I just had the oil change on my truck a couple of weeks ago, and the mechanic suggested to have my fuel filter change. He said that it should be changed every 15,000 miles. Does this sound right and when do you guys suggest changing the fuel filter.

Thanks.

 

I do not remember the requirments from the book but I do mine every 20,000. I think it should be done more often than that. With the blower I do it every other oil change

 

I believe in the owner's manual it calls for it every 30,000 miles, which in my opinion is a little soon... I replaced mine at 50,000 and it still looked new... In my opinion every 15,000 miles is crazy!!!

 

The maintenance booklet that came with my truck says 15,000 miles. I was stunned by this as I have never changed a fuel filter in less than 50,000. I wonder if this is just a way for them to generate income for dealer service departments. My last vehicle, a 93 had over 100,000mi on the original filter and it was fuel injected too.

 

15k is right. The filters I buy say to change them every 10k. A $8 filter is a heck of a lot cheeper than replacing injectors.

 

I'm with you STX/98, apparently there are multiple versions of the owners manual. I have just read through the 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 schedules in my scheduled maintenance guide I received upon purchase. There is no mention of fuel filter change, except for diesels. Nothing at 20,000, or 25,000, and then, surprise replace fuel filter at 30,000.

 

Change the filters regularly...If you buy crappy gas change it sooner..If you buy good gas at a repediable dealer then you dont have too change it as often...

The more a filter filters the better it filters..the added junk helps to filter other junk coming through..

I believe that a filter will clog when it gets overloaded and then it will flow no more...restricting the fuel and shutting the engine down...

 

Yup, thats what mine said too Calls for it again at 60,000 miles, but maybe thats just for my '98 4.6. I asked my mechanic about it at 50,000 miles when I had it replaced. He claimed unless you buy gas from a high-volume station it doesn't even need it but every 100,00 miles!!! His story atleast, (and I personally trust this particular guy quite a bit) was that the high-volume gas stations *such as RaceTrak, Stop N Go, QT, Diamond Shamrock, etc.) get there gas from the exact same refinery as every one else. THe problem is gas pumps have a filter inside them that stops the 'trash' from being pumped into your tank. Onve this filter is 100% clogged, there is a bypass that allows the pump to continue to pump gas. If the station does not maintain there filters, you are buying literally unfiltered gas, and will get a LOT more trash in your tank. In that case, you will need to replace the fuel filter all the time. If you buy gas from a station that maintains there equipment, fuel filters can a LOT longer than 15,000 miles!!!!

 

the brand of gas you buy means nothing; there are only a few refineries in the entire country, so for gas that does not have advertised additives (like techron), its very likely that they came from the same place. i just try to go to stations that look new, since there is less of a chance that their new tanks have leaks or are contaminated.

 

I've replaced several fuel filters on my F-150s..1998, early 2000, and current 2000 5.4Ls. Also replaced a friend's filter on his 2000...5.4L. Every time I have done so, there has been a very nice increase in power. I only purchase fuel from stations that are fairly new.

I remember my 1998 maintenance manual called for a 15,000 mile sever duty schedule replacement and a 30,000 mile normal replacement schedule. I think it is the same for the 2000 model year..but the booklet is out in the truck.

$6-8.00 and 5-10 minutes of your time each year is nothing.