A3 Fuel filter metal particles...?!

[SquidgyAudi]

Evening, have been advised to ask here for some info.

Audi A3 2.0 2008 diesel, has had regular services.Fuel filter was changed at 48k and again at 94k. Slight leak from filter lid 2 days after last service. the mechanic went to put a new seal on, he noticed lots of really fine flakes on the filter top. He has swapped it out but said he thinks the HPFP is going.

I have read somewhere that there have been issues with some of these audi fuel pumps and Audi have had to replace the entire system
f. o.c. Anyone know anything about this?!!

Could it be anything else other than the pump failing? could it be crap built up from the old filter which was left behind? I know nothing about these things..

worse case scenario and the pump does fail does anyone know the costs to get it sorted and I presume flush out the entire system?

Thanks

[Condi]

My first guess would be the previous mechanic somehow crossed his threads or the threads wernt exactly machined for the filter. Would explain both why it leaked, and why you might get some swarf around the thread.

[SquidgyAudi]

Thanks for the reply. It on the top of the fuel filter itself not the housing and there was quite a bit of it ( I saw it being changed).

Very very fine particles. wish I had got a photo now!

I'm not sure what to do tbh. I don't want the fuel pump to go and wreck the injectors too.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Normally the filter is before the HPFP in the fuel circuit, so that and the injectors should be fine.

It could be the in-tank pump starting to go.

Have you had the car from new? Any history of it being filled with petrol? That can destroy the entire fuel system, costing £1000s to put right. It writes off some diesels.

[k20erham]

Hi yep, nearly every CDI engine does leave those deposits in the filter, not everyone looks for it, and if you drain the filter housing down 1st then the go out of the drain. Looks horrid and yes it's coming from the pumps.
Like nearly everything else on these new CDI engines and GDI engines your lucky to get away without EGR/inlet coking, injector/pumps DMF,DPF ETC ETC the price we pay for advancement they say. Low sulpher fuel and long service intervals contribute too.
I've lost count of how many 16 hdi D6V engines I've replaced, owned a 208SW for 110k miles 2.0 HDI serviced every 6k and that puts fillings into the fuel filter has done since new!!!!

[SquidgyAudi]

Thanks for the replies. Owned it about 18 mths, so not sure re fuel filling but definitely only diesel since I have owned it. I'm going to change the filter again after 1k miles and see how bad it is. Everything I have found online says the HPFP is the one which leaves these deposits and the mechanic I used said it will kill the injectors and the pump - he reckons at least £2.5k to get it sorted 😯