Are there symptoms that let you know it needs to be changed??? After how many miles should it be changed?

Its been changed before just dont know when it was changed last.


98 4.6L 167,980 miles.

thanks for all the responses.

 

CHANGE IT! I personally like to change my fuel filter at the same intervals as my oil filter is it necessary probably not, but its a comfort thing. I honestly wouldn't go more then 2 oil changes without changing it out. They are pretty inexpensive and this way you don't have to worry about them being clogged.

 

I think replacing it once a year is more then good enough. Never replacing it is just neglect. Slow starts lack of power are some of the symptoms of that neglect.

 

I usually change mine at every 15K miles. Thats been my general rule of thumb. You will notice hesitation, lack of upper rpm performance, and a rough idle. It is NOT good on your motor for it to have to beg for fuel...You can kill injectors this way and possibly foul plugs with raunchy gas. Change it man...it takes 15mins and less than $15bucks.

 

Not to mention the extra effort your electric fuel pump has to endure to push fuel through a dirty/clogged filter.. I replace mine every year.. I have gone 18 months before... Oopps..

Mitch

 

How very true Mitch- You let it go long enough and you get to buy and install a new fuel pump with that new filter!

 

As to the symptoms - lack of power when the motor is under heavy load (like when you are passing or accellerating), lack of high rpm power, possible pinging/detonation under load, stalling or missing.

You might get one or all of the symptoms, might be intermittant.

With the right tools to remove the lines, it is very easy to change these filters. I got an assorted set of line tools from Auto Zone for like $10 (use the grey one). Don't try it without line removal tools. Search on the board for instructions if you are not sure how to get the lines off.

 

Every 15k or once a year is fine but like me i maybe put on 6-7k a year now so i might not need to change as often as i used to.