Fuel filter change frequency

[moriboy]

I change fuel filters once a year regardless of hours. It's cheap insurance in my book. Fuel related problems can be very expensive.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I change them when they look dirty. All my filters have see thru bowls and as long as they are clean, I don't mess with them. Recently I got some contamination in my B26 and RTV 900 from some unknown source. I have filter on the tank pump but somehow I ended up with a lot of dirty stuff in the filters on both vehicles. They were sparkling clean at 350 hours but stopped up at 450 on both vehicles.

I would normally change filters no quicker than 500 hours.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I only put about 75 to 100 hours per year on my tractor. I change the filter when I do the regular service. I could probably get by with more hours but it takes little time to change it out and once a year works out good for me.

 

[vabiker23518]

I changed mine this spring on TYM 223. Its 5 years old with only 180 hours. Was surprised at gunk in the bowl as I only buy diesel in quantities of 3 to 4 gallons and there is a screen in the gas cap.

 

[Looking4new]

You can do it whenever you feel like it, but pushing it 300 hours sounds just a wee bit too long for me. Those things have a nasty habit of stopping up on you at the worst possible times. I hope you at least have a new one on hand, just in case.

Two of them.

 

[vtsnowedin]

You can do it whenever you feel like it, but pushing it 300 hours sounds just a wee bit too long for me. Those things have a nasty habit of stopping up on you at the worst possible times. I hope you at least have a new one on hand, just in case.

300 hours would not be a lot for a construction machine or big AG tractor that gets 1000 to 2000 hours a year on it but of course they get fresh fuel almost daily and it never sets in the tank for weeks at a time. Our trouble as weekend warriors and hobbyist is that we don't put enough hours on the machine and they spend weeks at a time parked with condensation entering the tank and the waxes and sediment that were finely dispersed in fresh fuel having days and even weeks to settle out to the bottom of the tank and be the first thing to go to the fuel filter when Saturday or vacation comes and we finally get some seat time. So to me the "once a year or 500 hours, whichever comes first "recommendation makes perfect sense.

 

[big bubba]

sorry for asking the obvious. what does your owners manual state? in general, is it safe to assume smaller filters should be changed on more frequent intervals than say, for example, M series w/ larger filters? as stated above, of course depends on fuel quality and winter conditions. keeping an eye on the water separator 1st is a given. best

 

[JMER817]

sorry for asking the obvious. what does your owners manual state? in general, is it safe to assume smaller filters should be changed on more frequent intervals than say, for example, M series w/ larger filters? as stated above, of course depends on fuel quality and winter conditions. keeping an eye on the water separator 1st is a given. best

All it says is "as needed"

 

[murph1]

I use a Mr.funnel so dirt gets trapped before it can go in my tank. Have only changed filters on used stuff i bought.

 

[Redneck in training]

Our tractor is 10 years old, has 930 hours and original fuel filter. Needless to say I have filter with water separator on the pump. I also keep the tank full as much as possible. This thread reminds that I should buy the fuel filter and keep it on hand just for the case there is an issue.