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Fuel filters are very cheap. You can normally pick them up for between $5 and $10 for older 4 cylinder cars and I don't expect they would cost much more for other cars. They can cause you so much grief with your fuel system, so you should replace them when recommended in your car manual. About every 10,000 to 15,000 kms on my car. Because they are so cheap, I don't reccomend you bother trying to clean and reuse fuel filters. That could cause more problems than it would be worth.

Step 1.

Locate the fuel filter in the engine bay. It should be a little plastic container on a hose line. It should have a one way arrow on it some where. Take note of the arrow's direction.

Step 2.

Use clamps to block the hose line either side of the filter.

Step 3.

Loosen the hose on the side of the fuel filter at the base of the arrow first. You will need to loosen whatever is holding the fuel line on to the filter. In my case these were small rings that could be loosened with a pair of pliers and were self tightening. Once loosened, gently but firmly pull the fuel filter out of the fuel line and clamp the fuel line if it leaks fuel. If the fuel filter leas fuel that's okay. Just pour some soapy water on the area it leaks on to dilute the fuel.

Step 4.

Remove the hose from the end of the fuel filter at the sharp end of the arrow. Once again, clamp the hose to stop fuel from leaking.

Step 5.

Place the new filter on the hose at the sharp end of the arrow. Make sure the arrow on the fuel filter is pointing in the same direction as the old fuel filter. Lots of fuel filters have in built non return valves.

Step 6.

Hold the fuel filter upright and attach a small funnel to the intake end. If necessary, use tape to form a temporary watertight seal. Pour in a small amount of fuel. Let it run into the fuel filter.

If the fuel does not run into the filter, wash down the area you were working on with soapy water, then go sit in the car and turn over the engine just for a second or two, no more. Make sure you don't have the car in gear and that the hand brake is on! The engine does not even need to start in most cases. You may need to repeat this a few times until the fuel filter is almost full of fuel.

Step 7.

Remove the funnel and any tape you used. Using your finger to block the fuel filter, as fast as you can, reattach the incoming fuel line to the fuel filter. Then reattach or reposition any clamps or rings to seal the fuel line in place.

Step 8.

Wash down the area you have been working on with lots of soapy water. Be sure to wash the base plates of your engine well. When done start up the engine. Let it run for a few minutes. It may stall due to air in the lines. If this happens, pump the accelerator pedal to work fuel through the system.