What Is A Fuel Filter Housing And Why Is It Important?
The fuel filter is one of the most important maintenance items to keep an eye on because it keeps the fuel clean. This is particularly true for diesel engines. As diesel engines have maintenance concerns that are very different from gasoline engines, this article will focus on diesel engines.
Diesel engines have fuel injection systems that are built to very tight tolerances. If contaminants in fuel are not filtered out, they act as abrasives on the fuel injectors, and wear them quickly. Fuel injectors are very expensive to replace. So maintaining the fuel filter is very important. If any component within the fuel filter housing fails, your engine will suffer.
What Is A Fuel Filter Housing?
The term fuel filter housing refers to three components in an assembly:
- Fuel Filter Head - also includes the primer and fuel heater
- Water in Fuel Sensor - this screws into the bottom of the filter
- Filter - this is also called a filter housing
The fuel filter sometimes has all metal construction, but many Duramax engines use a fuel filter made from a composite material.
What Happens When The Fuel Filter Assembly Fails
A diesel fuel filter should last between 15K and 22.5K miles, depending on the engine. But it’s possible for the fuel filter assembly to fail early. There are two ways the filter assembly typically fails:
- Seal Failure: The o-ring seals at the top and bottom of the filter can leak. As the filter is under suction from the fuel pump, a leaking seal means air can enter the system. The makes the engine hard to start, and causes rough running.
- Cracks In Filter Housing: Cracks in the filter housing can cause fuel leaks and immediately disable the truck.
Can I Replace Only The Fuel Filter?
Image Credit: DieselWorldMag
The three components of the fuel filter housing can be replaced individually, or as a complete unit. At GM Parts Center, we offer rock bottom prices for genuine OEM parts. Get your replacement fuel filter housing from us today!