Imagine this- you’re driving along the road in your prestigious luxury vehicle, when suddenly, you notice that your car is beginning to struggle. Your foot is on the accelerator, as per usual. However, it’s becoming increasingly harder for you to keep your vehicle chugging along. Finally, you reach a stop sign. But as you sit waiting for the ongoing cars to pass, you notice that your engine is starting to feel all herky-jerky. As if things couldn’t get any worse, you drive your vehicle a couple of minutes more, only to have the ‘Check Engine’ light come up on the dashboard to greet you. Now, the situation is starting to get a bit stressful- so, what do you do?
Luckily, there’s no need to panic. If you’re familiar with any of the aforementioned symptoms, then it’s highly likely that a clogged fuel filter is the source of all your vehicle’s troubles. But don’t worry- this decrease in your vehicle’s performance isn’t permanent. In fact, it can be easily rectified by having your fuel filter changed during a maintenance service.
What Causes a Clogged Fuel Filter?
The fuel filter may not sound like the most exciting component of your vehicle, however it’s definitely one of the most important. Your fuel filter is responsible for filtering out harmful dirt and debris that may potentially cause damage to your fuel system if it is allowed to enter in. As you can probably imagine, the fuel filter gets clogged with all kinds of nasty gunk and grime over time. Needless to say, it’s important to have it changed regularly, otherwise all that built-up muck can cause a blockage and prevent enough fuel from flowing through, leading to symptoms such as:
- Car Refuses to Start
- Difficult Starts
- Rough Idling
- Decreased Power
- Engine Misfires
- Stalling
How to Prevent/Resolve a Clogged Fuel Filter
Your fuel filter will naturally become dirty over time as it filters out dust, dirt and debris from your fuel system. With that said, the best thing to do if you want to be able to prevent a clogged fuel filter would be to take your vehicle into a reputable mechanic so that you can subject it to regular maintenance services. During a routine maintenance service, your mechanic will be able to check and change the fuel filter if necessary. Generally, fuel filters are replaced every 30,000 to 40,000 kilometres driven. However, depending on your vehicle as well as your driving habits, you may need to replace it sooner, at around 20,000 kilometres. Aside from regular servicing, you should also make sure that you’re using the right quality fuel for your vehicle. Poor quality fuel comes with increased contaminants that can clog up your fuel filter much faster.
If you suspect that you have a clogged fuel filter, then you should contact your local mechanic right away. If your fuel filter is clogged up that badly, then your vehicle will simply refuse to start, as it won’t be getting the amount of fuel that it needs to run. The only solution to this is to have your fuel filter replaced- not cleaned.
The Benefits of Changing Your Fuel Filter
Your fuel filter plays an integral role in supplying clean fuel to the engine. So, it only makes sense that changing a clogged fuel filter would result in a dramatic increase in performance for your European vehicle. When you ensure to have your fuel filter changed regularly, you can prevent yourself from having to experience engine performance problems such as rough idling, decreased power and engine misfires. However, you can also prevent other damages from occurring. For one, you can avoid having to fork out extra repair costs for damage inflicted upon your fuel pump. Keep in mind that when your fuel filter is clogged, it can also put extra pressure on the fuel pump., leading to increased straining and wear. As a result, you may have to replace your fuel pump sooner rather than later.
Suspect something is wrong with your European vehicle’s fuel filter? At European Prestige Auto Service, we deal with a wide range of luxury European vehicle makes and models, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Alfa Romeo and more. Our mechanics are backed by a wealth of knowledge and expertise, along with having the latest diagnostic equipment and technology at their disposal.
To book your car in for a service, be sure to contact European Prestige Auto Service today!
