky to replace fuel filters these days, but a huge number of vehicles on the road are running standard high pressure cannister type filters. They are in-line and easy to install. Check your repair manual to see how easy your job will be, then check out this step-by-step tutorial on replacing your fuel filter and save yourself a roadside headache in the future.
Related Searches fuel system
Explore Auto Repair
Must Reads
Most Popular
©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.
A part of The New York Times Company.
I have often found shops and drivers chasing issues that they believe are related to Mass Air Flow sensor failures, unnecessary O2 sensor replacements, bad fuel pressure regulators. All to find out the bad fuel pressure was throwing other codes, and it was just neglected maintenance. It should be a rule of thumb to ask yourself what maintenance you may be behind on before you start assessing problems you may have caused yourself.
-Ben from MechanicsCentral.com
I was surpised that I had an unserviceable fuel filter in my Mercury Sable when I bought it. Ford and Chrysler have gone to putting a sock in the tank which I feel is a bit disturbing.
IDidn’t start my 2001 F150 for the last 6 month,, I decided to start it,, wouldn’t,, I got a starter fluid into the air filter line far from the choke, Didn’t”t start..The guy was helping decide to spray into the choke,,Start,,back fire,,the caught on fire,,the far line (close to the air filter ) I think still had fluid under the heat created around ( Ignited).put it out thank god quickly,2 wires was partially burned, What did I do wrong?