Without the external filter that requires replacement at each service, the internal filter becomes the only one responsible for cleaning the gasoline or ethanol that is burned
Changing the fuel filter at each service is practically a mantra for owners, as is replacing the lubricating oil. This component, as the name implies, removes impurities and particles from the fuel to make burning more efficient.
Cars sold in Brazil usually have an external filter, in the fuel line, and a pre-filter next to the fuel pump inside the tank. Only the first is changed at each service, the second lasts longer and has the same durability as the pump.
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However, there are cars that do not have the external filter, depending only on the one mounted next to the fuel pump. This solution was common in Japanese cars before they became flex, such as the Honda Fit and Toyota Corolla.
In the 2023 line of Chevrolet’s flex cars, the external fuel filter has been eliminated. Onix, Onix Plus, Montana, Tracker and S10 now depend only on the pre-filter inside the tank.
The changes came along with changes to meet the emission standards of Proconve L7. But it was not followed by the competition. We consulted General Motors and the justification for the change was:
Chevrolet maintains a continuous product development process that does not end with the launch of a vehicle. Having a local engineering center – the largest in the region – allows us to closely monitor the performance of our vehicles in the field, listen to the market and implement technical evolutions in an agile and precise way. The adoption of the fuel filter internal to the tank in the flex line is an example of this commitment to continuous improvement, and reflects a practice that permeates the entire company: identifying opportunities for improvement and acting on them for the direct benefit of the customer.”
There is no deadline for changing the internal fuel filter in car manuals. According to mechanic Ludovico Ballesteros, owner of Pitucha Centro Automotivo, it is recommended to change when performing maintenance on the fuel pump, as it is nearby.
Changing this component is more expensive than replacing an external filter in the fuel line, as it requires disassembling the tank and cleaning it. But it is a service that is done in a well-spaced way, as the fuel pump can last more than 100 thousand km depending on use.
The internal filter is located before the fuel pump. With this, it brings the advantage of cleaning the fuel before entering the line.
It also has the advantage of being more durable, as it only needs to be changed when it is necessary to move the fuel pump.
The fuel filter inside the tank is more expensive when there is a need to change it, in addition to requiring cleaning the tank to carry out the service. It also requires more specialized labor.
It may not be a concern for the first owner of the vehicle, but when buying a used one, it is worth questioning whether it has already been exchanged.
