Many automotive jobs you can do at home can save you lots of money. Hourly repair shop rates add up quickly, and for many jobs like replacing your fuel filter, most average home mechanics can easily complete the task correctly and save money at the same time. If you plan on replacing your fuel filter by yourself, the first thing you should buy is a good repair manual that describes your vehicle's fuel system. A good service manual will often be your best friend when it comes to maintaining your car.
How Much Does Changing Your Fuel Filter Cost?
The cost of a fuel filter for your vehicle can vary from only a few dollars to several hundred dollars. The average cost of a fuel filter for most American and Japanese vehicles is around $45. Luxury vehicles, large trucks and SUVs, and high-performance cars and trucks will have more expensive fuel filters.
Buying the Right Filter
Many "universal-fit" fuel filters are available in aftermarket auto repair shops. While some fuel filters are designed to look cool, others are designed to work as good as any factory fuel filters. Of course, you can also purchase an OEM fuel filter at your dealership. Fuel filters available from the dealership are more expensive than aftermarket ones but will fit like a glove and often last longer.
Fuel filters are made of a fine mesh screen. Manufacturers rate fuel filter capabilities by the size of particles they will trap measured in microns. Automotive fuel filters will be between one and ten microns. A one-micron filter will prevent all but the smallest particles from getting into the system, but can also cause fuel pressure restriction.
Fuel filters come in many shapes and sizes, but will always have a marker indicating the direction of fuel flow. DIYers should always make sure the filter is facing the correct direction when reinstalling the new filter.Most of the time, cheaper fuel filters allow larger micron ones and will not protect your engine as well. You should only buy an aftermarket fuel filter from well-known brands like Bosch or AC Delco. These reputable brands produce high-quality filters that usually perform just as good as filters from the dealer. Stay away from Chinese filters found on eBay and such or you might regret it on the long term.
Cost of DIY vs A Repair Shop
Changing a fuel filter at home can definitely save you money. The cost of the fuel filter is typically reasonable and the repair does not take very long on most vehicles. Replacing your fuel filter yourself allows you to pick-and-choose the exact fuel filter brand you want and you will know the job is done right with high-quality parts.
Shop Rates
A repair shop will typically charge between one and two hours of labor to change the fuel filter in your car. The American Automobile Association (AAA) says the average rate for shops approved through the network ranges from $47 to $215. Expect most independent repair shops to charge you about $60 per hour. Dealers will charge more than that and the exact rate will vary depending on where you live. Repair shops will typically replace your fuel filter with one they obtain from a local aftermarket auto part store. Some shops offering outstanding customer service will have no problem installing the filter you want, but most of them will only install their parts. Expect to pay about the same for a filter from a shop as you would pay for one bought at an auto parts store.
Even a simple job such as replacing a fuel filter can add up to hundreds of dollars in shop charges. With a good quality service manual for your car, you can save lots of money by changing your fuel filter at home.You should expect to be charged between $85 and $165 at most shops to have the fuel filter replaced. It will typically take a mechanic less than an hour to do the repair, but you may have to leave the vehicle all day if the mechanics are busy.
A high-quality replacement fuel filter from a reputable aftermarket manufacturer will set you back $50 to $65 on average. Once you have identified where your filter is located, changing it should only take a few minutes.
The Cost of Not Changing Your Fuel Filter
Many drivers neglect their fuel filters, even owners who take good care of their cars. If you can't remember the last time your fuel filter was changed, it might be time. Not changing the fuel filter can end up costing you a lot of money in the end.
Some of the parts that can fail because of bad fuel filters are fuel injectors and fuel pumps. Fuel pumps can burn up because they have to work harder to get the fuel to the engine. Injectors can fail because particles that pass through a dirty filter will eventually collect in the precision nozzle holes of the fuel injector. Particles can accelerate the wear on your fuel injectors causing them to leak and they will have to be replaced.
Fuel injectors are highly sensitive to dirt from bad fuel filters and a fuel injector service is likely to cost several hundred dollars.Driving a car with a bad fuel filter can also cause bad gas mileage. This happens because the engine is not getting the correct amount of fuel for the engine to run correctly. Fuel deposits caused by an engine running "too-rich" can damage devices like O2 sensors and catalytic converters, which will, in turn, cost more money to repair.
Replacing your fuel pump can cost several hundred dollars. A typical cleaning service for fuel injectors runs around $200 depending on how many injectors your car uses. Emissions sensors, like your O2 sensors, typically cost between $100 and $200 and replacing them can be very difficult and often requires special tools. Even worse, catalytic converter replacement can easily exceed $500 and may require welding, so expect to pay shop fees unless you have the tools to do the job at home.
Regular Service Saves Money and Increases Vehicle Value
It was recently reported that drivers today are keeping their cars longer than at any time in the recent history of the automobile. In part because of the high cost of replacing a vehicle preventing many drivers from getting a new car. Furthermore, most people agree that today's cars are built to last longer than cars of the past.
Fuel mileage has become one of the biggest driving factors in the types of cars we buy today. Even drivers looking to buy a large truck or SUV are concerned about fuel mileage. Maintaining your fuel filter will ensure that you can get the best fuel efficiency possible.
The precision of today's fuel injection systems depends on calculated amounts of fuel and air to work correctly. When you don't service these systems, increased wear and tear can damage expensive components. If you have ever tried to sell a car that won't pass a smog test, you know how frustrating and difficult a process it is. Most owners end up selling the vehicle for thousands of dollars less, even if the repair might only cost a few hundred dollars.
Checking Vehicle Records
Before you buy a used car, you should try and find out if the fuel filter has been changed. If the vehicle has 60-80,000 miles and no history of a fuel filter change, you might want to find a different vehicle. Or, at least, use that to negotiate a lower price. Otherwise, plan on changing the fuel filter as one of the first service items on your newly-purchased used car.
No matter how good or how bad a used car may look, always make sure the fuel filter has been changed. This is particularly important for any car that looks like it has been sitting for a long time. Bad gas and fuel contamination can destroy an engine.To Wrap It Up
Most vehicle manufacturing companies make it fairly easy to change your fuel filter. The relatively low cost of changing your fuel filter will help prevent costly damage and a decrease in value to your car. A high-quality service and repair workshop manual for your car or truck will help you maintain your vehicle like a pro, without the high cost of shop rates.