Q&A for How to Change a Fuel Filter

Do a fuel pressure test to determine if enough fuel is being pushed through the system. Plus, you should always change your filter if it's clogged or leaking.

Some fuel filters are canister type, with a filter that fits into a canister. These can be easily inspected—if the canister filter is clearly dirty, just replace it. Other filters are closed, meaning they can't be inspected for dirt. Leakage, time, mileage, and vehicle performance should guide when to replace this type of filter.

It depends on your vehicle! Many vehicle designs integrate the fuel filter inside the fuel pump and are not serviceable. The fuel pump is often inside the fuel tank, and will require the fuel tank to be removed to gain access to the fuel pump and filter.

An older vehicle's fuel filter should be changed once every 2 years or every 30,000 miles. Newer vehicle fuel filters can last much longer.

It could. If your fuel filter requires hose clamps to attach it to the fuel lines, tightening them too much could restrict the flow of fuel and cause the engine to run poorly. There are a number of other issues that may cause an engine to run rough, but if it started after a recent fuel filter change you may have installed the incorrect fuel filter.

This car has a quadra jet carb from the factory and the fuel filter can be found by locating the fuel line going into the carb. Remove the fuel line, and there is a larger hex nut on the carb the line went in. Simply remove the nut and the filter is right inside the carb.

Most likely it is a torque converter lock up solenoid in the transmission. It is a very common issue and is easily changed by dropping the transmission pan in most vehicles.

It really isn't a fuel filter, it's a fuel screen if it's in the tank. The fuel pump would have to be pulled and the screen just snaps on the bottom.

The filter is an inline filter and can be found almost directly under the driver's side door underneath the vehicle.

It depends on the boat, most boat filters are just an inline filter held on with two clamps.

I wouldn't suggest it. The fuel you drain out of that filter will contain a lot of loose dirt and particles that will only start to plug your new filter up faster.

If you don't have a manual or your manual doesn't tell you, then try look up a service manual for your car online. Most auto part stores also sell service manuals.

Try using a fuel injector treatment. They're fairly cheap and you just add it to a nearly empty tank of gas, fill up half way, and then run it back to nearly empty. Should clean out any clogs and whatnot allowing your vehicle to get better mileage.

Most of the time air isn't needed to be removed from the lines and it only takes a few times of priming the pump to remove the air. Most fuel injected cars if need be do have a bleeder valve located on the fuel injection rail on the engine if all else fails.