Fuel filters

[RaceDiagnostics]

Over the years I've never changed a fuel filter on any of my daily drivers whether diesel or petrol. My current 2015 golf tdi has 120k miles on the clock still on the original filter.

Do manufacturers recommend changing them because some other regions don't have clean fuel?

 

[BrokenBiker]

Over the years I've never changed a fuel filter on any of my daily drivers whether diesel or petrol. My current 2015 golf tdi has 120k miles on the clock still on the original filter.

Do manufacturers recommend changing them because some other regions don't have clean fuel?

I've found water is more of an issue than dirty fuel in the UK, but diesel bug is a thing also, although I've never seen it.

 

[tom2207]

its just routine preventative maintenance , change it soon before you have to would be my advise

 

[tom2207]

I've found water is more of an issue than dirty fuel in the UK, but diesel bug is a thing also, although I've never seen it.

prey you never do ,,, I had it in one of my trucks and it can lead you a merry dance

 

[BrokenBiker]

prey you never do ,,, I had it in one of my trucks and it can lead you a merry dance

Bet it still wouldn't be as bad as owning a terracan

To be fair a lot of my diesel fueled cars have always had regular filter changes and I like to run a can of diesel purge through them pretty early on into ownership, and will sporadically run a dose of injector cleaner through them as well

 

[Smallfry]

As said, water in the fuel is more likely an issue here in the UK, and also, diesel components are expensive, so for the sake of a couple of quid, is it worth the potential hassle ?

Had diesel bug in my Unimog, which had not been started for a few years. Absolute nightmare. Ended up buying a new tank, all new fuel lines, complete dismantling and cleaning of filter housings, injection pump, and while at it, injectors, so took the opportunity to fit new nozzles too.

 

[500e]

Had it in one slew what a job to get rid off, change filters drain tank and all lines, wash through with petrol, ran engine from aux tank for 60 min.
re fill ran ok, 4 weeks later fuel filter blocked again took 3 goes to clear.

 

[tom2207]

Bet it still wouldn't be as bad as owning a terracan

To be fair a lot of my diesel fueled cars have always had regular filter changes and I like to run a can of diesel purge through them pretty early on into ownership, and will sporadically run a dose of injector cleaner through them as well

I think sitting about is the main issue ,,, but once its there its there ,,, deptane and two stroke seem to help though the odd drop of raspberry now and then too.

 

[Bornfree]

Older engines don't seem to have the diesel bug problems as much as modern common rail diesels. I guess the filters are finer on the newer stuff.

 

[tom2207]

Older engines don't seem to have the diesel bug problems as much as modern common rail diesels. I guess the filters are finer on the newer stuff.

I think its that they add less additives to diesel now to keep costs down ,,,, adding things makes fuel more expensive .
plastic tanks have helped as theres less sweating internally so less water , diesel bug forms at the fuel to water interface in a tank.

 

[m_c]

Older engines don't seem to have the diesel bug problems as much as modern common rail diesels. I guess the filters are finer on the newer stuff.

Old engines could. My dad's mate had an old Sprinter (must have been one of the first 901 ones) that had it, and it took a lot of effort to clean it at the time.

Filters on modern diesels are far finer, often down to micron levels.

 

[tom2207]

Old engines could. My dad's mate had an old Sprinter (must have been one of the first 901 ones) that had it, and it took a lot of effort to clean it at the time.

Filters on modern diesels are far finer, often down to micron levels.

also old vehicles had a screw on filter you could do at the side of the road , bleed by hand and be on your way in under five mins ,,,, I could tell you tales from a land rover workshop that would make you weep ,,, but you wont be changing a fuel filter at the side of the road anymore.

 

[tigdlo]

I've seen a couple of 2008 era transits have diesel pumps replaced due to fuel filters blocked because of the ecu fault codes and incurious mechanics. I have also seen a non start due to a blocked fuel filter, I was a BMW, not sure of the model but no newer than 2012, it was a long filter under the floor, that was definitely diesel bug.

Time to change it, I wouldn't trust the media or adhesives it was made with for 10 years and 120k.

 

[minimutly]

Common thread here, diesel fuel gives more problems...
Or does it? Modern petrol at E10 anyone?

 

[Trevorleach]

I change a few fuel filters on trucks at roughly 50k, they are always dirty, some look to be on the verge of collapse.

 

[Kayos]

Bought my Freelander 2 and on the way home it went into limp mode.
Quick Google pointer to fuel filter

Splurged on a Bosch unit, fitted and bled in about 30 minutes

No issues 5000+ miles later

 

[BrokenBiker]

Bought my Freelander 2 and on the way home it went into limp mode.
Quick Google pointer to fuel filter

Splurged on a Bosch unit, fitted and bled in about 30 minutes

No issues 5000+ miles later

What is the bleed process on those? Full the filter and crank til it fires? Or does it need actual bleeding? Will be doing mine soon

 

[Kayos]

What is the bleed process on those? Full the filter and crank til it fires? Or does it need actual bleeding? Will be doing mine soon

Use like a vacuum bleed or a hand pump on one of the pipes. Cranking until it goes is bad as the high pressure pump uses fuel to lubricate

There's a YouTube video of someone cracking injector nuts, it's a common rail....

Don't do that

 

[BrokenBiker]

Use like a vacuum bleed or a hand pump on one of the pipes. Cranking until it goes is bad as the high pressure pump uses fuel to lubricate

There's a YouTube video of someone cracking injector nuts, it's a common rail....

Don't do that

I have a vacuum pump, will do that

 

[Morris]

I've just had to deal with diesel bug. Not in a vehicle, the heater in wifey's craft room. Half a tank of diesel sat through a hot summer turned to bio-soup.