How do you know if your fuel filter is clogged or is your fuel pump is going out?

Answer 1

With either, the vehicle will bog down at a certain speed. Change the filter, that is fairly cheap and simple. If that doesn't solve the problem, have your mechanic check fuel pressure.

Answer 2

Once in 44 years I saw a clogged gasoline fuel filter. It was on a 1963 Chevy p'up truck and the dummy who owned it was a "mechanic". It was jammed full of bugs. Obviously an old fuel tank from a junkyard. This can only happen if the screen on the end of the pick up tube in the gas tank is torn or missing.

Diesel fuel filters will clog only in the dead of winter if the fuel "gells" and the ice crystals in the diesel fuel plug it up.

Rarely will gasoline get so cold it will have ice crystals in it so big they foul or plug the filter.

Most electric fuel pumps give ample warning of their dying. They "hum" or "buzz" rather loudly or noticeably. You may feel a steady vibration in your butt or feet while you are sitting at a stop light.

The engine may stall at a stop light for no apparent reason and then restart and not do this again for a day or two or a week or two.

When the pumps deteriorate the bearings wear out and the metals from these pump bearings are captured in the fuel filter but are tiny dust like particles and don't clog the filter.

Anytime you replace a fuel pump you replace the fuel filter. A good service interval on the fuel filter is like 3-5 years. Most fuel pumps will have a service life of around 60,000 to 110,000 miles. Sometimes more and sometimes less.

If you buy fuel from a respectable gas station then you should not have any fuel filter or fuel pump problems until the car gets older. If it acts "funny" and you have been buying fuel from the same low cost fuel station then try a different station like BP and a higher octane fuel and see if that makes it run better.

My old GM cars are a bit sensitive to cheap gasoline. They run on it but they love the better grade fuels at places like BP.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

How many miles on the filter? When I have an issue with fuel delivery I replace the fuel filter FIRST, seems that gas stations dispense more junk with their fuel lately. If the problem continues I then run tests on the fuel pump (current draw and delivery rate) and fuel pump relay (if fitted).

Answer 4

Measure the fuel pressure on the fuel injection rail schrader valve with the gauge below. Fuel filters can last over 50,000 miles if the car hasn't run out of gas and had the tank pumped dry. That pumps all sorts of water and crud into the fuel filter. Notice that your manufacturer does not require you to replace the fuel filter at any certain time or mileage!

Answer 5

change the fuel filter and see if your problem goes away.

Answer 6

Change the filter and see if it drives better.

Jeez, what are you worrying about, spending $3.00?
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