Fuel Filter Replacement MK3

Technical Area Routine Servicing
2

 Hi There - my MK3 has done about 40k miles and is coming up to 5 years old, so I guess it’s about time the fuel filter was replaced.

BUT - there doesn’t seem to be a filter on the market, and my Haynes manual states “On 2006 and later models, the fuel filter is an integral component of the fuel pump/fuel level sending unit, and cannot be serviced separately”.

I’m sure this doesn’t mean that the fuel filter does not need replacing ever - or does it?

It’s conspicously missing from the European maintenance schedule, but that just doesn’t seem right.

Any advice please?

3

The fuel filter is not a service item on the NC, it’s just got the tea bag type gauze filter on the fuel pump pick up.

4

 Hi both, yes I’d noticed this too. Thanks for clearing that up Robbie. So it’s just got a strainer filter which just keeps any rubbish back in the tank. That seems a very elegant idea to me; the tank’s huge, it’ll never block, so why bother to suck the muck up, filter it, and then have to change the separate filter.

Robbie, can I ask if there’s any merit in the old chestnut of  not running the tank too low as it may pick up more rubbish? Is the pick up pipe (and strainer in this case) fixed near the bottom of the tank or is it floating with the fuel level? The only way I can see it picking up more rubbish with low fuel than high is if it floats but I’ve not seen one so don’t know, do you?

5

 That puts my mind at rest, Robbie thank you.

Interesting though that the service schedules for “Israel” and “All models except Europe/Israel” in the handbook do show a fuel filter replacement - which might mean that imports such as from Japan, might have the fuel filter, and the owners might not realise this! (for Israeli models the interval is shown as 65,500 miles, for the rest it’s 37,500 miles).

And, of course, we have potential discrepancies on American-based web sites, and for our forum friends in Australia!

6

It picks up from the bottom of the tank so I can’t see an advantage of not running the tank too low.

7

Maybe sand can (or does) get into the fuel storage tanks in Israel etc. Just a theory.

8

I don’t know about Israel, but when I got back from Malta  few years ago I had the fuel filter on my Mk1 changed and it was half full of sand. I think this is a reflection on the quality of the petrol storage systems in Gozo

9

 

Thanks Robbie, still finding my way round, what is this unit with 3 pipes in front of RR wheel please, I’d assumed the fuel filter would be there but hadn’t thought much about it,

10

Charcoal canister

11

 

 

Thanks Robbie. I don’t recall it mentioned at all in Haynes, does it need service at all?

12

No servicing required for the charcoal canister. For info, charcoal canisters are more effective when they are cooler hence it was moved from in the warmer engine bay to under the vehicle with the introduction of the NC. 

13

 Ah that makes sense, thanks Robbie.