fuel filter life and orientation

[SPOTWORK]

Typically I would sit down on alldata and poof, the gar gods would bless me with the answer but unfortunately mine only goes up to 2011. Problematic when I though to myself maybe I should change my fuel filter. So my question is where the F it the fuel filter and what is the recommended life of it?

 

[mitdr774]

Chances are that it is part of the fuel pump module and its life is when the pump needs replaced. Unfortunate, but seems to be the current trend with manufactures.

 

[$ub$onic]

Dodge did that one there 1/2 ton truck in the early 2000's. nothing but problems at higher Milage

 

[ColonelPanic]

I checked the parts catalog out of curiosity and I see no filter listed anywhere... So yes, signs point to entire assembly replacement. Replacement interval is when the car quits running I suppose. opcorn:

I was hoping to see something like my old Hyundai had where the fuel filter was in the tank as part of the fuel pump assembly but the filter was independently serviceable. I still never bothered to replace it though, and even the profit hungry dealers never suggested its replacement.

Now that I think about it, the last time I replaced a fuel filter on one of my cars was 1996.

 

[ChrisJ]

I think GM switched over to this sometime in the mid 2000s but not sure. I'm 90% sure my 06 Grandprix and 06 Saturn vue didn't have filters, just whatever the pump had.

My assumption was everyone is switching to this due service stations having better quality tanks in the ground. This may be a really bad assumption on my part but I haven't had any problems yet either way.

My other assumption is the huge sock type filter on the pump probably takes a really long time to clog and possibly fuel sloshing around it keeps it from getting clogged. You know, stuff won't go through it but doesn't actually get stuck in it either, just gets washed off constantly.

 

[$ub$onic]

I think it's a bad idea and I will more the likely plum in a filter in due time

 

[ChrisJ]

I think it's a bad idea and I will more the likely plum in a filter in due time

Fair enough, but thats not going to keep the original at the foot of the pump from getting clogged?

 

[$ub$onic]

At that point I would get a courser sock to put on the pump an add a filter.

 

[laborsmith]

I start by saying I am not a fan of E10. That said, it seems to me that the effects of ethanol would mitigate the need for an external fuel filter. I do not believe pump gas is any higher or lower in quality than yesteryear, although the various additives/detergents may be more effective for contemporary cars but not necessarily for classic cars. But it is the E10 that would have the effect a filter might have, in my opinion.


Laborsmith

 

[ChrisJ]

At that point I would get a courser sock to put on the pump an add a filter.

Makes sense, however from the reading I just did (all 10 minutes worth) the main cause of electric fuel pump failure is dirt being pumped through it. Sounds like you would be fixing one problem and causing another? If you're taking the pump out just change the sock with a new one and forget the additional filter, no?


BTW since we're on the topic how do you get to the pump on the Sonic? Via trunk? Back seat? Drop the tank when its usually full?

Laborsmith, yeah modern cars don't seem to mind it but older ones do as does anything carbureted. I think the reason modern cars tolerate E10 so well is the fact the fuel system is mainly sealed under a slight vacuum. It keeps moisture out a lot better which is what causes all of the problems with E10. Any vented system will have problems especially when it sits for time.

 

[laborsmith]

I think there remains a strainer inside fuel tanks but that is not what I was responding to.

That is responding to the immediate to my above post responses.


Laborsmith

 

[$ub$onic]

I see both points. I will deal with that problem when the time comes

 

[RS Turbo]

Makes sense, however from the reading I just did (all 10 minutes worth) the main cause of electric fuel pump failure is dirt being pumped through it.

I beg to differ on your though... The main failure cause in Electric fuel pumps is Heat. The Fuel sock stops most all of the debris that will cause a pump to fail.

Running a fuel pump that is deigned to be submerged in fuel keeps its temp in check. When fuel drops under 1/4 tank the pump temp rises quite a bit. When fuel prices started to really spike to 4 and 5 dollars a gallon, alot of people that did not have the cash to keep there tanks normally above 1/4 tank had pumps fail. The aftermarket shops replaced tons of pump for about a year. My buddies that own shops made a ton of cash when this happened.

 

[ChrisJ]

I beg to differ on your though... The main failure cause in Electric fuel pumps is Heat. The Fuel sock stops most all of the debris that will cause a pump to fail.

Running a fuel pump that is deigned to be submerged in fuel keeps its temp in check. When fuel drops under 1/4 tank the pump temp rises quite a bit. When fuel prices started to really spike to 4 and 5 dollars a gallon, alot of people that did not have the cash to keep there tanks normally above 1/4 tank had pumps fail. The aftermarket shops replaced tons of pump for about a year. My buddies that own shops made a ton of cash when this happened.

Wasn't my thought though. I got that from some website.
I always keep my tanks above 1/4 because of the heat issue.

 

[Swordsmith]

One of my Ford trucks, can't remember now if it was one of the F150s or the Ranger I had before that, but anyway, it had the fuel filter in the tank, and the thing got clogged up, started choking and sputtering every now and then, then more and more frequent. I was sure I knew what was wrong, bought a replacement filter (parts list at Walmart -said- it was the right filter), couldn't quite figure out where to put it... the only thing I could find didn't look the same, but it was in the fuel line, so I took the hoses off it, mounted the new filter in line next to it (it was connected to the frame).

Suddenly instead of choking and gasping, the truck just wouldn't run at all. Starter would crank it but it wouldn't catch. Couldn't figure it out. Oh wait. That wasn't the filter it was the pump. You shouldn't remove the fuel pump from the line, apparently. Who knew?

Ended up having to have a mechanic dig around inside the tank, the filter sock thing itself had disintegrated and parts of it would run down and block the line intermittently. We got the sock parts out finally, installed the walmart filter in the line instead of replacing the sock, and happy driving until I finally traded the truck in a year or two later.

 

[turbotimmy]

Typically I would sit down on alldata and poof, the gar gods would bless me with the answer but unfortunately mine only goes up to 2011. Problematic when I though to myself maybe I should change my fuel filter. So my question is where the F it the fuel filter and what is the recommended life of it?

Just checked the factory service manual (yes I bought one) and it states that a fuel strainer made of woven plastic is attached to the lower end of the fuel pump module. It goes on to state the it normally does not require maintenance...... yada.....yada.....yada.....

No the sonic is not equipped with a traditional fuel filter.

 

[SPOTWORK]

Timmy u my friend answered my question. Thank you

 

[turbotimmy]

Glad I could help.

 

[13TurboLTZ]

Theres no need for an external fuel filter. Cars have been like that for a while now and haven't seen any more problems from them as you do on vehicles with external filters. Now that I think about it - the pumps we do the most are the ones with external filters!