Many novice motorists are often interested in the question of when to change the fuel filter. It is important to know what it is. This element cleans the gas before it enters the engine cylinders. Clean fuel is the reliable operation of the machine.
What does the filter protect against?
It's no secret that the fuel at our gas stations is not of high quality. Gasoline contains sand, rust, metal scale - all this settles on the filter. If these substances get into the motor, the main parts will wear out much faster.
As a result, the owner will receive the need for major repairs. In addition, oxidized sulfur, or rather sulfuric acid, which is formed during the combustion of fuel, has a detrimental effect on metal surfaces. A normally working fuel filter completely captures various dirt and dust, condensate, rust, and paraffin inclusions. Do not use a dirty element. And if the car owner thinks whether to change the fuel filter, or clean the old one, definitely need to be changed. If you ignore the regulations, problems with the car will not take long. Stable engine starting will be violated, various elements of the injection system may be damaged. A clogged element entails a blockage in the carburetor, increased fuel consumption, and a drop in engine power.
Varieties
The period when you need to change the fuel filter also depends on the characteristics of a particular part. Some elements have a high service life, while others have to be changed very often. All existing filters in the automotive market can be divided into two types. It is submersible and trunk. The submersible element is often located in the body of the gasoline pump and, together with the sediment, is placed in the tank. There are models where the ability to replace the filter is completely absent. The main cleaning element is located on the fuel line section between the power unit and the gas tank. In addition to the installation location, the filters also differ in the type of fixture. Most models require a standard set of wrenches and screwdrivers to replace. Some elements can be removed by hand without the need for a tool. And sometimes manufacturers mount it on special hardware.
Then for dismantling the same special tool is required. Because of this, car owners need to contact professional service stations more often.
When is the replacement obvious?
The fuel filtration system has two levels of purification. One of them is coarse (to remove large particles), and the second is thin. This thin element is most often located between the engine and the tank. Experts, answering the question of when to change the fuel filter, insist that the replacement should be carried out every 60,000 km of the car’s run. Clogged cleaning elements, as already noted, can lead to disastrous consequences. For example, as a result of a clogged filter, there is a significant load on the fuel pump. It can fail more quickly, namely, burn out, working "dry."
A car may troit, stall or refuse to start at all. In addition, a dirty filter affects the operation of the automatic transmission - the automatic transmission electronic system does not correctly interpret motor commands. Switchings occur late or the automatic transmission does not switch at all. You can test the condition of the fuel filter at a low speed. With a sharp pressure on the gas, the car should gain speed. If jerks appear instead of acceleration or the engine refuses to gain speed, then the filter must be replaced urgently. Often, at the very beginning of the problem, the car does not show any signs of its presence. And only when the fuel completely ceases to be supplied to the power unit, the owners think about the problem and are intensely searching for the cause. How much to change the fuel filter? For each car, this regulation is different and is indicated in the instructions.
Replacement Dates
All modern automakers for their cars set fairly accurate schedules for replacing consumables. So, on average, it is recommended to replace the cleaning elements every 40-50 thousand km. These numbers are relevant for gasoline engines. On diesel engines, filter replacement periods are shorter.
Submersible filters for Ford cars can be changed less often - every 70 thousand km. The Ford Focus can be replaced at all. The manufacturer completes the car with a maintenance-free element that can work without replacement during the entire period of operation. But it's all about foreign cars. But in the case of domestic cars, the timing is slightly different. Information for those who do not know how long to change the fuel filter on our machines: this must be done every 10-30 thousand kilometers. The reason for this is the low quality of fuel. But here, not everything is so simple. If you use the official recommendations of domestic automakers, you can simply not get to the MOT. Owners in specialized forums often say that with small runs, the filter element looks like it was not gas, but at least oil that passed through it. Experienced experts and motorists with experience recommend not to look in the instructions, but to listen to your own car. The engine itself will tell you how often to replace the fuel filter.
Replacement Dates for Popular Cars
For VAZ-2114, 2107 and other classic models, the replacement frequency is 30 thousand km. The same period for Renault Logan. Renault Megane has a more robust filter - it can operate as much as 120,000 km.
At Duster and Kengo with diesel engines, the period is short - only 10,000 km. At Toyota Camry, the resource of the element is 80,000 km. Nissan Almera is equipped with a filter designed for the entire service life. And for those who do not know how much to change the fuel filter, refueling with Russian gasoline, it is necessary to divide these figures by 2.
Consequences of operating a vehicle with a clogged fuel filter
Many car owners do not think and do not see anything bad when operating a car with dirty cleaning elements. However, this is very dangerous. It is worth considering possible malfunctions in more detail. And then everyone will decide for himself whether it is necessary to change the fuel filter or whether you can do without it. First of all, a dirty filter element can no longer cope with fuel cleaning. So, part of the pollution goes further along the fuel system. Further, the fuel lines, and with them the nozzles, are most often clogged. As a result of this, the engine cannot power normally, and there is a lot of load on it. Fuel that has not been sufficiently cleaned will not burn completely. The combustion products that settle on the walls of the combustion chambers will accumulate on the valves.
This increases the risk of overheating and leads to engine malfunction, and ultimately leads to overhaul. Fuel consumption is associated with the psychology of drivers. With a dirty filter, the motor noticeably loses its power. The car does not want to go, but the driver presses the gas more and more. The injector will inject even more fuel into the cylinders, but nothing will change, only the consumption will increase. That is why it is so important to know when to change the fuel filter. Indeed, even the replacement of nozzles (and this is the smallest) is much more expensive than a new cleaning element.
Fuel filter for diesel engine and its features
Diesel and gasoline are significantly different. Diesel fuel contains water condensate, and it is it that has various impurities in it. Therefore, the main difference between such a filter is its ability to retain water. It has a detrimental effect on the operation of the motor. In the best case, only efficiency and power will fall. In the worst, a water hammer will occur - this is a major overhaul.
How often to change a diesel filter
As for the service life of the cleaning elements for such power units, they are lower when compared with analogues for gasoline.
Automakers officially recommend replacing every 30 thousand kilometers for imported engines, and even then, subject to quality fuel. And in the case of domestic fuel, this period can be divided into three. By and large, the car itself will inform its behavior when to change the fuel filter. This will be the most correct frequency.
Summary
For efficient operation, the engine needs high-quality and clean nutrition. If gas cylinders with sand or metal scale enter the cylinders, major repairs are provided. It is necessary to change all filters on time, and then the car will serve its owner for a long time.