Symptoms Of A Bad Or Clogged Fuel Filter

Everybody loves a good car that starts and runs smoothly. But what if one day you find your car not functioning properly with its check engine light coming on or its engine misfiring? Chances are you have a bad or clogged filter.

You wouldn’t ingest unfiltered water from a creek, right?

Why is that?

Because it’s often riddled with harmful bacteria!

The same goes for the fuel we put in our cars, which, luckily, passes through a filter before reaching the engine.

What are the signs of a faulty or clogged fuel filter?

The most common signs that you need a new fuel filter include starting problems, a check engine light, or diminished performance. You may also notice your engine stalls or misfires while accelerating. Replacement costs range between $50-$150 at a shop, or you can do it yourself for about $15-$60.

In this comprehensive guide, we will look at each of these symptoms in detail.

But first, we will explain how a fuel filter works to help you understand why you should replace a blocked fuel filter.

Let’s get the basic principles down now!

Table of ContentsShow

How A Fuel Filter Works

auto fuel and oil filter

Fuel starts in your gas tank and is pumped into the fuel lines via the fuel pump. Depending on the configuration of your system, the fuel filter sits somewhere in between. The purpose of the fuel filter is to screen out harmful debris before it wreaks havoc on the rest of the system.

Once filtered, the fuel gets sent to the injectors. These disperse a precise amount of fuel into the combustion chambers of each cylinder.

Once there, it’s combined with oxygen and then ignited. This triggers the pistons to move up and down, thus powering the engine.

There are two primary types of fuel filters, the spin-on kind and the cartridge kind. Spin-on fuel filters come in a metallic container and simply screw into place. Cartridge fuel filters sit within a fixed, protective casing, and only the cartridge itself is replaced.

A common rule of thumb is to replace your fuel filter every 2 years or 30,000 miles. Though, you can likely push this to 60,000 miles or more on a newer vehicle.

Regardless, your ideal bet is to have a mechanic perform a pressure test with each oil change to ensure enough fuel can flow through. Each vehicle has a specific PSI range, so be sure to consult the manual for your particular model.

Now that you comprehend the essentials behind how a fuel filter works let’s look at the indications that suggest it’s time to replace it.

Signs You Need A New Fuel Filter

Your Car Has Trouble Starting

couples car wont start

There are many reasons an engine might struggle to turn over, such as defective spark plugs, a dead battery, or an issue with the alternator.

However, it can also mean inadequate fuel flowing to the ignition chambers.

A pressure test showing low PSI will indicate if it’s something in your fuel system, like a faulty fuel pump, clogged injectors, or a bad fuel filter. Though, an engine not starting likely won’t be the initial sign of a blocked fuel filter. Be sure to check if it coincides with any of the below symptoms.

If so, you can count yourself fortunate because the other reasons your engine won’t start are far more expensive to resolve.

The Check Engine Light Appears

car check engine light on

If you’re like most car owners, you probably have a love/hate relationship with the “check engine” light. Sure, it likely means a repair bill is close at hand, but it also ensures matters don’t deteriorate to a point where substantial damage occurs.

A check engine light will illuminate for an endless number of causes. Thankfully, many contemporary vehicles feature built-in pressure sensors that will give off a specific code if there’s an issue in the fuel system.

To identify the issue, you have several options available.

The first is to purchase an OBD2 scanner yourself and use it to read the code. The second is to pay a shop to use their OBD2 scanner, which usually carries a diagnostic fee attached to it.

The third option is to take your vehicle to a nearby auto parts store, where most will read it for free.

Your Engine Stalls

couple with broken car

An engine typically stalls for one of three reasons, a lack of fuel, energy, or air. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that if there’s not adequate fuel making its way through, your engine might stall.

Your engine may crank up just fine since there’s likely fuel still in the fuel lines. The issue is when you accelerate or tackle a sharp incline since more is needed as you press the pedal. The same goes when towing a load since the engine has to work harder to haul, thus requiring more fuel.

Many factors can cause an engine to stall, so be sure to watch out for extra symptoms on this list.

The Engine Misfires

car engine
car engine

Simply put, when an engine misfires, an error occurred in one of the combustion chambers that caused it to skip a step. Numerous things can cause an engine to misfire, including worn spark plugs, a defective ignition coil, or a malfunctioning camshaft sensor.

However, since the fuel passes through the fuel filter before reaching the fuel injector. If it’s clogged for any reason, it can also cause the engine to stutter.

This is especially true when you’re demanding more from your vehicle, such as when stepping on the accelerator, towing a load, or going up a steep incline.

Typically, this will feel like a small jerk as the engine skips a beat, usually coupled with reluctance in the delivery of power.

You Notice A Decrease In Performance

man in car driving through street

Another notable sign of a faulty or clogged fuel filter is a decline in engine performance. Similar to the last two symptoms, this is usually most apparent while accelerating, hauling a load, or heading up a steep incline.

This occurs because the ECM restricts power to prevent any damage when it notices a lack of fuel being sent to the injectors. While this doesn’t necessarily point to a clogged fuel filter, it does suggest it particularly if this symptom matches up with others on this list.

Cost To Replace A Bad Or Clogged Fuel Filter

car filter replacing

Thankfully, replacing a fuel filter isn’t too costly, especially if you feel comfortable doing it yourself. Expect to pay between $50 to $150 at a shop or between $15 to $60 for the filter by itself.

While it’s not challenging to replace a fuel filter yourself, it does take a bit of expertise. If you don’t already have the necessary tools, you might as well just take it to a shop. If you do decide to tackle it at home, be sure to check out the video below for step-by-step instructions.

Final Thoughts

Nobody enjoys having a car that’s struggling to keep up. Rather than ignore it, tackle it head-on.

If you notice your car is having trouble starting, it’s stalling, or if an engine light appears, have a shop perform a fuel pressure test. You can also use an OBD2 scanner to ascertain if the problem stems from the fuel system.

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Joshua Barrett

Josh Barrett is a writer hailing from the great state of Alaska. While describing himself in the third person is not his forte, writing about any and all things automotive – is. After 13+ years hustling in the exciting world of car sales, he took off to travel the world with his dog Teemo.