Fuel Filter Services

Arrange for a fuel filter replacement as well as a full car service or car repair to take place at your home, office or even your holiday location with Lube Mobile. We are the fleet of mobile mechanics operating right across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, as well as everywhere in between. Our technicians are fully qualified motor mechanics which expertise and familiarity with a wide range of vehicle makes and models, from popular brands through to luxury cars. Our mechanics arrive on site to complete your full vehicle service, including a fuel filter replacement, and can also undertake a complete vehicle assessment to ensure that your car is running at peak efficiency.

How to tell if fuel filter needs replacing?

The role of the fuel filter is to capture anything within the fuel which may cause a problem when the fuel reaches the fuel injectors. Modern vehicles are designed to be as energy efficient as possible, ensuring that that as little fuel as possible is required to power the vehicle. This helps address large climate change issues as well as to keep the vehicle economical to run as fuel prices continue to rise and fuel scarcity begins to become a problem worldwide.

In order for a car’s engine and components to run as efficiently as possible, a whole host of sensors are deployed and monitored from the engine management system. These sensors include things like a fuel pressure regulator, air flow meters, fuel take sensors and more. Information about the cooling system will also help to affect how economical the engine is as cooler ambient temperatures will require more fuel for the engine to run than hotter temperatures do.

The role of the fuel filter is to capture any foreign components carried in the fuel before they reach the fuel pump and fuel injectors. This ensures that the fuel is as clean as possible, burns efficiency and your engine remains running at peak performance. These components come in many forms ranging from small plastic cylinders which are connected into the fuel line through to larger alloy housings. The type of fuel filter your vehicle uses will depend on what type of engine it is and what type of fuel system is uses.

Common signs which indicate that it’s time to book a fuel filter replacement include:

• Intake in fuel consumption above normal – if your car is using more fuel than it should then could indicate that the fuel filter should be replaced.
• Poor power on acceleration – like abnormal fuel use, poor power may indicate a problem with the fuel lines from the filter.
• The engine management system has flagged an issue – this is when you check engine light is illuminated on your dash. Our mechanics have specialist equipment which helps them determine what kind of error your ECU has detected and the best way to rectify it.
• Logbook says it’s time to change the fuel filter.

How to replace a fuel filter?

The fuel filter replacement shouldn’t take your mechanic too long to complete but it will depend on where the fuel filter is located and whether anything else needs to be removed first in order to gain access. Once the filter has been located then the fuel pressure will be released from the system. The old filter is then removed and safely discarded and the new one fitted. Your mechanic will likely inspect the fuel filter before discarding it for signs of what the filter has been capturing. Foreign or abnormal particulates may indicate other issues with the vehicle such as a problem with the fuel rail, gas tank or the fuel pump. Once the fuel system has been reconnected, the vehicle will be run and inspected. The mechanic will check for leaks and ensure that the fuel lines are operating properly.

How long does it take to replace a fuel filter?

As mentioned previously, the time it may take to replace the fuel filter will depend on where it’s located and what kind of fuel filter it is. There are some makes and models – modern cars, predominantly – which incorporate both the fuel pump and filter as one assembled unit. This might even be located within the fuel tank. The fuel filter may not be replaceable in this case.

If your vehicle runs on diesel fuel, then the role of the fuel filter is absolutely vital. The fuel injectors in diesel engines are even more sensitive than those in petrol types so the health of the engine is reliant upon a working and clean fuel filter.

More often than not, your fuel filter will be changed out – or recommended – when you take your vehicle in for regular servicing. Typically fuel filter replacement should be considered every 2 years or every 50 000km for older vehicles and even more rarely for new model cars. If you’re concerned about whether your fuel filter should be replacement, then the best thing to do is arrange for a local mobile mechanic to come out and inspect your vehicle. We can take care of a full service while we’re there, ensuring that you have peace of mind that your vehicle is operating absolutely peak performance.