What happens if the fuel filter clogs

This results in not only an increased fuel filter lifetime, but may also improve performance, efficiency, and long-term reliability.

To learn more about the benefits of fuel polishing, click this link to see how fuel polishing really works. Posted January 19, by Tyler Moore. What Happens When Filters Clog When filter clogging occurs on a regular basis, engine operators need to take a look beyond just the filter media to get a better understanding of what may be causing this issue.

What Really Causes Fuel Filters to Clog Fuel tanks, especially in marine vessels, are susceptible to contamination in a number of ways. Visible microbial growth, sludge, and other contaminants within a fuel tank. This sludge can quickly overwhelm your fuel tanks if not addressed in a timely manner.

Fuel filters showing severe levels of contamination. Image Source These metals can originate from many sources, but most often it is picked up by the fuel as it is stored in fuel tanks that may be experiencing deterioration. Images taken of a heavily-contaminated fuel tank. Why Other "Solutions" Aren't Working to Remove Contamination As filter clogging becomes a growing problem, users will search for ways to remediate the issue. Through fuel polishing, optimal fuel quality can be restored and maintained.

Diesel fuel before left and after right undergoing fuel polishing. Keep up with the latest on AXI International products, services, deals, and news. Engineering Services. Since the amount of fuel getting to the engine varies a lot due to hte clogged fuel filter symptoms, the vehicle can also stutter or shake when moving at various speeds.

As a car owner, you should be able to decipher how much power your car can produce if you have been owning it long enough or if you have read the owner's manual. Hence, any huge drop in power will be easy to see and will be a clear sign of clogged fuel filter symptoms in your vehicle. If you notice that your engine is not able to provide as much power when you are driving, going uphill, or towing loads, this can be a clear sign that you have a problem with your fuel filter and will need to check it for any debris or dirt.

A drop in engine power and performance will be clearer and easier to see when driving uphill and your vehicle is having trouble moving. There are many reasons why your car engine can stall during use. An engine stall can lead to any further problems and be the sign of many issues that have built up over time, sometimes leading to a complete engine replacement which can be very expensive repair and replacement in your vehicle.

However, this is not always the case, because something less serious like clogged fuel filter symptoms can be the cause of the engine stalling.

If the clogged fuel filter is too dirty and filled with too much debris, and you have not maintained it or cleaned it for a long time, it can lead to stalling, since the engine will not have enough fuel to run properly and provide power to the car. In many cases, the engine stalling will occur during high stress situations in the car. High stress situations are times when more strain is placed on the engine, like when you have to drive uphill, tow heavy loads, or go at high speeds from a quick stop.

This means the engine cannot get enough fuel required to generate the power necessary to handle it. If you are having issues with an engine stalling, remember to check for any clogged fuel filter symptoms. Although a bad fuel filter and clogged fuel filter symptoms will restrict the amount of fuel getting to the engine and can lead to poor fuel economy and lower miles per gallon earned in your vehicle.

Since the clogging that comes along with the bad fuel filter can mean that the engine does not get enough fuel and enough power, it will require the engine to have a faster fuel pump to meet the necessary driving demands and performance, meaning it uses up more fuel in the process to go the same distance. Similarly to when you have other faulty issues, like problems with key engine systems and transmission parts, a clogged fuel filter symptom can cause the engine to struggle to move the car on time and quick enough, which can lead to the necessity to burn more fuel to move the car the same distance and same speed.

When there is an issue in your fuel system and you have clogged fuel filter symptoms that go along with a bad or failing fuel filter, the vehicle's computer, also known as the electronic control unit, should be able to pick it up and show a light on your dashboard or a trouble code that has been destroyed.

Once the problem has been detected, the electronic control unit will turn on the check engine light. When you see the check engine light illuminate on your dashboard, this can be for a variety of reasons.

This could be due to a bad oxygen sensor, a faulty mass air flow sensor, and many other reasons, one of which is a bad or clogged fuel filter. Since there is just a small amount of fuel passing through when the fuel filter is faulty, the engine will be more stressed than usual, as it is not getting enough fuel.

The engine turns over and over, taking longer to start, which could signal a partially-clogged fuel filter.

If there are no problems with the battery or starter and the engine won't start at all, your filter could be totally clogged. If your engine suddenly cuts off--as you sit at red lights, for example--a clogged fuel injector may be restricting the fuel supply to the engine, which in turn, stalls because of the disrupted fuel flow. A clear sign of a clogged fuel filter is the lack of vehicle acceleration when you press your foot on the gas pedal.

If you step on the gas and the engine just does not cooperate and respond, a clogged fuel filter is the likely culprit.