A fuel filter sifts out anything that could clog up the injection system as the gasoline or diesel flows from the tank to the motor.
The systems on modern engines have incredibly tight tolerances and are easily clogged, so any contamination can prove costly to rectify. That's why it's important to replace the fuel filter regularly.
Older engines, especially carburetor-fed ones, are less fussy because the jet openings are much bigger than a fuel-injection nozzle. But if you get a clogged, or blocked filter you'll still experience problems, so neglect it at your peril. On a car with a carburetor, a clogged filter often manifests as a loss of power or stumble after some minutes of freeway cruising.
There is also the issue with water contamination in diesel engines. However, diesel fuel floats on water and doesn't mix, so many diesel vehicles' fuel filters have a drain tap at the bottom of the housing that allows water to be drained off.
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There are two main types of fuel filter, both of which work in the same way: fuel is passed through a filtration medium (often made from a special paper) that catches any contamination.
Some are simple plastic or metal containers, with two fuel line connections around a filtration medium. These are meant to be replaced, not serviced. The other type is a cartridge-style with a replaceable filter housed within a metal container that can be opened.
Bear in mind that many newer cars don't actually have a filter and simply rely on a strainer that's attached to the fuel pump, both located in the tank. These are only meant to be replaced if the pump goes bad. So if you can't find yours – don't panic!