When to Change the Fuel Filters

[russ2588]

I generally go off what the EVIC says under fuel filter life but have been recently wondering if i should tie it to mileage or keep doing it at around 10% life.

 

[AH64ID]

15K miles or 12 months, whichever happens first unless you notice a restriction. The EVIC gauge is based on 15K miles.

If you’re following the OEM OCI then fuel filter and oil/filter can be done at the same time.

Fuel filters work better when they are dirty, right up until they are too dirty and hinder flow.

 

[ErikTheRed]

15K miles or 12 months, whichever happens first

For the most part, I've never been a "believer" in time-based maintenance, only miles-based. I never paid any attention to that "3 months or 3000 miles" nonsense OCI's of the old days, mostly because its nothing more than clever scare-tactic marketing by the oil companies to sell more oil. Your filters, like your oil, and assuming everything is operating normally, aren't going to "age out" in 3 months or even a year. I will change my oil when I've run enough miles to justify it, and I'll change the filters once they've had enough fluids pour through them to justify it... which takes miles, not time. Unless, of course, you have a weekend hobby of idling your truck in the driveway all afternoon while you binge a 6-season Netflix series.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

For the most part, I've never been a "believer" in time-based maintenance, only miles-based. I never paid any attention to that "3 months or 3000 miles" nonsense OCI's of the old days, mostly because its nothing more than clever scare-tactic marketing by the oil companies to sell more oil. Your filters, like your oil, and assuming everything is operating normally, aren't going to "age out" in 3 months or even a year. I will change my oil when I've run enough miles to justify it, and I'll change the filters once they've had enough fluids pour through them to justify it... which takes miles, not time. Unless, of course, you have a weekend hobby of idling your truck in the driveway all afternoon while you binge a 6-season Netflix series.

Oil gets acidic when left too long then it starts eating seals and other things so time does mater for oil. Fuel filters I would agree with you

 

[AH64ID]

For the most part, I've never been a "believer" in time-based maintenance, only miles-based. I never paid any attention to that "3 months or 3000 miles" nonsense OCI's of the old days, mostly because its nothing more than clever scare-tactic marketing by the oil companies to sell more oil. Your filters, like your oil, and assuming everything is operating normally, aren't going to "age out" in 3 months or even a year. I will change my oil when I've run enough miles to justify it, and I'll change the filters once they've had enough fluids pour through them to justify it... which takes miles, not time. Unless, of course, you have a weekend hobby of idling your truck in the driveway all afternoon while you binge a 6-season Netflix series.

When the OCI was 3K or 3 months lots of things were different. The oils weren’t as good, the filters weren’t as good, and the engines weren’t as clean burning or as easy on oil.

Not only does oil start to deteriorate the first time you use it, which continues to occur even if the miles are low, but the same thing happens to filters. Glues are only good for so long and media is only good for so long.

12 months is actually pretty generous on most oils, but many filters could probably go longer. When I was my own warranty station on my 05 I’d run my fuel filters up to 30K miles or 18 months, whichever came first. Oil and filters were still 12 month intervals.

Your truck, your money, your warranty.

 

[CdnHO]

When the OCI was 3K or 3 months lots of things were different. The oils weren’t as good, the filters weren’t as good, and the engines weren’t as clean burning or as easy on oil.

Not only does oil start to deteriorate the first time you use it, which continues to occur even if the miles are low, but the same thing happens to filters. Glues are only good for so long and media is only good for so long.

12 months is actually pretty generous on most oils, but many filters could probably go longer. When I was my own warranty station on my 05 I’d run my fuel filters up to 30K miles or 18 months, whichever came first. Oil and filters were still 12 month intervals.

Your truck, your money, your warranty.

I do it all every 7500 miles which is one year. In the fall just before we head south. 65% of my miles is towing heavy so I would consider that severe operating conditions. Since I put a lot more fuel through the filters under those conditions I guess annually is appropriate. At least while it is still under warranty.

 

[poorman_pw]

There are many facts to consider that will come in here. A lot are strictly opinion based. I always look at it as a cost benefit - filters are cheap and easy.. fuel systems are expensive and difficult. Changing more frequently won’t cost you more than an hours time and a few dollars where as the even worry of a bad or clogged filter can cause me to lose sleep. So much in fact, I sold my last diesel and bought a 392.

 

[ErikTheRed]

I changed the fuel filter on my 06 with every other oil change. I was only averaging 4k per year so the fuel filter got replaced about once every 2 years, which was only about 8k miles. Every time I pulled a fuel filter outta the hole the dang thing looked practically new! I expect my usage of the new truck will be similar, so the air and fuel filters will get changed about every 8k to 10K, which again will be approx every 2 years.

 

[Silverbeard]

I, personally, would rather error on the side of caution, rather than suddenly having to find a safe place to change a fuel filter. I had it happen to me and managed to limp to a truck stop to get a new filter installed. After that episode, I carried a spare filter and the tools to change it with me. If any of you actually send a sample of your used oil to get it analyzed, I’d like find out how that information affected when you change the oil.