Analysis of fuel filter
What is the fuel filter?
First of all, the fuel filter is a simple but important device, which is an integral part of the vehicle fuel system. The main purpose of this component is to filter out pollutants and impurities, such as debris, dirt and other particles, which may have a negative impact on engine performance. This component removes the fuel that enters the filter through the fuel tank and allows only clean fuel to pass through the filter so that the engine always uses clean and filtered fuel.
Where is it located?
Since the main job of the components is to screen out the fuel that is sent to the engine, they are usually located anywhere between the fuel pump and the engine. The components of most modern vehicles are either located in the fuel tank or integrated into the fuel pump assembly.
How does the fuel filter work?
A typical filter configuration includes a cylindrical filter located inside a metal shell. The intermediate layer is made of high-grade cellulose fiber or even polyester fiber. The metal housing also has inlet and outlet openings.
Fuel from the main pump enters the components through the high-pressure inlet. This causes the fuel to pass through the porous medium under high pressure. When this happens, the pores in the medium will filter out any impurities in the fuel, while the remaining impurities will flow through the fuel and leave the components through the outlet.
Some filters, especially those for diesel engines, are equipped with a mechanism to remove any water that may be present in the fuel. Therefore, the diesel filter usually has a bowl at the bottom where the water separated from the fuel will be collected. The drain valve allows the collected water to drain when needed, and informs the driver through the water sensor.
The Bottom Line
Although it looks like a simple component, the function of the filter is crucial for a healthy and well running engine. Without it, problems such as engine wear, fuel injector blockage, engine performance degradation, corrosion, etc. may suddenly occur, leading to a chain reaction of different faults.
But now that you know the importance of components, make sure to replace the fuel filter of the car regularly.
