Quote:
Originally Posted by V82xist
Yep, mine had to be changed at the 48K service due to similar issues.
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I have serviced a lot of cars and a few jeeps over the years and I reckon the fuel filter for life is absolute B/S.
For example a while ago I had a WG petrol jeep with 180,000kms that the owner complained was generally down on towing power particularly on long hill climbs but no other general complaint.
Did a full service and checked the individual cylinders with a plug drop test and it was basically a sound motor. Checked fuel pressure it was lower than spec at idle which is odd because in my experience they are usually spot on spec, so I went to the so called for life fuel filter and replaced it.
The removed filter was absolutely plugged so choked I don't know how the engine even started I suppose that little electric pump is better than I give it credit for, naturally the engine power is fully restored.
Later I cut open the filter housing to see its internal condition and although the housing was around 130-150mm long and about 55mm in diameter the actual filter element only filled half of the housing the other half of the housing was taken up by the pressure regulator, so the filtering element was only around 60mm long and about 50mm in dia, much smaller in size and surface area than most other fuel filters I have cut open from various other makes that their manufacturers reckon should they should be changed around 40,000 or 60,000kms.
The so called filter for life on some jeeps is a joke, not only is the actual element usually smaller they ridiculously suggest it never needs changing