How To Clean A Fuel Filter Without Removing It

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A fuel filter prevents debris from entering your vehicle's engine, and irresolute or cleaning information technology regularly is essential. If your filter is nylon or paper, yous should just supplant it with a new one. If it's made of metal and isn't too grimy, you can make clean and reuse it. Earlier you showtime, salve your fuel organization'southward pressure and disconnect your battery. Remove the filter from the fuel lines, then spray it with a solvent cleaner. Let it dry out for an hour, so reinstall it, reconnect your battery, and run your engine.

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Relieve the pressure in your fuel system. Check your owner's manual to notice the fuse for your fuel pump. Remove information technology, then starting time your engine and let it run for 1 to 2 minutes. It might sputter out before the time's upwardly, which means the force per unit area is relieved.^[1]
- While the engine might sputter out, this isn't necessary to relieve the force per unit area. Running it for ane to two minutes volition do the pull a fast one on.
- Make sure your automobile is parked in a level, well-ventilated area.
2
Disconnect the negative terminal on your battery. Plow your car off, and so open the hood. Find the negative terminal on your battery, and use a wrench to remove the cablevision. Constrict the cable on the side of the battery then it doesn't accidentally come into contact with its terminal.^[2]
- The negative terminal is marked with a minus sign (-), and the positive terminal with a plus sign (+). If your terminals are colored cherry and black, the negative terminal is the black i.
- If you lot don't disconnect the battery, sparks could ignite gas fumes and residue that drips from the fuel lines.
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3

Locate the fuel filter. Locations vary by make and model, and so check your owner's transmission.^[3] It'll exist somewhere along the fuel line betwixt the engine and gas tank. A common spot is under the car just past the fuel pump. In some models, it's housed in the engine bay.^[four]
four
Jack upward your car if necessary. Slide a jack nether one of your vehicle's jack points, and so pump or twist the handle to raise the car. Place jack stands beneath the motorcar near the jack, then lower the jack until the automobile sits on the stands.^[five]
- Cheque your manual to identify your vehicle'due south jack points.
- Don't rely on a jack solitary to hold your vehicle'southward weight. Never piece of work under a vehicle that'southward not supported past jack stands.
5

Place a bucket or jar under the filter to catch fuel. When you detach the fuel lines from the filter, whatever gas remaining in the lines will spill. A bucket or jar underneath the filter area volition catch spilled gas.^[6]
6

Detach the clips that spike the fuel line to the filter. The exact pattern of the clips that concur the lines to the filter vary by model. Bank check your manual or await online for your vehicle's design. You'll either utilise a flathead screwdriver to popular them out or pull them out by hand.^[7]
7
Remove the fuel lines. Utilise a wrench or hose clamps to slide the fuel lines off of the filter. Pop the lines off of the nozzles on either end of the filter. As yous remove the lines, brand certain to angle them toward the saucepan or jar to take hold of any gas that drips.^[eight]
- Habiliment gloves and protective eyewear when you detach the fuel lines.
8
Remove the filter from its bracket. Depending on your vehicle, you'll either slide the filter out of a bracket or loosen bolts that agree it in identify. Await effectually your filter for bolts or check your manual.^[9]
- Before you slide out the filter, note its position then you'll know how to correctly reinstall information technology.
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i
Pour out any gas remaining in the filter. There might be residual gas in the filter. Gently tap both the fuel-in and fuel-out nozzles into the container you used to catch spilled gas from the fuel lines.^[10]
- The nozzles are located at each finish of the filter.
two
Spray the filter with a pressurized carburetor cleaner. Purchase a cleaner in a pressurized container that comes with a modest application straw. Attach the straw to the container'southward spout, and so spray inside each nozzle.^[11]
- You can observe a pressurized cleaner at your local automotive store. Ask an employee to recommend a product that safety to use on fuel filters.
three

Tap out loosened debris, then dry the filter for an hour. Carefully knock the filter against the side of the container you used to catch spilled gas. Let the spray and any loose droppings fall out of each nozzle. Spray the nozzles ane more than time, tap out droppings, and let the filter air dry for at least 1 hour.^[12]

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one

Slide the filter into its subclass. Exist sure to slide the filter dorsum into its bracket in the correct position. If necessary, replace whatever bolts you removed.^[13]
2

Supersede the fuel lines and clips. Slide the fuel lines back into each nozzle. Make sure you've reconnected the lines tightly to prevent leaks. Then pop the clips that fasten the lines to the nozzles dorsum into place.^[14]
three

Lower your car if necessary, then reconnect the battery and fuse. If y'all jacked upwards your automobile, jack it higher to remove the stands, so lower it to the basis. Use a wrench to reconnect the cablevision on the battery'due south negative final, and supersede the fuel pump fuse.^[fifteen]
iv
Start your engine and check for fuel leaks. After reconnecting the battery and fuse, run your engine for a few minutes. Since the fuel system'southward pressure needs to exist reestablished, it might take a few tries earlier it starts. While information technology runs, check under your car for fuel leaks.^[16]
- If you spot leaks, y'all'll need to disconnect the bombardment, jack the car upward (if necessary), and tighten the fuel lines.
- If your engine won't get-go later a few minutes, double check your fuses. If your dashboard and dome lights are dim or won't plough on, your battery might demand to be jumped. If the fuses and battery are fine, brand sure you reinstalled the filter correctly and that the fuel lines are tight. Contact your mechanic if none of these troubleshooting methods work.
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Dispose of the quondam gas . If the gasoline you've collected from your fuel lines and filter isn't badly contaminated with debris, you could use it in a lawn mower or other gas-fueled equipment. If it's loaded with debris and unusable, transfer it to a gasoline container and bring information technology to a disposal centre.^[17]
- To find a disposal center, contact your city or county waste management authority or your local fire department. You could as well telephone call a nearby automotive shop and ask if they dispose of gas for free.
- It's illegal to throw abroad gas in the trash or to pour it down a bleed, even in small amounts.
- Keep the container sealed during transport and never smoke or calorie-free a flame near gasoline.
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Things You'll Demand

Adjustable wrench
Flathead screwdriver
Protective gloves and eyewear
Hose clamps
Bucket or large jar
Pressurized carburetor cleaner
Jack and jack stands (if necessary)

Clothing gloves and eyewear to protect yourself from fuel splatter.

About This Article

Article Summary X

To clean a fuel filter, start by removing the filter from your car'due south engine. Adjacent, disconnect the negative terminal on your car'due south battery. Once the bombardment is disconnected, remove the filter from the fuel lines and spray it with a pressurized carbon cleaner to clean it. Afterwards that, let the filter dry for nearly an hour before reinstalling it. Finish upwardly by reconnecting your battery and running your engine for a few minutes to reestablish the fuel organization'southward force per unit area. Exist sure to check for any fuel leaks as you're running your engine! For tips on properly disposing of old fuel, read on!

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