You might not give it much thought, but the fuel filter is a critically important component in your vehicle. It is continually working to keep certain pollutants away from your engine. If it fails to perform this function, then your car's performance will begin to suffer. This could equal hefty repair bills if you do not quickly take care of the situation.

What is the Function of a Fuel Filter?

You might wonder what a fuel filter does in the first place. If you haven't noticed lately, you encounter a lot of dirt as you are driving. The filter is your first line of defense against that dirt making its way into your engine. The fuel injectors in your car can easily become clogged if you are not careful. This is what a fuel filter works to avoid. It will ensure that there is no harmful buildup of pollutants to worry about.

Four Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Filter

Since it is not something that you typically look at every day, it is helpful to know what to look for that would indicate you need to replace your fuel filter. Here are four such symptoms.

1) The engine is not turning over like it normally does. Your engine should start easily. If the fuel injector is not allowing this to happen, then that is an indication that something has become clogged. The problem could be a bad fuel filter, so you will want to get that checked out.

2) Your engine stalls when you are driving. This is obviously not supposed to happen. While there could many reasons it occurs, one possibility is that something in the fuel line is clogged and that is causing a blockage on the way to the engine.

3) The engine is working too hard at low speeds. If you notice your engine struggling when driving at low speeds in the city, that is an indication that you need to check the fuel filter.

4) The engine has a hard time running when you are in an idle position. If it sounds like your car is about to shut off when you are stopped at a red light, you need to check the fuel filter.

If you need to have your fuel filter replaced, feel free to call our auto repair shop today and schedule an appointment.