What Is a Fuel Filter?

A fuel filter is a vital component of your vehicle's fuel system. It prevents dirt, debris and other contaminants from entering the engine and affecting performance.

A clogged fuel filter can disrupt normal fuel flow, which could cause your car to take longer than usual to crank. It's best to schedule a professional fuel filter replacement as part of your regular maintenance.

How Does It Work?

The fuel filter is a component of the fuel system that removes foreign matter from gasoline and diesel before it gets to the engine. It is also designed to protect the injectors from damage.

When a clogged filter begins to fail, it causes a decrease in fuel pressure. This is picked up by a range of sensors in the engine, and if this happens, you’ll get a dashboard warning.

Another way that a clogged filter affects engine performance is by causing an increase in the vacuum in the fuel line. When this happens, it can cause a loss of engine power and drivability.

There are several types of filters, and the type you need depends on your vehicle. Some are simple plastic or metal containers that contain two fuel line connections around a filter medium. Others are cartridge-style with a replaceable filter inside.

Clogged Filter

The fuel filter is a vital part of your vehicle’s gas supply system. It works hard to keep dirt, rust and other contaminants from entering your fuel tank or the engine itself.

It’s important to replace the fuel filter often to ensure your car is getting a consistent amount of clean, pure gas. Clogged filters can affect how well your engine runs and also lead to poor fuel economy.

When a fuel filter gets clogged, it restricts the flow of fuel into your engine, cutting off essential parts of the combustion process that are needed to generate power.

This can cause your car to stall more frequently and more noticeably. In some cases, it may even make your car fail to start.

Clogged Injectors

Located in the intake manifold, fuel injectors spray the gasoline that's pumped by your fuel pump into the cylinders and into the intake manifold to make your vehicle run.

Fuel injectors can become clogged by a number of things. They can be clogged by debris that's in the gas tank or from gunk and residue that forms on the injectors when the fuel evaporates.

A clogged injector can cause your engine to misfire. This can result in a loss of power, decreased performance, and higher emissions.

You may also notice that your gas mileage is worse than normal. This is because the clogged injectors are not properly sending enough fuel into your engine.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's time to call Stringer Auto Repair in Johnstown, OH, and schedule an appointment for fuel injector service. We'll clean your injectors and get your vehicle running like new!

Clogged Pump

A fuel filter is a device that traps dirt, rust, scale and other impurities as fuel travels from the gas tank to the engine. It can be found in several locations, including the fuel lines coming from the fuel tank on your vehicle’s frame and within an integrated fuel pump assembly.

As a rule of thumb, most mechanics recommend replacing your fuel filter every 50,000 kilometers (depending on your vehicle) or 80,000 miles. However, depending on the conditions in which your vehicle is being driven, it may be necessary to replace the filter even sooner.

A clogged fuel filter can cause your fuel pump to work harder than it should in order to deliver the correct amount of fuel. This will eventually wear down the pump.