Fuel Filter - please read before it's too late for you...

[762mm]

This week I've decided to have the so called "lifetime" fuel filter changed on my 99 explorer with 125 000 km. I haven't done it before, as I kind of wanted to trust the crap Ford mentions, basically saying that "the fuel filter is made to last the lifetime of your vehicle, unless it becomes clogged". Well, it wasn't clogged as far as I could tell, but my local "Canadian Tire" store had fuel filters at 20% off, so I went ahead with it - fuel filter was $15 CDN, the little plastic fuel line disconnect tool kit was $17.95... I guess making a normal fuel filter would've been too easy for Ford, I just love it when they make things more "challenging" for the home mechanic...

Anyway, I opened the fuel cap to release pressure (worked very well, no spills) and after pulling all kinds on that stupid filter with the little plastic tool in place, I managed to disconnect it on both ends. I chose to disconnect the front end of the filter first (engine side), then the rear end (where gas is still unfiltered) to prevent any backflow of nastyness back into the fuel line... Am I glad I did that! As soon as the filter came off, it started pouring black crap all over, I was amazed at how dirty the inside of that filter was! It was pouring gasoline so black and full of tiny particles that I was amazed at how the truck could've been running at all... I would've taken a picture, but my hands were too dirty to fetch the camera, and it was getting late. I installed the new filter, and nice surprise... my idling RPMs have dropped to 500 instead of the usual 800-900 I was getting. My cruising RPMs seem better too, and the truck seems to struggle a lot less now. The filter was definately a good investment. As far as Ford is concerned, I have one thing to say: Lifetime of the vehicle, my ass! I guess this is just a way for them to hit people up for new gas pumps once the trucks are off warranty or something. What a cheap move on their part... Some time ago I did start hearing something of an intermittent electric whine when my truck is running and stopped at a red light or something, I guess it might be the fuel pump that might choose to give up the ghost soon. If it does, at least I'll know why, but I'm hoping the new filter will extend it's lifespan a bit... Damn Ford, I would've changed the stupid filter long ago if I knew how full of crap they were about the issue.

P.S. I have a nice slogan for Ford that will promote the already dirt poor fuel efficiency of their cars/trucks to all potential customers: "Your vehicle never needs to be refueled, unless the fuel tank becomes empty". Sound good, doesn't it? They can use that to promote their stupid Hybrids and impress soccer moms all over North America.

 

[Opera House]

I usually quickly cap both ends of the filter when removed to prevent any fluid coming out. Then I shake the filter to loosen material and blow on the exit end with a tube into a clear glass to see what I have been picking up. That black is brush material and looks much worse than it is. Had a Toyota that was always black when I checked it, haven't seen that with my Fords. Might be a fuel pump in your future. If I don't find anything really wierd, often the old filter goes back in.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Open the filter with a tubing cutter to see how bad it really is inside.

 

[762mm]

I did open it... lots of tiny rust particles, but I'm sure that the worst has flown out when I poured it/blew it out initially... I poured everything out into a stainless bowl and examined the contaminated gasoline.. ran my finger through it and it felt way more thicker and kind of slimy-er than regular gas.

In any case, I am glad I've had it done. Like I said, had I known way back in the day what I know now, this filter would've been changed long ago. There's no way fuel flow and fuel pump operation wasn't impeeded by this...

 

[cfd911]

nothing is lifetime

c mon i mean look how important it is to keep your car running in tip top shape, i mean the auto industry will tell people oh these are 50,000 mile spark plugs or the fluid is life time fluid, but then when something breaks or you get a check engine light or your truck runs like crap ,IT NEVER HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THOSE HIGH MILE COMPONENTS OR THE LIFE TIME COMPONENTS DYING ON YOU, THAT THE MANUFACTURER SAID WERE LIFE TIME!!! engine components are tighter tolerence and emissions are strict and dirt is the major component to engine wear, 5000 mile synthetic motor oil is a joke, take care of your truck change your fluids and filters!!!!

 

[762mm]

engine components are tighter tolerence and emissions are strict and dirt is the major component to engine wear, 5000 mile synthetic motor oil is a joke, take care of your truck change your fluids and filters!!!!

That I know, I do change my engine oil regularly even though I run Mobil 1 Synthetic, I still change it every season as if it were regular oil.. filter too.

In my defense, I thought that the fuel filter might have actually been designed to somehow last a lifetime, such as with some innovative dirt/particle capturing conduits or something... after all, we're not in the 1950's anymore. I guess I just had a case of "wishful thinking" and forgot I had a good'ol Ford all along.

 

[gijoecam]

I still fail to see how the fuel filter failed??? As far as I can tell, the fuel filter worked flawlessly. The last time I checked, a filter was there to filter out particulate before it reached the fuel injectors, and it sounds to me like it did just that.

How long a filter will last is dependent on the cleanliness of the fluid pumped through it. The dirtier the fluid, the shorter the period of time before the filter becomes plugged and it begins impeding flow. However, the more plugged the filter gets, the better it filters. (counter-intuitive until you think about it)

Fuel filters, like any other filter, will last forever if you're always pumping clean fluid through them. However, fill your tank with mud, and I would expect mud to show up in the filter. Dirty fuel, however, will not cause an issue with your fuel pump. Anyone that tells you that your fuel pump is dying because the filter is dirty is full of it. The two simply do not go hand in hand.

-Joe

 

[rizzjc]

I'm wondering what's in the gas up there! I replaced my filter at about 120,000 miles and didn't see anything like this!

 

[762mm]

Well, I don't pump anything else in it than regular fuel from reputable gas stations such as Esso or Ultramar up here (although I am not the truck's first owner)... Sometimes I will even put in premium fuel to clean everything up in there (and I know some claim that this does nothing) and have used fuel system/injectors cleaning products from time to time, about once a year or so, to get rid of any junk that might be accumulating in the fuel system.

I'm not claiming that the fuel filter did not do its' job, because quite evidently it did (judging by the quantity of a burnt oil-like substance on the unfiltered side that poured out)... All I'm saying is that Ford should NOT claim that the filter is built to last a lifetime, cause that's plain BS! Instead they should recommend inspecting and/or changing it every 50 000 km or so. And if the filter is plugged up with junk to the extent mine was, laws of physics dictate that the fluid trying to pass through it will flow much slower, thus putting more strain on the fuel pump, shortening its' lifespan. Plus the reduced idling RPMs in my truck after the filter change do show that something is smoother now than it was before.

 

[slpdave]

O.K. I will play the Devil's Advocate.

Will the fuel slow down? I always though when a filter clogs or anything containing fluid clogs, the fluid still flows at the same speed, it just decreases volume.

Either way it is a problem to the engine.

David