Diesel Fuel Filter

[mrorejap]

Hi all, Just recently the mighty NT diesel stopped whilst driving along the highway. No warning just flame out. I managed to pull off the road & noticed the amber engine light on. Vehicle would not start so I called roadside assist. Local RACV man arrives & plugs in his little (reading device) which told him heavy fuel loss. We looked under vehicle .....nothing. Fuel pump would not pump up hard ...no fuel getting through. Took off filter & dirty fuel. So, flat top to local engineer & personal friend. Filter took off again next day & new one fitted. All is well, vehicle running very nicely. I cut the filter in half & it was just black. The paper filter was 98% black, hardly any yellow paper to be seen. I am confused, I fill up where others get their fuel without any dramas & even phoned local garage to check if there had been any "problems" recently......my engineer friend suggested filter looked like it was never changed from new. Dealer stated the filter was changed at the 30,000km service....vehicle now done 50.000km....no remote journeys...dust or dodgy servos. My question is....Whilst I know the filter has done it's job has anyone experienced fuel filters becoming blocked after 20,000km with normal driving?

[HSV Rangie]

Never changed. IMO.
Its possible that your fuel supply was filthy but not likely.

[Benny Bensen]

in germany we have the problem with 10 % " BIO Diesel " inside the normal Diesel.... you often get problems with the DPF.....

in winter we had -29 grad and the diesel was frozen inside the fuel pistol...

that was cracy...... and of course the filter was out of working....

but normaly there is no problem..... maybe there were only a few liters left in the tank of the petrol station.....

so you get the rest of the rest with water and so on inside the fule.....

[pauld]

Probably never changed, you wouldn't be the 1st to suffer from dealership problems. Try find a reputible private mechanic.

[Jords]

Try marking the filter for next time

[apsilon]

Yep agree, filter was never changed. Also agree with marking it and checking before you leave the dealership.

Just one of the reason I do my own servicing.

[mrorejap]

Marking the filter & others!!!

Yep agree, filter was never changed. Also agree with marking it and checking before you leave the dealership.

Just one of the reason I do my own servicing.

In relation to marking items to check later to see if they have been changed I have done that before with wheels using a paint pen & putting a single dot up to 4 dots to check if wheels have been rotated. I don't like being deceiteful but at the end of the day a diesel fuel filter is $87.....now if the dealer can not supply or change ten (10) a day or 50 in a week.....adopting the "Leave it we'll change it next big service at 60,000km" that's a lot of savings!!! So out comes the paint pen and everything that has to be changed will be marked from now on. There are also pens that you can purchase as part of a marking of items for home security....the marking only comes up when an ultra violet light is shown onto the object. I know neighbourhood watch groups allow people to borrow these items and once on cannot be removed via an abrasive like petrol. I know this maybe a little over the top BUT.....marking your desposibles is the go.

[Alexey2357]

Dealer stated the filter was changed at the 30,000km service....vehicle now done 50.000km....no remote journeys...dust or dodgy servos. My question is....Whilst I know the filter has done it's job has anyone experienced fuel filters becoming blocked after 20,000km with normal driving?

As apsilon I also did my servicing myself. Just 2 times I went to do it to service mechanics. The result is you're paying just for oil change and everything what they believe you can check. If they know that you can't check that some work was done it is very likely that they won't do it.

Here's the story http://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/...ad.php?t=32360 I had the worst/bad service at JaxQuickFit tyres.
Before that service I've changed the oil filter myself. After the service it was still the same. I wasn't sure if they changed oil in rear differential. Few month ago I decided to change and it was really dirty I'm 100% sure that it was not changed.

The reality is that I think it is very likely that most of the services do it that way. They just not interested that your car working properly. They just interested you're coming and bringing you money.

[Garry]

Hi All, I run a pre-filter as well as the factory filter and I mark both with the k's and date fitted with a black marker as an easy way of keeping track of time and distance since fitted. I also do all my own servicing and only take the Paj into the dealer for warranty work and electronic re-learns and upgrades.
I agree the filter was never changed.
Garry

[shrek4]

Sorry if this is a stupid question,

How does servicing yourself effect the warranty? I thought you had to get your logbook stamped??

[draganlada]

When I went for warranty work (rear main seal and oil sump leak) nobody asked me for log book ...
My car never been serviced by dealer

[TheTaipan]

When I went for warranty work (rear main seal and oil sump leak) nobody asked me for log book ...
My car never been serviced by dealer

X2, rear main plus sump leak. My also never been serviced by dealer.

[Dion]

If you do your own servicing (i.e. not a dealer or licenced mechanic) you will not get warranty support for items that could logically be proven to be related to not being serviced (since there is no 'proof' you serviced the vehicle).

Servicing at a dealer or authorised mechanic will retain your warranty.

My usual approach is to service at a dealer until out of warranty (just because it is easier/convenient) and then service myself since warranty is finished.