In any, even the most high-class gasoline or diesel fuel, there is a huge amount of extraneous small particles and impurities. Penetrating into the engine cylinders along with fuel, they grind its parts like sandpaper, which leads to rapid wear of important components, loss of compression and oil pressure.
The fuel filter is designed to prevent this - an element whose task is to mechanically clean the fuel.
How often should the fuel filter be changed
The service life of a fuel filter depends on many conditions: the quality of the fuel used, the technical condition of the vehicle's fuel system, its operating conditions, etc.
- clogging and oxide of pipes;
- rust formation;
- usage ;
- poor quality of the fuel filter itself.
Over the years of vehicle operation, plaque forms on the inner walls of rubber and copper pipes, and oxide or rust accumulates on its metal components. Therefore, the older the car, the faster its fuel filter becomes clogged.
Therefore, to replace the fuel filter, you cannot be guided only by the speedometer readings. The degree of contamination of a product with a transparent body is easy to determine visually. The filter that needs to be replaced darkens, and the fuel that gets into it loses its transparency.
Video - what the "opening" of the fuel filter showed:
The following signs indicate a clogged fuel filter:
- the car twitches when driving (especially felt on the slopes);
- the motor stalls;
- increases;
- engine power drops.
No one is safe from refueling with bad gasoline or diesel fuel. As for the quality of the product itself, when purchasing a fuel filter, it is advisable not to rush to cheapness, but to buy original products.
How to change the fuel filter on cars of different types - procedure and features
The basic algorithm of actions when performing this process for most types of cars is similar - after the expiration of the service life, the old fuel filter is dismantled, and a new one is installed in its place.
A distinctive feature for different types of engines is the location of the element, which affects the complexity of the procedure, and some other nuances.
Certain vehicle brands may require special tools or tools to remove/install fuel filters. They need to be prepared in advance.
Carburetor
In carbureted engines, the fuel filter is usually located under the hood. It is made of plastic or low-melting metal, and its installation is quite simple and accessible to everyone.
Initially, release the clamps on both sides, and then remove the filter itself. When installing a new one, it is important not to confuse its inlet / outlet direction (the arrow on the body should point towards the fuel pump).
After installing the clamps back, you should pump fuel with the fuel pump handle. If at the same time a slight whistle is heard, then the seal is broken. You can ensure reliable fastening using metal clamps.
Important! The fuel filter must not come into contact with the head cover or block body.
Injector
The supply of fuel to the cylinders of such engines is carried out under high pressure, so the fuel filters of injection engines are made of metal and are fastened with threaded connections. These elements can be located both in the engine compartment and under the bottom of the car.
Initially, it is necessary to reduce the pressure in the fuel system. To do this, from the fuse box located near the gearshift lever, you need to remove the middle one, which is usually responsible for the work. After that, you should start the engine and wait until it stalls (this should take no more than a minute).
Video - how to replace the fuel filter on a VAZ 2111, 2112:
Upon completion of work, insert the fuse back, and then try to start the engine. On the first attempt, the engine most likely will not start, as it takes a certain time for the system to stabilize the working pressure.
Diesel
Very sensitive to fuel quality. From a large amount of dirt, the injector nozzles tend to clog, which affects the performance of the motor.
Therefore, two types of filters are provided on such cars: preliminary and fine filters. The latter, as a rule, requires frequent replacement (every 10-20 thousand kilometers). It is located in front of the vehicle, and in order to get to it, you need to remove the wheel and fender liner, and then perform the following set of works.
- Open the tray.
- Disconnect the water sensor plug.
- Remove the fitting by pressing the buttons located at the back.
- Remove the water level sensor and bottom plug.
- Equip the removed parts with new sealing elements (rubbers or copper washers are usually included).
- Install the water sensor and plug on the new filter, and then fix it to the car.
During installation, never hit the water sensor with a hammer. All work must be done very carefully. When properly assembled, the color markings on the body of the cleaner will match the color of the fittings.
At the end of the work, the machine may not start due to the presence of air in the system. To avoid this, the filter should be filled with diesel fuel during installation.
Video - how to change the fuel filter on a diesel Renault Megane and Scenic:
Excess air can be expelled in another way. To do this, you need to rotate the starter for 5-7 seconds, after partially depressing all the nozzles. After two or three such approaches, small bubbles should form around them.
Having clamped all the nozzles on the driver's side, it is necessary to repeat the rotation of the starter several more times, and then clamp the rest. After carrying out such procedures, the car must be started.
- before replacing fuel system components, it is necessary to avoid the occurrence of an accidental spark that can ignite the fuel;
- it is desirable to carry out all work at moderate air temperatures. If it is necessary to perform the procedure at the peak of the summer heat, then direct sunlight should be avoided;
- It is strictly forbidden to smoke or use any sources of open flame (for example, for lighting) during the performance of work.
Negligent attitude to fuel cleaning significantly reduces the life of the engine.
The fuel filter is located between the fuel pump and the fuel tank, read more. It is the fuel pump that supplies the engine with fuel, and the filter retains in it all unnecessary impurities that clog the nozzles and prevent the normal operation of the car.
Many auto mechanics recommend changing the fuel filter every 20,000 kilometers, because as a result of its clogging, the car may someday simply not start. How to replace the fuel filter, I will tell you today.
So, to replace the fuel filter, you will need the following tools: a screwdriver, pliers, socket and wrench. Of course, you may also need other special tools (much depends on the brand of your vehicle), or maybe not.
Instructions for replacing the fuel filter.
Before you start replacing the fuel filter, you need to think about safety precautions. It must be remembered that when replacing this part, a certain amount of fuel is poured out and flammable gases are released. Therefore, this kind of repair should be carried out in well-ventilated areas, and it is better to wipe off dripping drops of fuel immediately. In addition, it is recommended to wear safety goggles and disposable gloves.
Removing the old filter.
Basically, the filter on the fuel line has 2 mounts, one on the exhaust side and the second on the intake side (this whole structure is fixed with a bracket). By the way, depending on the brand of car, the filter can be located both at the fuel tank and under the hood of the car.
So, first of all, you need to release the pressure in the fuel line itself, otherwise the fuel will spill, which in turn can provoke a fire. This can be done in various ways, but the easiest is to get the fuel pump fuse and wait a bit until the engine stalls. After that, in order to prevent accidental ignition of fuel vapors, it is necessary to disconnect the negative terminal from the battery.
Now you need to inspect the fuel filter to determine how it is fastened: with latches, wing bolts or other fasteners, and release it. When removing the filter, do not forget to wrap it with a rag, so you will avoid fuel leakage. That's all and ready to install a new filter.
Installing a new fuel filter.
Most fuel filters have an arrow pointer on their body to indicate the correct installation direction. Be sure to take these designations into account when installing the filter on the bracket, although there are cars in which, due to their design, the fuel filter simply will not work if it is not properly located. Well, in other cars, if you don’t find pointers on the fuel filter, you will need to examine the fuel line in order to determine which pipe leads to the fuel tank and which one leads to the engine.
After securing the filter, connect it using new fasteners (they come with the filter) to the fuel system. You can, of course, use old latches, but be aware that they weaken over time, so they are unlikely to be able to ensure the necessary fastening of the filter to the fuel line (and if they can, it is not entirely reliable).
Only then can you insert the fuel pump fuse, connect the negative terminal and start the engine. Everything, your work on replacing the fuel filter can be considered completed.
P . S . By the way, as a rule, after such a small repair, almost no one starts the car the first time, because when the filter was installed, the pressure was released, so do not be alarmed if it takes you several attempts to get your car engine started working again.
Visually, any fuel, be it diesel or gasoline, is a crystal clear liquid. However, in reality, it contains a lot of various chemical additives, additives, deposits and even water. And what is most offensive, it is simply impossible to determine the true quality of fuel outside of laboratory conditions. Some gas stations take advantage of this, selling motorists often diluted gasoline with a lot of unnecessary cetane-boosting additives and road dust.
Low-quality gasoline primarily affects the condition of the fuel system. The longer the car is driven on diluted fuel, the more carbon deposits accumulate in the engine and deposits in the filters. Various resins and condensate can significantly reduce the life of the motor. Therefore, to reduce these risks, automakers equip their cars with special fuel filters. It is they who take the brunt of the blow, cleaning the fuel from large particles of dust and unnecessary resins. Accordingly, its service life is not unlimited.
How often should the filter be changed?
Experts assure that for the coordinated operation of all engine systems, this element must be changed at least once every 10-15 thousand kilometers. Some motorists ignore this rule in an effort to save money. But in fact, by this action, they only aggravate the situation, which is fraught with costly repairs, and sometimes even the replacement of some components.
Why is it important to observe the frequency of replacement?
Having exhausted its resource, a worn filter is no longer able to provide normal fuel filtration. As a result, fuel with a mass of dirt and tar goes straight into the combustion chamber, where, at the end of the internal combustion engine cycle, it is converted into a persistent coating - soot. If this is not prevented in time, engine coking will be inevitable. But when there is a lot of soot in the engine, it becomes less productive, and at the same time it consumes more fuel than before. In the winter season, due to condensates, the fuel lines may freeze, which makes it simply impossible to start the engine. Thus, the filter takes on all the low-quality impurities and deposits that were in the fuel, and thus ensures the smooth operation of the engine.
How to change the fuel filter? Signs of need for replacement
There are several symptoms in which the car needs to be replaced this part. First, it is the uneven operation of the engine. The motor starts to triple, sometimes even "sneeze" on the go. Secondly, with a dirty filter, you will feel a significant drop in power. The dynamics of the car falls, while fuel consumption increases.
The extreme degree of filter clogging is the inability to start the engine. Most often, in such cases, he needs decarbonization or replacement of candles. But you should not hesitate to replace the filter, but it is best to control the mileage and make this repair every 10 thousand kilometers. Subject to this rule, the car will thank you with stable engine operation and acceptable gas mileage.
Where is the fuel filter located?
It is worth noting that the location of this part may vary depending on the year in which the car was produced and by which manufacturer. Where is the fuel filter located on modern cars? Most often, manufacturers install it between the tank and the fuel pump. This is the most common installation scheme for this part. Sometimes it is mounted directly into the tank.
Do-it-yourself replacement: preparing tools
Before replacing the fuel filter, it is necessary to prepare a minimum set of tools. Depending on the specific car model, you need to have keys for 10, 17 and 19 millimeters. Thick rubber gloves are also desirable. Thanks to them, the ingress of gasoline on the surface of the skin of the hands will be excluded.
Safety regulations
Before we tell you how to change the fuel filter, we note that on some cars this repair is not complete without the use of a manual or hydraulic jack. Most often, this action is resorted to by owners of cars with low ground clearance. In this case, the machine must be placed on supports. As the latter, you can use brake shoes, or just building bricks. And of course, when working with a jack, you must put the car on the hand brake. Otherwise, the slightest shift of the support may cause the car to fall or run right into you.
It is also necessary to say that each car has its own, the safest point for installing a jack. You can find out about it in the owner's manual for your vehicle. Before changing the fuel filter, you need to carefully fix part of the bottom on the supports.
To do this, you need to put one or more bricks, and in the place of their contact with the body, put a thick piece of rubber. The latter will significantly soften the pressure force, thereby preserving the fragile elements of the bottom from deformation.
Instruction
So how do you change the fuel filter? "Priora", "Kalina" and other modern "passenger cars" are being repaired as follows. First, disconnect the negative terminal from the battery. This action is not necessary, but it will prevent the possibility of short circuits (after all, gasoline is a very explosive substance). Next, using a key of 17 or 19 millimeters, the worn filter is clamped. With a key of 10, the fitting of the mechanism is unscrewed. You must be very careful, as there is a risk of gasoline residues getting on the skin or in the eyes. Previously, before this, you should put a small container under the filter so that the fuel flows into it (and not on the garage floor, as is often the case).
Having unscrewed the fitting, it is necessary to loosen the clamp and finally pull it out. How to change the fuel filter? After removing the fitting, you can safely remove the filter itself. Here it should be remembered that this element has its own polarity, which is indicated by a special arrow. Remember its location - the new filter must be mounted with the same direction as the worn one.
After removing the old part, you can safely proceed to install a new one. It is done in reverse order similar to removal. We have already talked about the main nuance about the arrows and polarity, but besides this, one more point needs to be highlighted. When replacing the filter, the retaining clamp must also be changed. This action is not necessary, but it will ensure a longer filter life.
In order to prevent a jet of fuel from hitting you when replacing, first reduce the pressure. This is done by pressing a finger on the ramp spool. There is another alternative way. To do this, remove the fuse and leave the engine to idle until it stalls.
How to check if the installation is correct?
Before changing the fuel filter, "Kalina" and "Priora" must be put on the "transmission" or on the hand brake. Since you will be doing most of the work under the bottom, it is important that the machine does not roll downhill in one direction or another.
After completing the work, you need to make sure that their work is correct. To do this, turn on the engine and look at the condition of the fuel filter. The injector will spray fuel normally only if there are no holes in the system. In simple words, when the engine is running, there should not be any leaks of gasoline from the filter. If you notice a hole, most likely it's the rubber rings. In this case, they must be replaced. On this, the question of how to replace the fuel filter with your own hands can be considered closed. In total, we spent about 400 rubles of money and 20 minutes of time.
Conclusion
As you can see, an easy replacement. The fuel filter (is it diesel or gasoline) is important to install, as they say, according to the marks. If the polarity is not observed, the part will not properly retain tar and deposits contained in the fuel.
In this case, all this dirt will penetrate into the engine, which is extremely dangerous and undesirable. Therefore, install the fuel filter correctly and carefully monitor its service life. Remember that timely replacement of this part prevents expensive engine repairs, which means it will save you money and time.
The fuel filter of a car is one of the “consumables” that many car owners simply forget about the need to replace. Others, on the contrary, change it almost at every service, motivating this with a lengthy explanation: they say, this way the engine “rushes” noticeably better. We tell you how dangerous it is to replace the external fuel filter element and explain when this operation actually needs to be performed.
Why you need a fuel filter
The fuel filter performs the only and very ordinary function in a car - it cleans the fuel from all kinds of physical contaminants - debris, dust, foreign fractions and grains of sand, in a word, everything that should not get inside the internal combustion engine. It does not change the rest of the properties of the fuel in any way.
There is a filter element in absolutely every car, regardless of whether the engine runs on gasoline, diesel or gas - any type of fuel undergoes stepwise cleaning before it is injected into the combustion chamber in the form of an air-fuel mixture or pure fuel. In this case, cleaning is carried out at least in two stages - a coarse filter, and then a fine filter. Just the second of them is usually subject to periodic replacement, the terms of which each manufacturer of a particular car model regulates independently. Let us dwell in detail on gasoline modifications of cars.
During refueling, fuel from the dispenser hose is poured directly into the tank. At the same time, all kinds of dirt from the filling nozzle, as well as dust that has settled on the walls of the neck during operation, and a suspension that is directly in the tank of the tank gets into the tank. From the gas tank, relatively dirty fuel on modern cars is taken by a submersible pump equipped with a nylon mesh that does not allow large fractions to enter the fuel line. Then the fuel enters the fine filter, which traps dangerous for the injection system and engine, but rather small particles larger than 10 microns in size. Such cleaning is quite enough to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the injection system and the entire engine throughout its entire service life. All that is required of the car owner is from time to time to change the “consumable”, that is, the filter, that has exhausted its resource.
Filter types
At this point, we will immediately make a reservation: the owners of relatively new gasoline cars have not needed this action for a long time. Most manufacturers have already gotten rid of the remote fuel filter and placed it directly in the fuel pump housing, hidden in the tank. Such a filter is designed for the entire life of the machine and does not require revision or replacement. Even despite the fact that, for example, with an average consumption of 10 liters per 100 km of track per 100 thousand km, the pump supplies about 10 thousand liters of fuel to the engine, and all this volume passes through the filter!
On the contrary, owners of old cars were given the opportunity to replace the filter element - this can be done either directly in the engine compartment or under the bottom of the car. In this case, the filter element is placed in a separate housing and cut into the fuel line in the area between the tank and the rail. To replace the filter, you just need to relieve the pressure in the system and disconnect a couple of clamps or quick-release clamps. The frequency of the operation is on average from 30 to 120 thousand km, according to the recommendations of different brands.
When to change
Whatever the manufacturers' recommendations for replacing external filters, it is very difficult to determine their actual service life - it entirely depends not only on the quality and area of the filter element, but also on how much pollution enters the tank of your particular car. In practice, in modern realities, an external fuel filter serves at least 100 thousand km without obvious indications for replacement. The submersible filter, which is part of the fuel pump, does not need to be replaced at all until problems with the fuel supply occur. And this approach is fully justified!
The fine filter element remains working exactly as long as it can freely supply the required amount of fuel to the rail and allows it to maintain the proper pressure in the system under any engine operating conditions. The contaminants that settle on the filter element during operation cannot physically get into the nozzles and the ramp - all the dirt remains inside the device body. As long as the filter element retains the ability to drive the volumes of fuel needed by the engine through itself, there are no real indications for replacing it.
The indications for replacement are the following symptoms:
The motor does not reach the limit operating modes (does not spin up to high speeds, loses power);
The car twitches while driving (there are gaps in the fuel supply);
The engine runs unevenly (“troit”);
Fuel consumption increases;
The car starts poorly or stalls for no apparent reason.
Note that all of the listed signs are often caused by completely different problems not related to the fuel filter, therefore, without additional diagnostics, they also cannot be considered one hundred percent indications for replacing this “consumable”.
What is the risk of replacing
Manufacturers abandoned external filter elements for a reason, and not at all out of a thirst for profit, as some motorists naively believe.
It's all about the imperfection of the design of the remote fuel filter. In most cases, this "consumable" is placed under the bottom of the car, in the most dirty and vulnerable place, subject to abundant baths of sand, snow and other road "charms". The engine compartment also does not apply to “sterile”, to put it mildly. Even in the case of almost perfect cleaning of the supply hoses and connections, immediately before changing the filter, small particles of dirt and sand adhere to surfaces flavored with gasoline and end up inside the hoses, after which they are brought into the fuel injectors and forget their nozzles. It is then that the maximum damage is done to the injection system. Ultimately, this leads to tripping, loss of power, and then to flushing or complete replacement of fuel injectors. And the more often the filter replacement operation is carried out, there are more all kinds of contaminants that enter the system. Especially if not too accurate masters are engaged in car service (as a rule, they do not bother to wipe the dirt at all before replacing it).
Any fuel initially contains a small proportion of mechanical impurities, dust and dirt particles, as well as a certain amount of water. To protect the engine from foreign particles entering the fuel mixture formation mechanism (carburetor, injector), the fuel supply system is equipped with a fuel filter.
Purpose and device of the fuel filter
Fuel cleaning usually occurs in several stages:
- First of all, large particles of impurities are retained (coarse cleaning). This function is performed by a protective grid installed in the fuel pump tank.
- The final purification of gasoline from polluting components is carried out by a fine filter installed in the fuel line between the tank and the vehicle's power unit.
The design of fuel filters can be different. Basically, it is a housing with an inlet and outlet fitting, inside which there is a filter element (for example, 10 micron filter paper).
Symptoms of a clogged fuel filter
When a gasoline filter fails, there are two possible consequences:
If the filter element is clogged with a lot of debris, then its throughput is seriously reduced. As a result, less gasoline enters the combustion chambers than is required for the engine to operate normally, which causes the following problems:
- increased fuel consumption;
- there are problems with starting the engine;
- traction characteristics of the engine are reduced (the car accelerates poorly);
- when you vigorously press the accelerator pedal, the engine stalls;
- the motor is unstable at idle.
If the filter element loses its properties, then raw fuel is supplied to the engine. This leads to clogging of the nozzles, the ingress of dirt into the combustion chambers and into the valve group. This situation can lead to damage to the power unit.
Replacement deadlines
The standard interval for replacing the fuel filter is set by the manufacturer of a particular vehicle, taking into account the features of its design. So, for front-wheel drive VAZs, it is recommended to change the filter after 30 thousand kilometers of the distance traveled. The Renault Nissan concern for its line of diesel power units has set a fuel filter change interval of 10 thousand kilometers. And the petrol models of the Ford Focus and Nissan Almera, in general, are equipped with maintenance-free filters which must function normally throughout the life of the machine.
Information on how often to change the fuel filter is indicated in the owner's manual, or you can also contact the authorized dealers of the corresponding car brand for a similar recommendation.
Taking into account the harsh domestic road conditions and the extremely poor quality of fuel at filling stations, for reliability, it is possible to reduce the regulatory period set by the plant by approximately 30%. This will minimize possible troubles associated with a sudden breakdown of the fuel system components.
Reminder! Select replacement parts that are compatible with the design of the vehicle and are officially approved by the vehicle manufacturer. Cheap analogues most often do a poor job of filtering gasoline and fail much earlier than the standard deadlines.
The Hyundai Solaris fuel filter replacement process is presented in the following video:
Other Reasons to Replace the Fuel Filter
There are a number of situations when it is necessary to change the gasoline filter, regardless of the past service life:
If foreign substances enter the fuel tank (including additives that have a negative impact on the operation of the engine), after flushing the fuel lines, it is imperative to install a new filter element.
If you had to refuel on the road with fuel of dubious quality, and after that there were problems with the normal functioning of the engine, in addition to all repair actions, you will need to replace the filter element.
Also, it would not be superfluous to replace the fuel cleaning device before traveling long distances (for example, to the sea) instead of an element that has already exhausted part of its resource, especially if there is no information about reliable gas stations on the chosen route.
Filter replacement for diesel engines
Features of the device of diesel engines make them very sensitive to fuel quality, therefore, the system of filter elements ensures the purification of diesel fuel from impurities larger than 4 micrometers.
For comparison! For normal operation of a carburetor engine, a gasoline purification level of 15-20 micrometers is required, and particles up to 10 micrometers are filtered in injection systems.
Based on the strict operating parameters, it becomes clear the high cost of high-quality devices designed for cleaning diesel fuel.
The diesel fuel filter can contain a primary (coarse) cleaning device, a fine filter and water separator, which enters the fuel along with diesel fuel during refueling, and also condenses in the tank from temperature changes during driving.
Most often, an emergency need to replace the fuel filter occurs during the winter operation of diesel engines for the following reasons:
- in the cold, the water accumulated in the separator freezes, and the throughput of the system decreases;
- Under the influence of negative temperatures, petroleum paraffins crystallize in diesel fuel, which clog the pores of the filter element.
Both options cause problems with starting the engine, and also lead to the operation of the motor in critical modes.
In the experience of previous generations of motorists, drivers whose work is related to the daily operation of diesel vehicles carry a spare fuel filter with them for quick replacement or install fuel system heaters.
