5 Things to Know Before Buying motorcycle fuel filter

The riding season is getting into full swing. Many owners who have parked their motorcycles during the colder winter months are getting back out there. Before hitting the road, we always recommend a thorough inspection of your bike and ensure that you follow all of the recommended service intervals outlined in your vehicle’s manual. Still, a commonly overlooked component is a clogged or failing fuel filter. If you are experiencing degraded performance it might be time to find yourself a fuel filter replacement.

Xuhaifa Filter contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

1. What Are The Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Filter?
2. What Causes A Fuel Filter To Fail?
3. When Do You Change Dirt Bike Fuel Filters?
4. How Do You Diagnose A Bad Motorcycle Fuel Filter?

We’re going to outline the importance of your fuel filter and how to determine if yours has gone bad, robbing your precious motorcycle of its performance.

Whether you’re crossing the country on your street motorcycle or hitting the trail aboard a classic dirt bike — every motorcycle equipped with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) uses a fuel filter.

Quantum Fuel Systems is a leader in high-quality fuel system components. We have top-notch direct replacement parts that meet and exceed OEM quality. Replace your clogged fuel filter with one specifically designed to withstand harsh ethanol-based fuels.

QFS offers replacement fuel filters for nearly all makes and models. Each fuel filter is backed by an industry-leading lifetime warranty, which can be found by visiting our robust catalog.

Fuel filters come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Basic in-tank filters, in-line filters, and strainers are the more common types. Your vehicle may use one or more throughout its fueling system.

Yet, they all do the same job: Filter gasoline running through your EFI system, protecting components from debris, impurities, and contaminants that may work their way into your fuel tank. 

What Are The Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Filter?

A fuel filter past its prime will restrict or, in extreme cases, block fuel flow entirely. Clogged fuel filters usually create a handful of symptoms related to fuel starvation that result in decreased engine performance. 

These symptoms are pretty general when dealing with fuel system issues and can appear to be problems related to your fuel pump. For more information on fuel pump-related questions, check out our article entitled: How to Diagnose a Bad ATV, Motorcycle, UTV/Side-by-Side Fuel Pump. 

Here are just a few symptoms related to a bad fuel filter:

Hard-Starting/Rough Idle

Hard-starting is when a vehicle takes more cranking than usual start. A rough idle is when your motorcycle or dirt bike’s engine is not idling consistently and reliably. Rough idle typically indicates some flow restriction in your vehicle’s fuel system. 

Stalling

Repeated stalling throughout the rev range is often a sign that your engine is starved of fuel. This could happen during idle when beginning to accelerate or decelerate. 

Throttle Hesitation / Performance Loss

Blockages in the filter may prevent an adequate amount of fuel from reaching the engine as the rider opens the throttle and the rpm climbs. 

What Causes A Fuel Filter To Fail?

A properly working fuel filter will protect sensitive EFI components, such as your fuel injectors. Preventing them from becoming clogged or damaged by debris in your fuel tank is essential. However, once a fuel filter becomes saturated with debris, it can restrict fuel flow.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website motorcycle fuel filter.

Not only will that hinder engine performance, but fuel-flow restrictions overwork other components such as fuel pumps, causing unnecessary wear and premature failure. 

Your fuel filter will inevitably reach the end of its filtering potential with time and use since it is a consumable component. Much like swapping tires, changing oil, or servicing final-drive systems — inspecting and replacing fuel filters is part of routine maintenance. 

Over time, contaminants will inundate the filter and prevent it from performing its duties effectively. This is typically caused by sand, dirt, and various detritus mixing with gasoline varnish that collects in your fuel tank.

Gasoline varnish is a sticky caramel-colored substance left by fuel as it ages and deteriorates, binding particulates together and clogging filters.

Operating your vehicle and strictly using high-quality fuels will slow this process dramatically. However, some riders may only ride seasonally or even less, which makes storing your vehicle correctly even more important — draining unused fuel or adding a fuel stabilizer is recommended for extended storage situations. If you are getting ready to ride after a long period of storing your vehicle, follow our 7 Easy Steps to Prepare Your Ride.

While typically seen in older vehicles, ethanol-based fuels can be particularly harsh on inferior plastics and rubbers, causing them to break down entirely, lead to other mechanical problems. Rest assured, all QFS replacement fuel filters are designed to withstand modern fuels.

When Do You Change Dirt Bike Fuel Filters?

Refer to your model-specific authorized owner’s manual for manufacturer-suggested timelines regarding fuel filter replacement. In our experience, most manufacturers recommend replacing fuel filters every two years or every 20,000 miles for street-oriented motorcycles. 

Off-road motorcycles often require much shorter fuel filter service intervals because these vehicles operate in harsher climates, which are more likely to introduce dust, dirt, and other debris into the fuel tank. If you are just getting started on your dirt bike journey, we created this collection of Beginner Dirt Bike Riding Tips.

How Do You Diagnose A Bad Motorcycle Fuel Filter?

Fuel filters come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types. When dealing with filters that can be inspected visually, use the original filter color as a reference point.

As you use your vehicle and cycle fuel through the tank, these filters or strainers will become darker in color when oils, gasoline varnish, and other contaminants are absorbed. We recommend replacing these filters with reliable QFS products if they seem particularly discolored.

In other cases, you may not be able to visually inspect the filter because it is housed within a cartridge. When faced with this situation, disconnect the fuel filter from the system and attempt to pass air through the filter’s inlet.

Air should flow relatively freely through the filter. However, if it is clogged with pollutants, airflow will be obstructed, signaling that it is time to replace it. 

We strongly encourage our customers to thoroughly and adequately assess the condition of their fuel system. Upgrade with direct OEM replacement components from QFS. Our fuel pump replacement kits are complete with a durable fuel pump and high-quality o-rings, seals, filters, and strainers. We stock a kit for nearly every make and model on the market.

The company is the world’s best oil filter elements supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Have Any Questions? Reach Out To Our Qualified Staff!

Open question. I finally got around today to changing out my GS fuel filter at ; past the recommended mileage. Not to much fun I might say, but I got it done nonetheless.
However my neighbor is a fully qualified, trained Mitsibushi mechanic, and upon seeing what I was up to stated that they don't change fuel filters anymore. I asked him what he meant and he stated that these days the quality of gas and gas stations outlets have improved so much, and are tested so much that the need to change fuel filters (on cars) is practically a thing of the past, their dealership hasn't done one in ages. He then told me he'd be very surprised if the one I was replacing had any issues and gas seemed to flow through it pretty good after I took it out.
Do these filters really need replacement so often when cars are hitting 200,000 without changes? Any thoughts?

RavenGS
04 GS
Lino Lakes, MN I personally wouldn't run a fuel injected motorcycle without a fuel filter - unless it was an emergency. The potential problems make the risk too high for me. But I travel all over the continent and can't count on the cleanliness of each and every station I encounter when I need fuel.

It doesn't take much grit or water to clog a fuel injector, or to partially clog one enough to make that cylinder run lean. Which can damage things fairly fast.

I have had new filters clog quickly following a dose of bad gas. If it sticks in the filter it can stick in the injectors. At something a bit north of $100 apiece plus installation, plus delays, plus motel bills, plus towing maybe .......

The risk just isn't worth it to me.

Do these filters really need replacement so often when cars are hitting 200,000 without changes?

Back when I had a four-wheeled BMW, I wanted to change my fuel fliter at the recommended interval as well. The BMW service manager told me it was a waste of time and money, and not to bother.

Thirteen years later that same fuel filter is still in that car (sold it to a friend, so I know).

Its easy to hose motorcycle owners. Their paranoia of being possibly being stranded works every time. Just look at the silly spark plug change intervals. I changed the fuel filter in my second hand RRS because I read about a possible 'splitting' problem and I was pretty sure the guy who had the bike before me hadn't done it. The date code proved me right, that filter was 11 years old.

I think the question is really "Is it necessary to replace the filter as a maintenance item" rather than run the bike without a filter.

Like Paul said, if you get bad enough gas it will clog up a new filter or an old one. I got a tank full of bad gas at a major fuel station in Texas. It does happen. While changing the filter on a calendar basis is kind of silly to me I have no qualms about having a good filter on the bike and would not run without it. I think running between 30k to 50k miles is fine on a filter as long as you have gotten good gas. Any tank of bad gas and it's a filter change for me. Fuel Filter-To change or not to change...

Had a previous RRS with approximately 36K on it and was running down the interstate with my wife on the back. We turned onto an exit ramp and stopped at the stop sign. The engne went dead. It would crank but would not fire. I noticed a glow from the bottom of the bike, looked and discovered that the cat was cherry red. Long story short, after trucking the bike to the dealer, they discovered that the fuel filter had exploded inside the tank making a godawful mess. It required cleaning of the entire fuel delivery system. For the $35, I will change the thing out in spite of it being a pain in the ass. I was fortunate that an MOA member was nearby and came immediately in spite of it being 12:00 midnite. If not, things could have gotten quite ugly fast depending who was comming along.
Also, for a point of reference, I got a load of bad gas in my car in January from a local Shell station (and no, Shell did not care to make it right).

Will

Spend the $35, it's cheaper than having the entire fuel system cleaned. I finally replaced the fuel filter on my 94 RRS at 115K. It was running fine, but I felt I was pushing it. So I replaced it with another metal case (never use a plastic one) filter. A hassle to replace, but not all that bad. I could easily blow through the old filter, and I cut it apart to check out the guts. Other than being dark in color, the filter element looked great.

Now, in my bike, twice a season I add either Techron or Seafoam fuel additive. In 132K+ miles I have had no ONE fuel issue. Not sure if the fuel cleaner Seafoam is the reason, but all I know is mine works fine on the original TBs and injectors. We're talking two different issues here. The original question - do we need filters; and, how often do we need to change filters.

I don't change them very often, but always carry a spare. That way I get filtration, but if it clogs I can replace it easily. (It is not located in the tank anymore). if you find it to be a pain (and it is) consider externalizing it. not a very hard thing to do, i did it on a RS with ABS which might be the oilhead with the least room in which to make this modification. i know several GS riders who run this external setup. make sure you use a filter rated for "external" use (no the bmw one that resides in the tank isn't). '00 GS, 166,000 km
Changed filters since new at recommended intervals of 40,000km.
I always run Chevron 92 when I can, never no-name.
I have opened each and every filter (I convert them to mini funnels) and in each case the element was heavily coated in fine smeary sludge. That sludge will eventually clog the filter. It is also harder on the fuel pump to circulate the fuel thru the regulator and back into the tank thru a partially clogged filter. Has anyone priced out a new fuel pump lately?
Besides, who wants to be in North Bum__ck and have little or no throttle response? Sure a spare could be installed but not a fun job to do on the side of the road.
Also the BMW filter is quite a bit smaller that most automotive fuel filters.
Penny wise and pound foolish comes to mind here............ My Bad

Sorry. I meant to question the need to change the filter so often; not if one was needed or not. Just got the post title wrong.

Sounds like it has to do a lot with where you're riding/traveling as to when it needs it or even if it does.

Actually the biggest issue I had with the change was the kit from Beemerboneyard had replacement clamps that were the screw type, and when I used them the clearance wasn't enough to get the assembly back into the tank. After some work managed to reuse the mfg clamps and it went together fine (with new gasket)

RavenGS Over the summer, I've clogged two fuel filters with dirt in the gas. You can't always determine where you fill up and some of these old stations have leaks in their tanks. In addition, each time you fill the tank, you're sticking a dirty gas filler into your tank.

The two filters were clogged with dirt. Like Paul stated, it doesn't take much dirt to clog two fuel injectors.