Golf fuel filter

Bpmull

My car is due a service in the next few thousand km and I'll probably just do it myself it's full service this time I have no issue in doing it but just on changing the fuel filter. I'm getting conflicting advice.

Some say newer golfs aren't self priming and you need diagnostics to tell the fuel pump to run once you've changed the filter or you could have starting issues. Then it's said that with older golfs they prime ie the fuel pump runs itself everytime you turn on the ignition. So where do I stand with mine is it just a matter of changing the fuel filter and turning on the ignition a few times and then it should start no problem or is it more complicated.

It's a 2007 1.9tdi 105 bhp vw golf mk5 bxe engine code.
Thanks.

Also would every second service / 30k km be enough to change the fuel filter.

Toyotafanboi

as an item of semi useless advice - changed the fuel filter in dads 09 1.4 tdi polo, just filled the filter with diesel, reconnected the pipes and it started first turn, ran rough for a few seconds but then it was fine.

Bpmull

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

as an item of semi useless advice - changed the fuel filter in dads 09 1.4 tdi polo, just filled the filter with diesel, reconnected the pipes and it started first turn, ran rough for a few seconds but then it was fine.

I'm kind 99% sure that I'll have no issues but just I did read about needing diagnostics for some golfs but I recon that's for the mk6/7 with the newer 1.6tdi engines still better to be safe than sorry.

Special Circumstances

Can you hear the pump priming? Any car I had you could hear it from the driver seat, but they wouldn't have so much fabric and insulation as a golf I suppose

George Dalton

Yours will prime every time you turn on the ignition. The newer CR engines don't.

So you can just turn on and off the ignition 12-15 times before starting and you should be ok. If you want to be 100% sure then you can top up the housing with diesel before refitting the top.

30k km is fine as an interval, I change the fuel filter in my own car every 30k as well. You could even leave it 45k if you wanted though.

There are 3 different types of fuel filter in those Golfs by the way, so make sure you have the right one before you tackle it. Also, be extremely careful when refitting the top of the housing. Use the new o-ring supplied with the filter and lube it up well. Make sure the top of the housing pushes down fully before you put the screws back in. Don't depend on the screws to push the top down as you screw them in. If you do that you will damage the top of the housing and it will leak.

Bpmull

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Yep george I figured it was the cr that didn't prime itself alright but wanted to double check it. Nice to know about the fuel filter housing lid to be careful with it. I knew about there being 3 different fuel filters my dad had issues with getting the wrong one for his octavia 1.9tdi before. Thanks again.

JohnBoy26

George Dalton wrote: »

Yours will prime every time you turn on the ignition. The newer CR engines don't.

So you can just turn on and off the ignition 12-15 times before starting and you should be ok. If you want to be 100% sure then you can top up the housing with diesel before refitting the top.

30k km is fine as an interval, I change the fuel filter in my own car every 30k as well. You could even leave it 45k if you wanted though.

There are 3 different types of fuel filter in those Golfs by the way, so make sure you have the right one before you tackle it. Also, be extremely careful when refitting the top of the housing. Use the new o-ring supplied with the filter and lube it up well. Make sure the top of the housing pushes down fully before you put the screws back in. Don't depend on the screws to push the top down as you screw them in. If you do that you will damage the top of the housing and it will leak.

This is very good advice and it's essential that you follow it tbh. If you don't the chances are that you will end up with a mess. I've seen it a few times where people have done it incorrectly and the diesel made a right mess on that side of the engine bay and along the underside of the car. The leaking diesel can also damage components, such as the alternator , if left long enough.

FR85

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

This is very good advice and it's essential that you follow it tbh. If you don't the chances are that you will end up with a mess. I've seen it a few times where people have done it incorrectly and the diesel made a right mess on that side of the engine bay and along the underside of the car. The leaking diesel can also damage components, such as the alternator , if left long enough.

+1

Have been that guy!!!! When I did it it leaked and what I hadn't noticed was I actually bent the lid. I ended up having to get another seal from Abbey Seals and double sealing it. Worked a treat!! Diesel did hit the alternator and the car started to idle all over the place, it's how I knew I'd made a bags of something.....I caught it early and got away with it