5 Symptoms of a Broken or Clogged Fuel Filter
Is your car sputtering, stalling, or losing power? A clogged fuel filter could be the culprit, as various contaminants can get into the fuel and eventually lead to a clogged filter.
Let’s take a look at the most common symptoms of a broken or clogged fuel filter, how much it costs (it’s not that bad), and how often you should usually change the filter.
Symptoms of a Defective Fuel Filter
If you’ve forgotten how many miles and how long it’s been since you last changed your fuel filter, you should pay attention to the appearance of some common symptoms that indicate your fuel filter needs replacing.
The following symptoms of a clogged fuel filter can help you quickly identify the problem, so you can avoid damage to your fuel tank.
1) Hesitation or misfire
If you notice that your engine hesitates erratically when you press the accelerator pedal, check your fuel filter immediately as it may be very dirty.
Any blockage will prevent the normal flow of gasoline to the engine, causing abnormal combustion and ultimately reducing your vehicle’s performance and responsiveness.
In addition to hesitation, a dirty fuel filter can also cause your engine to misfire sporadically, especially when accelerating. This is because the filter is partially clogged and therefore not allowing a steady flow of fuel.
2) Engine won’t start
All car engines require a combination of air and gasoline to start. This means that if there isn’t enough gas passing through the fuel filter, the engine won’t start at all.
3) Poor Acceleration
There are many factors that can cause a noticeable drop in normal acceleration, but a bad fuel filter is definitely one of them. If there isn’t enough fuel getting into the combustion chamber (or fuel pressure is low), the vehicle’s computer will limit power output to prevent engine damage from running lean.
This is most noticeable during high-stress acceleration, such as overtaking on a hill. In rare cases, the filter can become so damaged that it causes the car to go into limp mode.
4) Check Engine Light Illumination
The check engine light can be illuminated by all sorts of issues with your car, but it can also be illuminated by a bad fuel filter itself. This is usually true for vehicles that have a fuel pressure sensor that monitors the amount of fuel flowing through the system.
A scan for diagnostic trouble codes may indicate a faulty sensor when in fact it is caused by a clogged fuel filter. Let a professional mechanic help you diagnose the root cause of your check engine light coming on.
5) Fuel Smell
If you notice a strange gas station smell after driving, you may have a fuel leak somewhere. Once you’ve ruled out the possibility of forgetting to tighten the gas cap, you’ll need to consider other areas.
The most common causes of fuel leaks are faulty fuel lines, faulty gas tanks, faulty fuel injectors, charcoal canisters, and faulty spark plugs, but a faulty fuel filter can also cause a leak and a gasoline smell. Realistically, this symptom should occur at the same time as another symptom to consider.
