5 Signs That You Need to Change Your Fuel Filter

What are the signs you have a bad fuel filter?

1. Problems Starting the Vehicle
2. Frequent Engine Stalling
3. Poor Gas Efficiency
4. Struggle with Low Speed
5. The Check Engine Light is One

One of the most important parts of every vehicle is its engine’s fuel filter. As valuable as it is, the fuel filter is oftentimes neglected. Most car owners hardly think of it, let alone pay attention to its condition. It’s hard to see any physical signs that you need to change the fuel filter. Instead, you have to rely on the things that result from a bad fuel filter.

Take a look at this list of signs that indicate that you have to change your fuel filter right away!

Problems Starting the Vehicle

Vehicles need fuel to get the engine going. If the fuel filter is not maintained, the flow of fuel into the whole combustion system may be clogged. This in turn makes the initial combustion process inconsistent.

This would usually be one of the first things that you experience whenever your fuel filter begins to fail. In most cases, it is just harder to get your car to start. It would take several attempts, but the car will still be able to start. Worse cases make it impossible to start the car completely.

That being said, do note that the fuel filter is not the only root cause of your vehicle not being able to start. Some other possible causes would be a faulty starter or even a dead battery!

Frequent Engine Stalling

One of the most dangerous signs that your fuel filter needs some maintenance is your engine just shuts off from time to time. Often this is a sign of a very dirty fuel filter as it prevents the engine from receiving a consistent flow of fuel.

Experts say that the more often this happens to you, the dirtier your fuel filter and the smaller the amount of gas your engine is likely receiving.

A common nightmare among motorists, this problem is easier to fix than most might think. It’s almost always caused by a dirty fuel filter. This means as soon as you replace it, you won’t have to worry about this happening for a long time!

In many cases, stalling will happen when you place too much extra stress and load on the engine. It won’t be able to get the required fuel to generate the extra power you need. With a bad fuel filter, even just the regular stress will be too much to handle if there’s not enough fuel getting into the engine!

Poor Gas Efficiency

Vehicles in general perform better when they’re being driven at a consistent and decent speed. Even with a faulty fuel filter, a car would still run smoothly thanks to the momentum that it already has. However, this does affect the combustion process.

Because not enough fuel gets through to the engine, its internal computer will begin demanding more fuel be pushed into it. this lowers fuel efficiency as it takes up more fuel than it needs.

This causes the engine to struggle to move with its normal calibrations—ending up with it having to burn more fuel to keep up with the pace!

Struggle with Low Speed

When stuck in heavy traffic situations, cars take in only a little amount of fuel to move. And since this happens in short bursts rather than a consistent fuel pump, the engine will struggle a lot when you have a bad fuel filter.

With only a small amount of fuel being requested and most of it is restricted by potential clogs in the filter, a car would have a very hard time moving slowly. It doesn’t have any momentum that might help it, nor does it force the engine to pump a large amount of fuel.

This can be dangerous as most inexperienced drivers will just step on the pedal to force gas into the engine. In heavy traffic, bumper-to-bumper situation, that can lead to accidents left and right.

The Check Engine Light is One

This is probably the most obvious sign that something is wrong with your engine. However, that doesn’t mean that the problem is your fuel filter. In any case, seeing this light on is a warning enough that there is something wrong with your engine. Once you see it, you have to take a look at the engine. If your preliminary inspection does not find any problems, have your car checked immediately for it might be something that only experts can help you find!

Key Takeaway

It is important to take care of your car. It is a machine that is composed of many complex and intricate components. Some of which are well hidden but are extremely important.

Make sure that you always keep an eye out for these signs that you need to change the fuel filter before it’s too late. Find them early so you won’t have to experience any of the things that we have mentioned above!