My car is due for a 60K tune up and I purchased NGK PLugs, Fuel Filter & a PCV valve from a member.

Took it to my friend's machanic asked him how much it would cost and he wants $20 to replace it. He also said that the filter doesnt need to be replace till 100k.

Should i replace it now or wait?

Thanks

 

Fuel filter should be replaced every 15 or 30k miles. Read your owners manual.

 

Replace it. The filters are not expensive. I wouldnt even pay some one to do it. All you have to do is relieve the fuel pressure by removing the fuel pump fuse out of the fuse box inside the car. Then crank the car and let it run dry. There are only 2 hoses to remove from the fuel filter. The fuel filter is located on the firewall sort of behind the throttle body. Its pretty close to the master cylinder.

 

the $20 is worth it , I just changed my fuel filter for the first time on 120,000 miles and it took a good 20-30 mins of cussin and swearing b4 I finally got the rubber hose off the nipple,
btw, my arm is still sore

 

Yeah, stuck hoses are no fun. But there is a trick for this. Take some pliers and grab the hose around the nipple, or whatever you want to call the point of contact between the hose and metal, then simply use a twisting motion to break it free. Works like a champ.

 

The fuel filter is tough to change. I attempted it once but could not get it done with my big hands. A friend just did it for me this weekend. He removed the gas cap to depressurize the fuel lines and it seemed to work for him.

MM

 

It is definitely a PITA, but very do-able. Have fun .

 

doable, depends how much $18 is wroth to you, itll cost $10-12 for the filter, +$18 labor is what that mechanic is charging, $18 isnt wroth the frustration to me, ive done it, took about 35 minutes because the lower hose was more difficult to get out, and it makes a mess with all that extra fuel in the lines.

 

I changed mine for the first time and it was easy. The hose was stuck a little but I did the plier trick too. It only takes ten minutes, try it out.

 

i did mine for the first time today!

i didn't use pliers, but i twisted and twisted the other way, and then twisted back the other way and it kinda just came off on its own from the twisting.

sprayed all over my arm even though i pulled the fuse and ran the engine til it died, and cranked it a couple times.

 

after you get it done, take your fuel filter and cut it open. i cut mine open and i wanted to vomit. the excess fuel that was dripping out was pitch black/brown as opposed to a clean clear gassoline. i felt so bad and it was no wonder why my cars performance and mileage was so bad. after replacing my filter my mileage increased drastically and performance felt better as well. seemed to accelerate a lil better. i wish i had pics of my filter i would have been flamed by how dirty it was, everyone woulda thought i hated my max lol. car had 118,xxx miles on it before the change.

 

For me, it's not the money, it whether or not I'm willing to let someone else touch my car. I'm a fairly trusting person, but I'm friends with mechanics, and sure I'll let my friends help me wrench on my car when I'm there, but I know what they do when it's just some customer they don't know, so I avoid ever having to have someone work on my car.

 

Gent's there is a way to facilitate the removal of the fuel filter along with assuring that that the next time the rubber fuel lines will come of with ease as well.

First you have to remove the duct that goes to the air cleaner along with the associated unit that connects to the front of the car there are two plastic screws and that particular piece with a little tugging comes off. Youl have to disconnect two electrical connectors before removal of this piece on connector is on the air box the other is underneath the air duct once these parts are removed you'll have all the access needed to remove the fuel filter, it probably would be best if you have not taken the rubber lines off before to use a rag around the lines so as not to mar them then use a pair of pliers to help twist them off.

Once these are removed suggestion is to take the new filter and if you have on hand armor all place a little on the outer end of the inlet and outlet of the filter spread it evenly a lot is not necessary nonetheless this will alllow easier placement of the rubber hoses on the filter additionally when removed next time the hoses will come off with greater ease than before.

 

Only cost you 20 bucks to replace your fuel filter? lucky dog.. They got me for almost a full hours of labor.

Besides it wont hurt to get it replaced have it done while your doing all that.

Also dont believe everything your mechainic tells ya.

Proph

 

I had a passat for a while and i always smelled fuel when the tank was full. The smell was strong both in the car and outside. I was getting 15 to the gal highway on a good day. VW had the bright idea to cover everything except the exhaust system under the car so it took a while to find the filter (it was right in front of the rear tire on the passenger side). The damn thing was leaking fuel everywhere. I also cut it open and i wanted to vomit. It was like tar. It was the origional piece from 95 and the car had over 110k on it.

 

I also think it is a pain to change the fuel filter, just because I have large hands and long arms. I cannot get down in there.
I think it is BS though that the manual says to change the filter every 15k-30k miles. That is kind of like the oil companies telling you to change your oil every 3k miles. I don't know though. I didn't see a dramatic change in mileage or anything after the change. It ran the same.