Fuel Filter - Replace Or Not?

Fuel Filter - Replace Or Not?

Author
Discussion

MakaveliX

Original Poster:

630 posts

35 months

Saturday 10th August
quotequote all
Mercedes 2002 C240 with 33K on the clock.

The service book says every 75,000 miles or 4 Years for a fuel filter.

The last time the fuel filter was done was 2019.
Since then the car has literally done 3,500 miles at the most.

Is it worth getting the filter changed or not ? No issues starting etc.

I have done a lot of work on the car but doing the fuel filter won't be one of them, don't fancy getting under the car and having fuel going everywhere. So probably a job for the local indy who have lifts which would make this job a lot easier. Also the clamps on the fuel lines going in and out of the filter itself have a " clic-r " design. Which can apparently be difficult to work with, especially under the car with very little clearance.

So question is, as the car has barely been driven since the last change, is it worth doing ?

Thanks

E-bmw

9,824 posts

158 months

Saturday 10th August
quotequote all
75k service item, 33k on the car.

You already know the answer to that question.

bearman68

4,758 posts

138 months

Saturday 10th August
quotequote all
Not running the car can build up bio contaminants in the tank. So if it has been left with a very full tank, you should be OK.

But you already know the answer to this.

MakaveliX

Original Poster:

630 posts

35 months

Sunday 11th August
quotequote all
Thanks. Reason I asked is because the 4 years has passed but I’m nowhere near the 75K mark

E-bmw

9,824 posts

158 months

Sunday 11th August
quotequote all
Time is not an issue for a filter unless it is like 20 extra years or similar.

Tony1963

5,207 posts

168 months

Sunday 11th August
quotequote all
MakaveliX said:
Thanks. Reason I asked is because the 4 years has passed but I’m nowhere near the 75K mark
Surely it’s either coming up to, or past, the five year point?

stevieturbo

17,470 posts

253 months

Sunday 11th August
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
Time is not an issue for a filter unless it is like 20 extra years or similar.
Oddly, VAG OEM filters have a use by date on them

Only seen it recently myself...and no idea why. Seems very odd.

A quick google brings up similar thing....might have been expiry date I seen, but nearly sure the wording was a use by.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tdi/comments/15s7s2v/fuel...


Edited by stevieturbo on Sunday 11th August 21:07

E-bmw

9,824 posts

158 months

Monday 12th August
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
E-bmw said:
Time is not an issue for a filter unless it is like 20 extra years or similar.
Oddly, VAG OEM filters have a use by date on them

Only seen it recently myself...and no idea why. Seems very odd.

A quick google brings up similar thing....might have been expiry date I seen, but nearly sure the wording was a use by.
Never seen it myself, but perhaps it is a shelf-life thing.

Certainly not something that would bother me if it is in good condition.

MakaveliX

Original Poster:

630 posts

35 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
Just for clarification when replacing the fuel filter, are " Petrol Clips " OK to use ?


The ones from the factory are clic-r style which open and close with pliers.


I know that using standard " Universal/Jubilee " clips are a bad idea as they do not give even pressure all round and can damage fuel lines.

Just checking that the " Petrol Clips " in the first photo are good enough for the job

Thanks

E-bmw

9,824 posts

158 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
Yes, they are fine, not the best, but I have used them for years as a good price/functionality compromise.

TwinKam

3,122 posts

101 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
Obviously reuse the clic-r ones if you can, if you don't have the correct tool, and you have enough room around them, you might get away with pincers/nippers. But they're not expensive and a handy tool to have in the chest.

stevieturbo

17,470 posts

253 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
MakaveliX said:
Just for clarification when replacing the fuel filter, are " Petrol Clips " OK to use ?


The ones from the factory are clic-r style which open and close with pliers.


I know that using standard " Universal/Jubilee " clips are a bad idea as they do not give even pressure all round and can damage fuel lines.

Just checking that the " Petrol Clips " in the first photo are good enough for the job

Thanks
Depends on the application. But yes they are the correct type of clips for smaller diameter round hose

Jordie Barretts sock

5,937 posts

25 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
E-bmw said:
Time is not an issue for a filter unless it is like 20 extra years or similar.
Oddly, VAG OEM filters have a use by date on them

Only seen it recently myself...and no idea why. Seems very odd.

A quick google brings up similar thing....might have been expiry date I seen, but nearly sure the wording was a use by.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tdi/comments/15s7s2v/fuel...


Edited by stevieturbo on Sunday 11th August 21:07
But then, so does Buxton spring water that's been underground for thousands of years! hehe

MakaveliX

Original Poster:

630 posts

35 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
Thanks guys.
I have plenty of fuel line ( petrol pipe clips ) from Halfords as shown above, right sizes, and will provide to the mechanic next week.

FYI, on the Mahle Fuel Filter packaging it says Expiry Date: None

GreenV8S

30,418 posts

290 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
MakaveliX said:
will provide to the mechanic next week.
Wait, what? Providing parts or consumables to your mechanic is almost always a bad idea.

E-bmw

9,824 posts

158 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
MakaveliX said:
will provide to the mechanic next week.
Wait, what? Providing parts or consumables to your mechanic is almost always a bad idea.
^^^^ Wot 'e said.

Let your mechanic use his tool of choice it is what you pay him for & that way if anything goes wrong it is 100% his issue.

If you give a mechanic stuff to fit & something goes wrong it will be your fault & will need the job doing/paying for twice to end up with the job done right.

Tony1963

5,207 posts

168 months

Friday 16th August
quotequote all
MakaveliX said:
FYI, on the Mahle Fuel Filter packaging it says Expiry Date: None
For clarity, the expiry date will be for the filter being sat on a shelf, and stored within certain limits of temperature and humidity. Outside those limits, all bets are off. Fitted to a fuel system and being used, and used in the harsh environment of a road car? Change the thing at the manufacturer’s recommendations.

njw1

2,210 posts

117 months

Friday 16th August
quotequote all
I bought a 5 series years ago that had covered 160-odd thousand miles, in its favour it had full BMW service history, however, as it was a petrol the fuel filter wasn't actually considered a service item by BMW hence it had never had a new one!
As the fuel filter had never been changed I fitted a new one and it made absolutely zero difference to how the car ran, since then I don't bother with them if the car's otherwise running OK.
On the missus Kia the fuel filter is actually in the tank and to change it requires removal and dismantling of the fuel pump cradle, it had a new one as per the service schedule when it was still under warranty but it won't be having another!

Pica-Pica

14,353 posts

90 months

Friday 16th August
quotequote all
Tony1963 said:
MakaveliX said:
FYI, on the Mahle Fuel Filter packaging it says Expiry Date: None
For clarity, the expiry date will be for the filter being sat on a shelf, and stored within certain limits of temperature and humidity. Outside those limits, all bets are off. Fitted to a fuel system and being used, and used in the harsh environment of a road car? Change the thing at the manufacturer’s recommendations.
In that case it should be ‘install by’.

stevieturbo

17,470 posts

253 months

Friday 16th August
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
Wait, what? Providing parts or consumables to your mechanic is almost always a bad idea.
At a minimum have a conversation with them about parts used and reasons for or against from both parties.

I've seen too many "mechanics" use worm drive clips for small hose, and other monstrosities.....so supply isn't always bad...but always have the conversation with whoever will be doing the work.

Simply rocking up and demanding "these parts" are fitted....is not a usually good recipe. Nor is telling the mechanic what's wrong and how to fix it....( although sometimes they do need that )