What could have caused this corrosion to this car's fuel filter?

Question

Hi,

Thankfully it's not my car. :p

http://www.hummertime.co.uk/fuelfilter.jpg

It's a VW Golf IV TDI (Diesel) (European model)

However.. any ideas of what could have caused the fuel filter to get so salty/corroded? I can't work it out... unless perhaps wrong grade of fuel was used regularly which is unlikely.

I'd very much like to have an idea of what might cause it in case the same thing ever happens with my fuel filter.

Thanks. :)

Answer 1

Thats salt water corrosion from salt spray mist from winter road protection.

Obviously somebody doesn't clean their car properly.

I pressure wash my engine bay weekly during the winter months and then spray the whole area with a protective spray.

Net result an 11 year old car looks showroom under the bonnet.

But then again - it is a Landrover.

Answer 2

That looks like superficial external corrosion of the filter housing, and not corrosion of the filter itself.

If that is the case, then it is not a problem, and is caused by the manufacturer not wasting money on preventing non-damaging corrosion when the money could be better spent elsewhere on the car where it makes a difference (or the saving could allow the manufacturer to sell the car for slightly less).

Not all corrosion is a cause for concern.

Answer 3

External corrosion - nothing to do with the fuel. Just rain, salt road spray etc. nothing unusual. If you want to protect yours, you can try spraying it with WD40 or the like. You often see surface corrosion on parts these days as engines tend to be less covered in oil, even more so if some enthusiast has degreased the engine bay.

Answer 4

Try a mix of water and salt sprayed from driving around in the rain. The only way to stop it is to not drive in the rain....it's just one of those things. Nothing to do with the fuel at all.

Answer 5

If it has a carburetor that's a prior instruction manual pump. no longer electric. Take the gasoline line off the carb , have a pal turn the motor vehicle over with the coil twine off . positioned the gasoline line right into a can i see if any gasoline comes out of the line

Answer 6

Surface corrosion is inevitable in this country, unless you give up driving six months a year. If it bothers you that much, have it replaced and your engine & bay steam cleaned and waxed.

Answer 7

Ah! Diesel. Some one has been selling processed diesel but left in the acid. Buy your fuel only from reputable pumps.

Answer 8

its a fuel filter, they should get changed anually which i would say the one in your picture has not been.
But it is only mild weathering of the fuel filter top, you really are worrying about nothing at all.

Answer 9

simple condensation hot engine cold out side creates condensation (water) = rust corrosion