NAPA Know How: Can a Fuel Filter Stop a Car From Starting?

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Just like a good tailgate party, your engine requires three basic things to get cooking, fuel, oxygen and heat. In your engine — hold the bratwurst — oxygen is delivered by the intake, heat by spark or compression, and fuel by the fuel pump. Before fuel gets to the cylinder, though, it passes through tubes and fuel filters, maybe one or two fuel pumps, and finally to the fuel injectors. If you’re having trouble starting your engine, a failure in any one of these areas could be the culprit, but can a fuel filter stop a car from starting?

Can a Fuel Filter Stop a Car From Starting? Absolutely!

Unlike your car’s electrical system, which is a parallel system, the fuel system is a serial system. In other words, if the CIG fuse blows, it doesn’t affect the windshield wipers. In the fuel system though, any problems will affect the entire system. In general, the fuel is picked up in the fuel tank and delivered to the fuel injectors, more or less following this path:

  1. Fuel Screen: Captures larger contaminants, over 25 to 400 µm, like rust, scale or dirt.
  2. Rotary Fuel Pump: Pressurizes the system, up to 15 psi, for carburetors, or 70 psi for fuel injection systems.
  3. Fuel Filter: Captures finer particles, from 1 to 75 µm, such as dust, pollen and silt. Diesel filters might separate water, as well.
  4. Fuel Pressure Regulator: Maintains constant fuel pressure, bleeding off excess to the tank.
  5. Mechanical Fuel Pump: On gasoline direct injection and diesel engines, bumps fuel pressure up to 4,500 to 25,000 psi.
  6. Fuel Injectors: Delivers precise fuel pulses to each cylinder, controlled by the engine control module.

Seeing as the fuel can only take one path from the fuel tank to the fuel injectors — some components might vary, depending on year, make and model — it’s easy to see how a fuel filter problem can stop your engine from starting.

How Can a Fuel Filter Stop a Car From Starting?

Fuel filter clogging is the most common fault, caused by excessive contaminants in the fuel. This is usually because whatever fuel source hasn’t been taking care of their own filtering equipment. In high-mileage vehicles, this can simply be the buildup over years and years of operation — over 100,000 miles, a 30-mpg vehicle’s fuel filter will process at least 3,333 gallons of fuel.

At first, a clogged fuel filter might manifest itself as a fuel trim problem, hesitation or poor performance, but eventually could cause cylinder misfires or starve the engine of fuel, preventing it from starting in the first place. While a clogged fuel filter might sideline your car for a day, there’s a bright side to your engine stalling out: Your clogged fuel filter was doing its job, preventing damage to other parts of the fuel system. Install a new fuel filter and you’ll be back on the road.

Check out all the fuel & emission system parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 16,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how a bad fuel filter can stop your engine from starting, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

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Driving More Efficiently to Improve Fuel Economy/ Estimated Gas Savings

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The US government has a website dedicated to helping you use less fuel. It presents the cost savings in a way we can all relate to, no matter what kind of vehicle we drive. Here’s an example:
Having your engine properly tuned, can save up to 4%. If you’re paying one-fifty for a litre of gas in Delavan, you could save six cents a litre.

Dollars Per Gallon:              $3.00  $3.50  $4.00
Tune Up 4%                          0.12    0.14    0.16

Replace Oxygen Sensor

Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve by up to forty percent. That’s a whooping savings per litre. Chances are that if your oxygen sensor is kaput your check engine light will come on. Now, there’s any number of things that could cause your check engine light to come on besides oxygen sensor problems. But if it’s on, it’s to get it checked out as soon as you can. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic.

Dollars Per Gallon                          $3.00   $3.50   $4.00
Faulty O2 Oxygen Sensor 40%       1.20     1.40     1.60

Inflate Your Tires

Here’s an easy one: Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. That could save you three percent or eleven cents a gallon. Even a little drop in pressure will cost you at the pump so check your vehicle tires every week.

Your vehicle manufacturer has recommended a specific weight of motor oil. The recommendation is based on your vehicle engine design and will give you the best protection. Using a heavier weight could cost one to two percent in reduced fuel economy, or up to seven cents a gallon.

MotorWeek’s John Davis and Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Brian West discuss ways to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. Topics include driving style, vehicle maintenance, and special tips for advanced vehicles and technologies.

How To Save On Gas

Our gas mileage tips can help you reduce the amount of gas you use. If you are already following these tips, you are probably getting the best gas mileage your car can deliver. Here are some free gas saving tips from Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan: These can add up to quite a bit per litre.

Don’t drive aggressively
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. Driver feedback devices can help you drive more efficiently. A recent study suggests that they can help the average driver improve fuel economy by about 3% and that those using them to save fuel can improve gas mileage by about 10%. That’s like saving about $0.06 to $0.22 per gallon.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 5%–33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.11–$0.71/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Fuel Economy Benefit:7%–14%*
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.15–$0.30/gallon*
* Average savings, assuming drivers are willing to slow down 5 to 10 mph and fuel costs $2.15 per gallon.

Avoid Hauling Cargo on Your Roof
Hauling cargo on your roof increases aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) and lowers fuel economy. A large, blunt roof-top cargo box, for example, can reduce fuel economy by around 2% to 8% in city driving, 6% to 17% on the highway, and 10% to 25% at Interstate speeds (65 mph to 75 mph).4 Rear-mount cargo boxes or trays reduce fuel economy by much less—only 1% or 2% in city driving and 1% to 5% on the highway. If you need to use an external cargo container, removing it when it’s not in use will save fuel and money.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 2%–17%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04–$0.37/gallon

Remove Excess Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by about 1%.5 The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1%/100 lbs.
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.02/gallon

Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle.

Fuel Cost Savings: $0.01-$0.02/min

Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.15/gallon.

Find Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Alternative Fuels

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Learn about alternative fuel vehicles:

Alternative and Advanced Fuel Locator

Visit the alternative fueling station locator to:

  • Search for alternative fueling stations near you.
  • Map a route that includes alternative fueling stations along the way.

Automotive Solutions from Advanced Auto Clinic: Diesel Engines

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When someone mentions diesels around Delavan – images of smoky, rattly trucks may spring to mind. The fact is that the modern clean diesel engine is much more refined than in the old days. Sure, diesel engines remain a very popular choice with heavy duty pick-up truck drivers in Delavan, but they are finding their way into nearly every segment of the WI automotive market. Why is that? Well, its science.

Diesel fuel contains more energy than the same amount of gasoline. So it takes less diesel fuel to do the same amount of work as gas – so Delavan diesel drivers get more miles per gallon and lower emissions. In Europe, where fuel is very expensive and high mileage is very essential, around half of passenger vehicles are powered by diesel engines. This goes for small economy cars all the way up to the world’s most costly luxury vehicles.

The driving experience is also very good with diesel engines – in fact Delavan auto owners may not even be able to tell the difference between riding in or driving a diesel powered vehicle. So what are the factors to think about when deciding whether or not to choose a diesel engine?

One consideration is price. Diesel engines cost more to build and are an extra cost option for most vehicles. So Delavan car owners need to do the math to see how long it will take the increased fuel efficiency to pay for the extra up-front cost of a diesel engine. The cost of diesel fuel in Darien is also a factor. There is no clear correlation between gas prices and diesel prices because the refining and distribution systems are so different. This means that the difference in price per gallon for diesel and gasoline can vary a great deal depending on where you live in WI. Just watch diesel and gas prices for a while (or talk with a diesel owner in Delavan) so you can get a feel for how much price per gallon figures into your purchase decision.

Also important to examine is your expected use of the vehicle. For example, if you tow heavy trailers or haul heavy loads around Delavan, the extra power many diesel engines offer (while getting better fuel efficiency than a gas engine) may affect your decision. Your highway/city driving mix may play into the decision as well. Diesels shine in the highway mileage department. And the more you drive in a year, the more attractive diesel engines become.

If you elect a diesel engine, remember that it still requires vital maintenance like your gas powered vehicles always have. Oil changes, cooling system service, power steering, brakes, tires, etc. – all need to be maintained. Some of the schedules may be different because of the unique design of diesel engines. Your knowledgeable Advanced Auto Clinic technician will be able to help you properly maintain your diesel vehicle, helping it last longer and continue to deliver great performance and fuel efficiency.

Give us a call

Advanced Auto Clinic
1101 Ann Streeet
Delavan, WI 53115
262.728.2944

At Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan WI (53115) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 262.728.2944. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.