When to change your fuel filter
“The engine may misfire and stall, it’ll be difficult to start and you’re likely to have an engine fault light on the dashboard”
Consult your car’s manual to see when the fuel filter should be changed. Some manufacturers advise that no maintenance is required. In fact the only time you may need to change your fuel filter is when it’s blocked and is causing engine issues. This fuel starvation will cause the engine to misfire and stall, it may be difficult to start and you’re likely to have an engine fault light on the dashboard. A blocked filter may also damage the fuel pump, so it should be replaced as soon as possible.
You’ll also need to change the fuel filter if you’ve put the wrong fuel in your car’s tank. This will avoid contaminating the system once the tank, pipes and pump have been emptied, flushed and filled with the correct fuel.
The fuel system on a fuel-injected car is under high pressure, so you’ll need to depressurise it before you can remove the filter. Once it’s removed, check that the new one is identical and make sure you install it the right way round.
All cars are slightly different, so if it is time to change your fuel filter, use our before you begin checklist, and find your car for specific instructions.