Fuel Filters

[Isuzumu]

What is the norm on changing fuel filters?
Do you just change them when they become cloged?
Or do you change them at a certain mileage?
Also if they have been in there for some time could it make any difference to your economy?

Cheers Bruce

ps as you have probably realised I have not changed mine for a long, long time

[pig75]

I do mine every 20,000km
yes they can affect economy

[Isuzumu]

Thanks mate, a friend ask me the other day when do I change them and I said.....never bad boy I know hahahahaha

[geeves]

Diesels work differently to petrol around the fuel filter. The pump is cooled and lubricated by a constant flow of diesel and less than 10% of what goes through the pump actualy goes to the engine. A clogged filter reduces this lube and cooling and can result in damage to the pump. Book says 15000km for fuel filter change so if you change it every second oil change you should be right. There not expensive or hard to change

[Roger]

I change mine at 20000km. I usually use the ryco filter. I reckon it looks like a better quality unit than the repco ones. I have used repco but doesn't seem to make a diff anyway.

[Isuzumu]

Thanks for the imput everyone, off this morning to get a couple of filters.

Cheers Bruce

[lewis]

Hey everyone
I just noticed this thread and my truck has lost heaps of power again and last time it was a dirty fuel filter. Last time the garage changed it but id rather do it myself to save money. Ive run out of diesel before and never had to bleed anything tricky, i just put some juice in the tank and pumped the spring loaded thing on the filter under the bonnet for a minute then cranked it and within 10s it was going. Is that all id have to do if i changed the filter?
Thanks

[MARKx4]

Can someone put up a step by step way to change filter and how to pump the system please, i have never changed a filter or ran out of fuel in a diesel b4 and would like to change mine.

Mark.

[geeves]

The official way is Unscrew the drain on the bottom of the filter so diesel runs out the pipe into a container. Then unscrew the water separator from the bottom of the filter then unscrew the filter and replace everything in the opposite order. Then remove the line to the injector pump and press the plunger till diesel appears Put the hose on Finished.
In practise you cant unscrew the water separator with the wire attached and you cant get your hand to the wire with the filter in place. Also the tube always jumps out of the container so wear old shoes. Best way is to unbolt the whole assembly from the truck which gives you room to get at the wire. Note which pipe goes where and disconnect.Take the whole lot to your bench and change the filter there and replace as above

[wbski007]

the way I do it is I purchased a spare water separator and drain cock, now all I do is remove wire, unscrew old filter with everything attached, you fill new filter with spare water separator and drain cock attached with diesel and replace, start engine, no pumping needed. I have an electric fuel pump so I just put new filter on dry and take off the out line to the pump, turn on ingnition and wait for fuel to start comming out and then replace line, bingo,done, I've found it very messy trying to drain the old filter on the car, of course I have spilled some taking off the old filter when its full, dirty smelly job no matter how its done, always manage to get diesel on me some where, and that smell does not go away easly.

[geeves]

The smell isnt as bad as diff oil or brake fluid and its easier to get rid of than brake fluid

[wbski007]

your rite on the diff oil, that smell never goes away

[lewis]

I just changed my diesel filter. It was full of algae looking stuff and some other crap so needed doing. Appears there was quite a bit of air to bleed out also

[geeves]

If there was algea in the filter (black strings of snot) then treat your fuel with a good diesel conditioner with algaecide. Best buy it from a diesel specialist and follow there advice.
If not you will be changing that filter again in a few weeks