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8 Clogged Fuel Filter Symptoms– What Happens If Your Fuel Filter is Clogged?

When to Seek Professional Help

There are many types of fluids that your vehicle needs to run properly. These fluids include the fuel, the coolant, the brakes fluid, etc. To ensure that your vehicle doesn't suffer and lasts longer, you want to make sure that all these fluids are as clear as possible. That's why all these fluids pass through filters before getting to the internal destination.

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As the name suggests, the fuel filter is a small part of your vehicle that doesn't allow any contamination or particles to pass through to the combustion system along with the fuel. Over time of use, the fuel filter gets clogged as particles build up. Your fuel filter will tell you when it's about to fail before it even fails. 

It is very important to keep an eye for clogged fuel filter symptoms to avoid complicated mechanical issues with your vehicle and to ensure a smooth ride. When the fuel filter is partially clogged, it doesn't necessarily cause significant problems. However, if the problem was ignored and the filter got completely clogged, you might not be able to drive your vehicle. As a result, you might sacrify the engine.

This article will explain to you the types of fuel filters along with their different characteristics. Furthermore, we will list the top eight clogged fuel filter symptoms to allow you to detect early signs of failing fuel filter. Finally, we'll provide some cost estimates for replacing your damaged fuel filter along with their expected lifetime. 

 


Why does your vehicle need a fuel filter? 

 

It is important to understand the functionality of fuel filters before discussing the different clogged fuel filter symptoms. This is because understanding how the filter works helps you detect when your vehicle's fuel filter is about to fail.

The fuel filter is placed somewhere between the fuel tank and the combustion system. This way, the filter prevents any particles or contamination from making their way to the combustion system. 

In older vehicles, you might find the fuel filter placed on the fuel line while newer vehicles have the fuel filter placed inside the fuel tank to ensure better performance.

The fuel filter is very important because if the contamination or large particles made it to the combustion system, they would affect the air-fuel ratio. Therefore, the combustion explosion will not be as powerful as it was designed for. 

With a bad fuel filter, particles can clog it completely, resulting in minimum fuel flow to the combustion system.

While this might sound like a better fuel economy, when the combustion system doesn't receive the required amount of fuel, it will force the fuel pump to push more fuel and, therefore, results in reducing the fuel economy. 

Eight clogged fuel filter symptoms 

 

After fully understanding the role of the fuel filter in your vehicle, you must ensure that this filter does the required job. In other words, you want to make sure that the fuel filter does not allow any particles to pass through the combustion system while allowing the exact amount of fuel needed to get to the engine.

In this section, we will cover the top reported eight clogged fuel filter symptoms, as reported by automaker experts and professional mechanics. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you must have your vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic as soon as possible to avoid further complicated issues that will require very high repair costs, if it was even repaired.

 

  • Clear fluctuation in the engine's power, especially when under stress. 

 

 

Under normal operations, a partially clogged filter might not affect vehicle power significantly. When the vehicle is under stress, a clogged filter can cause a power fluctuation.

For example, if you are driving your vehicle uphill, or if you're hauling a lot of groceries, your engine will require more power, and that power will come from the additional fuel supply. 

When the filter is clogged, the fuel pump will not be able to send the required amount of fuel to the engine so it can provide the needed power. That's why you might experience a sudden drop in your vehicle's power in these stressful situations. 

 

  • A warning check engine lights illuminating. 

 

 

The check engine lights are used by your vehicle's internal computer to grab your attention for internal vehicle problems. The check engine lights can illuminate due to many different reasons, including a clogged filter.

A clogged fuel filter does not directly trigger the check engine light; however, it will result in other issues with the fuel-air ratio or problems with the mass airflow sensor.

For example, your mechanic might tell you the check engine lights are saying an error code of P0171. This error code indicates an issue with the air-fuel ratio. While the problem might be related to other components like the fuel pump, one of the culprits could be a clogged fuel filter.

Another example, your mechanic might tell you the engine throws an error code of P0174, which indicates a faulty mass airflow sensor. Even if the sensor has a problem, the real culprit might be a clogged fuel filter. 

Therefore, clogged fuel filter problems should not be ignored because they might cause additional complications that you don't want to deal with. 

 

  • Engine misfire. 

 

 

Similar to the check engine light, engine misfire doesn't come directly from a clogged fuel filter. However, a clogged fuel filter might cause a reduction in fuel flow to the engine cylinders. Furthermore, you might not be able to determine which cylinder got affected by this reduction in fuel flow.

In general, engine misfires are not usually due to one factor; they might happen due to a combination of factors, including a clogged fuel filter. 

 

  • Problems with engine stalling. 

 

 

As we mentioned earlier, a clogged fuel filter prevents a normal fuel supply to the engine. While your vehicle can still start with a partially clogged fuel filter, if more stress was put on the engine, you might be dealing with a sudden engine stalling due to insufficient fuel supply.

Again, driving your vehicle under normal conditions might not show big problems related to the clogged fuel filter. However, driving uphill or when your vehicle is loaded with a lot of heavy stuff, the engine will require the fuel pump to send an additional supply of fuel. When the filter is clogged, the fuel will cause high pressure on the engine, which might result in engine stalling. 

 

  • The engine won't start. 

 

 

If the engine doesn't start, the problem could be related to many different things, including a faulty starter, problematic fuel pump, etc. In situations of a completely clogged fuel filter, it is very likely to experience issues when starting your engine.

While the fuel filter can affect engine start, mechanics usually don't look into the fuel filter until they make sure that all the other factors are illuminated. For example, when the mechanic first takes a look at your vehicle and find that the engine doesn't start, he will first check the starter, then look at the fuel pump come on, and Lastly, confirm that the fuel filter is not clogged. 

 

  • A damaged fuel pump. 

 

 

The fuel pump is designed to handle certain pressure capacity. When the fuel filter is clogged, additional pressure will be added to the fuel pump. The fuel pump will try to work harder to resist this pressure. As a result, a clogged fuel filter can cause a complete fuel pump damage. Repairing your fuel filter is much cheaper than installing a new fuel pump.

Therefore, even if it will take you a lot of time and effort to get your fuel filter replaced, think about how much time and money you will put into getting the fuel pump fixed or replaced.

 

  • A drop in fuel economy. 

 

 

By now, you should expect that a clogged fuel filter does not improve the fuel economy, as many people might think. A clogged fuel filter will cause the engine to request additional fuel to support the power needed. With the additional demand for fuel, your fuel pump will send more fuel and, therefore, reduce the fuel economy. 

The best way to notice that is by monitoring how often do you need to refill your fuel tank. While excessive consumption of fuel might be due to many reasons, one of these main reasons is the clogged fuel filter. 

 

  • A weird smell is coming from the exhaust system. 

 

 

It is always recommended that when you smell anything weird coming from your vehicle, you must get your vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic. This is because most weird smells come out as a result of internal issues. While many of these smells could be related to very simple issues, some of them can be related to significant internal problems.

Therefore, weird smells should not be ignored, and action must be taken. 

Like any other weird smell coming from the vehicle, if you smell something bad coming from the exhaust system, it can be an indication of a clogged fuel filter. The best way to confirm the problem is to have a professional mechanic inspect your vehicle. Whatever the cause of the bad smell, you must get it repaired as soon as possible. 

How much does it cost to fix a clogged fuel filter? 

 

Fuel filter costs between $14.00 and $60.00. Most of the repair costs get higher due to labor costs. 

If you don't know, mechanical repair costs are divided into parts costs and labor costs. In many situations, parts costs are much lower than labor costs. Many people save a lot of money by either taking to their vehicle to a small repair shop versus a dealership. Others take it to the next level and repair their problems on their own using many DIYs from the Internet.

There are many factors to take into consideration if you decided to repair your vehicles filter by yourself because this repair is a little tricky. It is not recommended that you perform the repair yourself if you don't have the required mechanical skill sets. In other words, if you will be training yourself on how to install a new filter, it might be better to have a skilled mechanic do the job for you. 

While the small repair shop might save you a lot of money on labor costs, you need to consider the type of skill sets in the repair shop and the value of your vehicle. If your vehicle is luxury, it might make more sense to the original automaker's dealership to perform the repairs for you.

This is because most DIY's do not work from the first time if they don't cause further problems that require much higher repair costs than the original problem. Therefore, you are the best judge about whether to have someone replace your fuel filter or do it on your own.

Conclusion

 

The fuel filter is a very important component to your vehicle because it ensures that when the fuel gets to your combustion system doesn't have any contamination or large particles.

Over time of use, your fuel filter can get clogged partially or completely. While a partially clogged filter might not show clear signs, I completely clogged filter can result in little engine stalling or not starting. 

Your filter will tell you when it is about to fail. Some of the clogged fuel filter symptoms include issues with power fluctuation, problems with check engine light illuminating, trouble with engine stalling or not starting, weird smells coming from the exhaust system, and others. 

Therefore, a clogged fuel filter must not be ignored, and action must be taken to avoid further complicated problems that could result in higher repair costs. These problems can range from simple issues with some components to a significant engine failure. Thus, if you think it will take you a lot of time and effort to replace the fuel filter, think about the required level of effort needed to wait until you get a new engine if you can afford it.  

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