Fuel Filter change effects in fuel consumption

DarrenR

I had my fuel filter changed on my 2017 Mazda 6 2.2 d yesterday and noticed after I collected it the distance to empty range showing on my fuel gauges has dropped by over 150km from before I left it in to get done. I ordered the filter online and even called the websites technical experts to confirm it was the correct one. I think it must not be the right filter for my car. Has anyone else ever noticed this after getting a fuel filter changed? I think the car must be using way more fuel now or the filter being wrong has caused wrong readings to show on the distance to empty gauge.

BlakeS94

I wouldn't take the fuel range on the dash as an exact science, it'll probably level out as you get through the tank and be the same as usual, or maybe better depending on how dirty the old filter was.

Some fuel was probably lost while changing the filter too which would decrease your range

DarrenR

Thanks for the advice. It's showing 345km range left on almost 3/4 full so it's way off. I'm sorry I bothered getting it changed now as I got it done probably 5k early to help prevent problems. Now it's caused problems. So much for the technical experts advice on Mister Auto. Buying parts for cars online seems to always be an uncertain experience. My next car will be electric and there will be no more of these issues.

PsychoPete

Can you reset the range like you can with the trip odometer

redsheeps

"...after I collected it the distance to empty range showing on my fuel gauges has dropped by over 150km from before I left it in to get done."

Is this the reading that updates based on your driving style? As in if you boot it around the car knows your current l/km and calculates how far you'll get based on this driving style. Boot it around = crappy l/km = low calculated distance the fuel will last.

If so, it's possible the service lads just left it running for a bit to make sure all was 100% with the new fuel filter or took it for a short spin (sometimes do this to check the work done and pick up a part), so it ended up calculating based on this which may be a low l/km.

Never had a drop in distance after a fuel filter but I did after an oil change as they way overfilled it and it tanked the MPG.

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118943139#Comment_118943139

Changing service items early, especially a fuel filter, can only do good, id never let a diesel filter go the distance I'd always change it early, I'd run the tank down and see what the next fill up is like, will probably sort itself out

wandererz

Reset everything you can.

i.e. the average speed, avaerage distance travelled, average everything. Then fill to the brim and see what your estimated range is.

Some fuel would have been lost during the change. What brand of filter did you use?

Filters are cheap. Won't cost much to replace if you made a mistake.

DarrenR

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118962880#Comment_118962880

It seems OK now. The distance to empty range was actually increasing for a few days and is back to normal for what is left in the tank. It was a Mann filter fitted which are a good brand.