How often to change fuel filter?

[kevinmrowland]

On the 1HZ, or any Toyota diesel for that matter, how often does the fuel filter need to be changed? And how do you tell?

On the 2F they were small and cheap and changed when they looked dirty or as part of fuel delivery diagnosis. The Racor is more like an oil filer and I do not have any idea how often a change is necessary.

Kevin R.

 

[kevinmrowland]

Found this thread searching around:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=139602&highlight=fuel+filter+change
replies seem to vary a bit, is there any way to tell?
Still searching...........

 

[M John Galt]

replies seem to vary a bit, is there any way to tell?

There will be a gradual but increasing loss of power on acceleration as the fuel filter clogs.

 

[Ron R]

Change it when needed. In other words inspect and replace if dirty or even clogged.
Where I used to exchange the filter at regular intervals (15.000km or so) some time ago I decided to 'wait and see'
I recently replaced it because it got a bit embarrasing how long this filter (OEM) was on. More then 2 years and over 40.000 km. And to be honest, upon visual inspection I could not see any important difference between the new and old one.
With the old filter I've been travelling in the North of Russia, the south of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Morocco, often refuelling at so called 'fuelstations', once even at a refuelling point for dieseltrains (that was in Kazakhstan). Never had problems - lucky me, I agree.
All I found in the old filter were two small black blobs (bacteria?) that didn't impaire the filtration at all.
I just exchanged the filter for my peace of mind.....

 

[roscoFJ73]

I change mine out of guilt too but its never given me any extra power or economy,so I presume they weren't clogged.
If your using the cheaper filters,like the Delphi 296 ,you could easily afford to do it several times a year.
But I will probably do it once a year

 

[roscoFJ73]

All I found in the old filter were two small black blobs (bacteria?) that didn't impaire the filtration at all.
.

Was it living on the filter or was it trapped by the filter
Could be mold or fungi. There is one type that will live in condensation in the upper half of the fuel tank
You might have got some water in the Russian fuel.

 

[Martin White]

If you run biodiesel it's a good idea to increase your filter change frequency, particularly at first, or at least monitor it, due to the "cleaning" action bio has on your fuel system.

 

[kevinmrowland]

Thank you very much for the insights all.
Sounds like the definitive answer is; "your guess is as good as mine"

 

[Gold Boy]

I change mine out of guilt too but its never given me any extra power or economy,so I presume they weren't clogged.
If your using the cheaper filters,like the Delphi 296 ,you could easily afford to do it several times a year.
But I will probably do it once a year

same here

 

[brownbear]

once a year, or every 15,000 kms..... there is no way to see it's dirty. As it is metal and painted. Don't know why they don't make em out of plastic and clear.


one could if they felt adventurous install a vacuum gauge on the outlet side of the filter tee'd into the line to the IP. Install a new filter and start the engine. See what inches of mercury is pulls for vacuum while clean.

Then watch it. If the vacuum starts to increase then you will see the filter is dirty, or getting clogged restricting the flow.

 

[brownbear]

further to what I said. Buy one of these. Especially for the bio guys.

http://www.maesco.com/products/racor/r_access_fit/r_vac_gauge/r_vac_gauge.html

 

[Tapage]

I have 2 one it's a delphy water filter .. and the OEM .. inspect both and change usual up to 10k km ..

 

[Ron R]

Was it living on the filter or was it trapped by the filter
Could be mold or fungi. There is one type that will live in condensation in the upper half of the fuel tank
You might have got some water in the Russian fuel.

It was inside the filter, trapped by it, but floating in the 'cup'. Could be fungee as well as bacteria. It was like a thick oily fluid but black like tar. Didn't want to keep it, you never know or these two blobs where alians in disguise
I'm sure there will be some water in the tank. One is unable to avoid that in the long run.
Doubt or I picked up substantial water in Russia or whatever. In that case I should have found some water in the filter.
The black goo (or look-alike) I found also several years ago in the filter. At that time I assumed it was related to veggie diesel I bought in Tsjechia. Never saw it again untill last change.

..... there is no way to see it's dirty. As it is metal and painted. Don't know why they don't make em out of plastic and clear.

From outside....I agree, but as soon as it's off the mount you can look inside. Filtration-paper(?) is white and you can see at least larger particles. And if there are so many small particles so they are clogging the filter you will see that as well.

 

[crushers]

for me it is once a year or when power is decreasing...

 

[nagamitsu]

The diesel here in Malaysia is just plain dirty and at times watered down.

On my HZJ80 with a pre and main filter, the pre filter element gets changed every month, and folks you just don't want to know what I find inside ! The main filter gets changed annually.

Works out to be around 300 litres of fuel a month for the pre filter and 3600 litres of fuel for the main.

 

[Chrishdj80]

I replace the fuel filter every 20000 km.
We get our fuel from a reputable fuel manufacturer, and I've never had any issues at all.

 

[Walkman]

I have a BJ42 withe the stock 3B and the dash has 2 indicator lights, one is fairly obvious (PARKING BRAKE) the other has the word "FILTER" printed on it. I assumed this is an idicatior light for when your fuel filter needs replacing?

 

[Sniperx]

That light should be a water indicator, when to dump out the collected water in the filter. My Pajero had one and my BJ74 has one.

 

[FinHJ60]

I have a BJ42 withe the stock 3B and the dash has 2 indicator lights, one is fairly obvious (PARKING BRAKE) the other has the word "FILTER" printed on it. I assumed this is an idicatior light for when your fuel filter needs replacing?

It is for the pre-filter, and means that there is water needeng to be bled.