What Are the Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Filter? – 5 Signs That You Need a New Fuel Filter

- Fuel filters typically have a lifespan of 30,000 miles for older cars, while newer models may offer a longer lifespan.
- It’s important to know what to look for to identify a bad fuel filter because eventually if left unchanged, it can result in the car being unable to start.
- If you have a late-model vehicle, the fuel filter might be located in the gas tank and require professional replacement.
- Check Engine Light: The list of reasons why your check engine light could be on is nearly endless. However, it could be a fuel filter warning if your system has a fuel pressure monitoring system. As always, when your check engine light comes on, you should take your vehicle to be scanned for an accurate diagnosis.
- Decreased Power: As the engine isn’t getting enough fuel when the fuel filter is dirty or clogged, you will usually notice an overall lack of power. That could increase with acceleration or when driving in extreme conditions and even lead to a total stall out as fuel flow cannot reach the engine adequately.
- Engine Misfires: Shaking, sputtering, or hesitation could all be signs of a clogged fuel filter. Again, this is a situation where the engine isn’t getting enough fuel, and it may misfire, stutter, or hesitate during acceleration as a result.
- Difficulty Starting: A hard start is often one of the first indicators that there is an issue with your filter. When the fuel flow is inconsistent or restricted, the vehicle cannot get the fuel that it needs to start. If yours has never been changed, this could be the culprit. In severe cases, a dirty fuel filter could eventually lead to no-starts.
- Fuel Pump Damage: If you’ve waited entirely too long to change the fuel filter, there may be damage caused to your fuel pump. This happens because the clogged filter results in a lot of pressure being put on the pump unnecessarily, and that pressure can lead to damage over time.