Diesel fuel filters - what's the big deal?

[Welly]

Having just had the oil changed on the C4 I began to realise I haven't thought about changing the fuel filter yet. A hurried look through the history shows it's never been done. Bumhats.

So the car is 6 years old with 36K miles and still on its factory fuel filter.

I'd completely overlooked this, partly I think because I can't recall seeing the housing for it (like you could on the 2.0HDi) and partly because I've been away from 'diesel world' for the last 7 years.

I know dizzle filters are more important to change regularly that pez ones but why? what could be going on in this filter and what happens if you leave it way past the due date? can it mess up the fuel pump/injectors? what is the filter catching anyway?

The shitrun manual is typically confusing and suggests it should be changed at 20K or 25K or 30K depending on how you read it

[jonsowman]

I change mine every 12k and it gets noticeably grubby in that interval!

It's catching dirt/rust from the fuel tank/system, as well as (in the 406 case) bits of swarf from the LP pump

I doubt these would ever get past the filter, even if it was not changed for a long time, but the flow might become a bit restricted.

[steve_earwig]

I tried looking in Citroen Service for a schedule but it won't show me anything without a chassis number

[Welly]

I tried looking in Citroen Service for a schedule but it won't show me anything without a chassis number

V F 7 L C 9 H Z H A Y S S 0 3 7 7

I thank yaw.

[GingerMagic]

If only someone could spend some time doing a sort of filter review...........

[steve_earwig]

I tried looking in Citroen Service for a schedule but it won't show me anything without a chassis number

V F 7 L C 9 H Z H A Y S S 0 3 7 7

I thank yaw.

Unknown vehicle

[Welly]

I took those from the service book, I'll have to look at the VIN plate later. That means never.

[trem1]

the ss is 55
VF7LC9HZHAY550377
some light reading


Vehicle characteristics

Vehicle family C4
AS/RP N° 12288 88 1 0063
Warranty Start Date 04/08/2010
OPB I5DP
BER e2*2001/116*0302*18

General information
PRODUCT TYPE CAR
COMMERCIAL MARQUE/COMPONENT TYPE CITROEN
VEHICLE FAMILY C4
SILHOUETTE 5 DOOR SALOON
TRIM LEVEL VTR PACK
ENGINE DIESEL TURBO DV6TED4 FAP
TRANSMISSION 6-SPEED CONTROLLED MANUAL GEARBOX
PAINT TYPE METALLIC PAINTWORK
BODY COLOUR EKQ - PAINT - WICKED RED
INTERIOR TRIM TYPE WEAVE 3D XRAY + CLOTH SPRINT "SR"
UPHOLSTERY COLOUR "FZ"
GEARBOX (CHARACTERISTICS) MCD MANUAL GEARBOX
DEFINITION TO FOLLOW RANGE ACTIVITY
ENGINE (TYPE) DV TYPE ENGINE
OTHER BADGE, " MISC. " WITHOUT FULLER BADGE
BADGE EXCLUSIVE

Vehicle characteristics
TRIM LEVEL VTR PACK
PAINT TYPE METALLIC PAINTWORK
BODY COLOUR EKQ - PAINT - WICKED RED
INTERIOR TRIM TYPE WEAVE 3D XRAY + CLOTH SPRINT "SR"
UPHOLSTERY COLOUR "FZ"
GEARBOX (CHARACTERISTICS) MCD MANUAL GEARBOX

Fuel supply-Engine
ENGINE DIESEL TURBO DV6TED4 FAP
FUEL SUPPLY DIRECT EXCHANGE TURBO INJECTION
DIESEL FILTER WATER DETECTOR WITHOUT DIESEL FILTER WATER DETECTOR
CYLINDER BLOCK (MATERIAL) CRANKCASE ALUMINIUM
FUEL DIESEL FUEL
EMISSIONS STANDARD (ENGINE) ANTI DEPOLLUTION L5 (ENGINE)
ENGINE (TYPE) DV TYPE ENGINE
CAPACITY 1600 CM3
OIL COOLER MNTG WATER/OIL EXCHANGER ON ENGINE
COOLING MOTOR RADIATOR TH : 27 - 21 DM2 BRAZED ALUMINIUM
CRANKCASE GAS CIRCUIT HEATING W/O HEATER CASING GAS CIRCUIT
EOBD SELF-DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM "EOBD" AUTO-DIAGNOSTIC WITHOUT ACCELEROMETER
VEHICLE TECHNICAL DEPOLLUTION L5 VEHICLE TECHNICAL DEPOLLUTION
PARTICLE FILTER PARTICLE FILTER
FAN 2 FANS , 2 RATES , IMPROVED 130WAERO
FUEL VAPOUR RETRIEVAL WITHOUT PETROL VAPOUR RECUPERATION
INJECTION ASSOCIATED VARIANT MOUNTING BOSCH
TANK FILTER RESERVOIR FILTER INTERIOR

Gearbox Transmission
TRANSMISSION 6-SPEED CONTROLLED MANUAL GEARBOX
GEARBOX (CHARACTERISTICS) MCD MANUAL GEARBOX
FINAL DRIVE RATIO CP 19 X 71
WHEEL STYLE 17 INCH VOLUBILIS WHEEL
CLUTCH WITHOUT CLUTCH
DIFFERENTIAL (GEARBOX) DIFFERENTIAL 77
TYRE (SIZE, TYPE) 205/50 R17 89W NON REINFORCED TYRE
WHEELS FITTED 6,5" RIM ROAD WHEELS
WHEEL (TYPE) ALLOY WHEEL ASSEMBLY 3
INFLATION PRESSURE LOSS INDICATOR WITHOUT TYRE DEFLATION INDICATOR
GEARBOX TYPE MC MANUAL GEARBOX

Suspension-Steering-Brakes
REAR ANTI-ROLL BAR REAR ANTI ROLL BAR DIAM 27
STEERING COLUMN STEERING COLUMN REINFORCED MANUAL ADJUSTMENT
FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR DIAMETER 22.5
POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING SYSTEM WITHOUT POWER STEERING OIL COOLING
SUSPENSION NORMAL SUSPENSION
DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM
BRAKE ASSOCIATED VARIANT 8 1 BOSCH ESP
STEERING (OPERATION) ASSISTED ELECTROHYDRAULIC STEERING
PEDAL BRACKET (TYPE) PEDAL STANDARD

Body fittings
HORNS HORNS-HARMONY
AERIAL AERIAL + GPS + GSM
REAR SPOILER FITTING WITH RR UPPER DEFLECTOR
DECORATION (PAINTED) SOLID COLOUR DECOR
SIDE MOULDINGS (TYPE) LATERAL PROTECTOR MASS TINTED
SIDE MOULDINGS (DIMENSION) WITHOUT LATERAL PROTECTORS
WHEEL EMBELLISHER (STYLE) 17 INCH CHROME CIRCLE
REVERSING LAMPS WITH 1 REVERSING LAMP
SILL ILLUMINATION LAMP WITHOUT SILL ILLUMINATION
ADDITIONAL SHIELD (UNDER ENGINE) W/O ENGINE UNDERSHELDING
DRAUGHT EXCLUSION BONNET WITHOUT SEAL
EXT. REARVIEW MIRROR COMP. FUNCTION EXT MIRROR MANUAL-FOLD BACK
EXHAUST TAILPIPE TRIM W/O EXHAUST OUTLET EMBELLISHER
ENGINE BAY SOUNDPROOFING BONNET SOUNDPROOFING
WINDSCREEN WIPER FRONT WIPER BLADE WITH RAIN SENSOR
REAR SCREEN WIPER REAR SCREEN WIPER
HEADLAMP WIPER W/O HEADLAMP WIPER
FRONT PANEL BLANK WITHOUT FRONT BUMPER PLUG
ROOF GLASS WITHOUT ROOF WINDOW
REAR TAILGATE GLASS FIXED TAILGATE WINDOW
BUMPER FR/RR BUMPER STD BODY COL+FOG LAMP TRIM CHROME
MUDFLAP WITHOUT REAR MUDGUARD
NUMBER PLATE WITHOUT LICENCE PLATE
LUGGAGE RACK WITHOUT ROOF BARS
FRONT FOGLAMP FRONT FOG LIGHTS
SPARE WHEEL REDUCED STEEL WHEEL + NON STD TYRE
EXTERIOR ACCESSORIES BODY COLOUR EXT HANDLE+RR CTRL+PILLAR+ MIRROR
EXT. REAR VIEW MIRROR (DRIVER SIDE RADIUS) CONVEX EXTERIOR MIRROR GLASS
SUN ROOF FIXED ROOF
BUMPER TRIM BODY COLOUR BUMPER STRIP
GLASS (APPEARANCE) TINTED + OVER-TINTED REAR
WINDOW (TYPE) ACOUSTIC LAMINATED W/SCRREN+TOUGHENED SIDE RR
HANDS FREE ACCESS AND STARTING NO ACCES AND HANDSFREE STARTING

Interior fittings
INTERIOR TRIM TYPE WEAVE 3D XRAY + CLOTH SPRINT "SR"
ANTI-THEFT ALARM WITH THEFT PROTECTION ALARM
CIGAR LIGHTER FRONT CIGAR-LIGHTER
REAR HEAD RESTRAINT REAR HEADREST ADJUSTABLE
FRONT HEAD RESTRAINT FRONT HEADREST ADJUSTABLE
REAR SEAT SEPA FOLDING CUSHION + SEPA FOLDING SEAT BACK
REAR SEAT ARMREST WITH REAR ARMREST
REAR SEATBELT REAR 3-POINT 3 INERTIA REEL SEAT BELT
FRONT SEATBELT PYROTECHNIC SEAT BELT WITH ALARM
CLIMATE (AMBIENT TEMP) TEMPERATE COUNTRIES
CHILD LOCK ELECTRIC REAR CHILD LOCK
SPEED GRADUATIONS GRADUATION MPH
TACHOMETER INTEGRATED DIGITAL REV COUNTER
DRIVING POSITION RIGHT HAND DRIVE
ADDITIONAL HEATING AUTOMATIC ADDITIONAL HEATING
DASHBOARD EQUIPMENT FASCIA MET KURTZ LOW CTRL PANEL+PEN HOLDER PAINTED
MISC. INT. LAMPS 3-POSITION FR COURTESY LAMP
DOOR TRIM DOOR PANEL WITHOUT WOOD DECOR
LOUDSPEAKER 4 FR SPEAKERS (2 TW + 2 FR) + 2 RR SPEAKERS
RADIO CONTROLS REMOTE RADIO CONTROL
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SOUNDPROOFING 6 KG BULKHEAD SOUNDPR
SCREENING (BLIND, SIDE SUNBLIND, SUNROOF) WITHOUT SUN VISOR SCREEN
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEIGHT CONTROL WITHOUT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
DRIVER SEAT CONTROL DRIVERS FRT SEAT MANUAL CNTROL
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CONTROL PASSENGER FRT SEAT MANUAL CNTR
DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTMENT DRIVER’S LUMBAR SUPPORT
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ADJUSTMENT WITHOUT PASSENGER’S SIDE AND LUMBAR SUPPORTS
DRIVER’S SEAT FOLDING W/O FOLDING DRIV FRONT SEATING
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FOLDING W/O FOLDING PASS FRONT SEATING
FRONT SEAT ARMREST CENTRAL ARMREST
COMPACT DISC WITHOUT COMPACT DISC
SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM COLOUR SCREEN
HEADLAMP BULBS HALOGEN BULB
REAR WINDOW LIFT SEQENT CONTR RR WINDOW LIFTER
TRAFFIC INFORMATION READER WITHOUT LATERAL TRAJECTORY MONITORING
DISPLAY DEV DISPLAY
COURTESY MIRROR DRIV OCCULT+PASS OCCULT W/O LIGHT
OIL GAUGE STD OIL LEVEL INDICATOR
FITTING REAR HEAD RESTRAINT MOUNT 3 REAR HEAD-REST
HEATING ELEMENT NON HEATED SEAT
FRONT LATERAL AIRBAG THORAX SIDE + CURTAIN AIRBAG
PASSENGER AIRBAG PASSENGER AIRBAG
ELECTRIC WINDOW (OPERATION) DRIVER’S + FRONT/REAR PASSENGER’S ANTI-PINCH
EQUIPMENT PACK WITHOUT DRIVING SCHOOL EQUIPMENT PACK
EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR (HEATED) NON HEATED DOOR MIRROR
AIRBAG DEACTIVATION MANUAL AIRBAG DEACTIVATION
INTERIOR DOOR CONTROL (APPEARANCE) SOFT MISTRAL APPEARANCE INTERIOR DOOR CONTROL
REAR LOAD FLOOR WITHOUT REAR LOAD FLOOR
HEADLAMP HEIGHT ADJUSTER REMOTE MANUAL HEADLAMP ADJUSTMENT
FRONT SEAT GUARD WITHOUT CAB PROTECTION PANEL
FRONT SUN VISOR DRIVER’S+PASSENGER’S SIDE WITHOUT INSCRIPTION
STORAGE (DRIVING POSITION) CLOSED SIDE STORAGE COMPARTMENT + BEZEL
RADIO RECEIVER RADIO NAV SYSTEM "RNEG" FLASH MEMORY
REFRIGERATION AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING
CRUISE CONTROL REGULATOR AND SPEED LIMIT
DRIVER’S SEAT HEIGHT CONTROL PARALLEL DRV HEIGHT ADJ
INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR ELECTROCHROMATIC DAY-NIGHT INTERIOR MIRROR
CARPET COVER W/O CARPETMAT
DRIVER AIRBAG DRIVERS AIR BAG
EXT. REAR VIEW MIRROR (DRIVER SIDE RADIUS) CONVEX EXTERIOR MIRROR GLASS
LOAD SPACE STORAGE W/O BOOT TIDY
CARPET NEEDLED CARPET DILOUR F550
TUNER RADIO DUAL RADIO TUNER
OBSTACLE DETECTION SYSTEM WITHOUT OBSTACLE DETECTOR
INFLATION PRESSURE LOSS INDICATOR WITHOUT TYRE DEFLATION INDICATOR
TRIM ADAPTATION GEAR LEVER KNOB CHROME INSERT
FLOOR MAT W/O CARPETMAT
EQUALISER AMPLIFIER WITHOUT EQUALISER AMPLIFIER
LOCKING CONTROL DEADLOCKING + AUTOMATIC LOCKING
WINDOW (TYPE) ACOUSTIC LAMINATED W/SCRREN+TOUGHENED SIDE RR
STEERING WHEEL 2 SPOKE LEATHER STEERING WHEEL WITH DECOR
FAN 2 FANS , 2 RATES , IMPROVED 130WAERO
CHILD OBSERVATION INTERIOR MIRROR WITHOUT INTERIOR CHILD MONITORING MIRROR
AUDIO PACK AUXILIARY SOCKET WITHOUT AUDIO PACK AUXILIARY SOCKET
TELEMATIC UNIT WITHOUT TELEMATIC UNIT

Electrical
ALTERNATOR ALTERNATOR 150 AMP
HORNS HORNS-HARMONY
BATTERY BATTERY L3 450
STARTER MOTOR STARTER MOTOR CL 5
SPECIAL LIGHTING AUTOMATIC HEADLAMP ILLUMINATION
REVERSING LAMPS WITH 1 REVERSING LAMP
MISC. INT. LAMPS 3-POSITION FR COURTESY LAMP
SILL ILLUMINATION LAMP WITHOUT SILL ILLUMINATION
EXT. REARVIEW MIRROR COMP. FUNCTION EXT MIRROR MANUAL-FOLD BACK
CEN. LOCKING REM CONTROL FREQUENCY LOCKING REMOTE CONTROL FREQUENCY 433.92 MHZ HETERODYNE
HEADLAMP BULBS HALOGEN BULB
MULTIPLEXING MULTIPLEXING ASSEMBLY CAN CAN
FRONT FOGLAMP FRONT FOG LIGHTS
HEADLAMP HEIGHT ADJUSTER REMOTE MANUAL HEADLAMP ADJUSTMENT

Component manufacturers
BRAKE ASSOCIATED VARIANT 8 1 BOSCH ESP
INJECTION ASSOCIATED VARIANT MOUNTING BOSCH

Miscellaneous
SPECIAL SPECIFICATION SPECIAL EDITION GREAT BRITAIN
ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS NORMAL ATMOSPHERE
DRIVING POSITION RIGHT HAND DRIVE
RADIO HEADPHONE SOCKET WITH ACCESSORIES SOCKET
TRAFFIC SIDE DRIVING ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE
SIDE IMPACTS DOOR WITHOUT REINFORCEMENT
SET OF KEYS 2 HF PLIP KEYS
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT W/O HELP EQUIPMENT
SURFACE CONDITIONS GOOD TERRAIN
EXTERIOR ACCESSORIES BODY COLOUR EXT HANDLE+RR CTRL+PILLAR+ MIRROR
SLAVE CONTROL UNIT BSI EVOLUTION
EMERGENCY WARNING TRIANGLE WITHOUT WARNING TRIANGLE

[steve_earwig]

Did this work?

[steve_earwig]

It did! Well knock me down with a sledgehammer

[steve_earwig]

Errr, it seems to be the same thing twice, that wasn't me!

25,000 miles for normal use, 20 for arduous. Change at 20 if you care about the car, 25 if you're not worried and never if you couldn't give a monkey's...

[jasper5]

36,000 miles isn't a problem with these type of fuel filters.

I've changed loads of these...they don't have a replaceable element...you replace the whole unit.

Here is a guide to doing the job...sound is not English but you can see what to do.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZszwDwafrBw

A couple of points regarding this guide...I never remove the battery and always undo the brake master cylinder...only 2 screws hold it on.
The whole unit slides out and back in ...it's got a plastic clip that holds it in ...you just hold it away whilst pulling the filter out....some of these have a metal bracket that you have to remove.
You have to remove a pipe assembly which slides out from the filter housing and a couple of sensors...fit them to the new filter.
Bleeding is by pumping the bulb unit with the outlet pipe discconected whilst holding your thumb over the pipe coming out of the filter...press the bulb until air comes out then replace your thumb over the outlet...repeat until diesel floods out.

The Delphi one shown in the guide is the genuine article, although Mahle do a very good one as well.

Not a difficult job at all, just a bit short on room to work...have fun

[Welly]

Thank you Jasper you know I might give it a go myself!, and thanks for the spec sheet truffy and wiggy.

SURFACE CONDITIONS GOOD TERRAIN

I take it Le expert de suspension hasn't been over here for a while