On my third duramax work truck. I have some fuel filter questions. I could be convinced that not changing my fuel filter often enough has led to a couple of bad fuel injectors in one truck and a faulty fuel pump in another. I do all of my maintenance at the dealership thinking they would be on top of maintenance recommendation schedules. I'm beginning to think they don't change the fuel filter often enough to create a situation where I have a more expensive repair later. Or maybe I am just paranoid.

Questions
1) how often should I change the fuel filter? Typically doing every 15-20k miles when the indicator states it's due.
2) are there advantages for upgrading to a higher quality (non AC Delco) filter.

I've got 190k on an LML (with the God awful cp4). I imagine that is low miles for the age, but: I've changed my fuel filter every other oil change. Knock on wood no fuel system issues yet.

locogringo said:

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I've got 190k on an LML (with the God awful cp4). I imagine that is low miles for the age, but: I've changed my fuel filter every other oil change. Knock on wood no fuel system issues yet.

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Do you have a FASS lift pump? I'm impressed yours made it that far. Mine crapped out around 120k but luckily it didn't destroy itself and send metal into the fuel system. The drive shaft simply split in half, so I swapped it out for a CP3. Put another 70k on it before I stupidly traded it in. If I'd of kept that truck, I'd be looking at over 300k miles at this point. That'd of been neat.

Completely stock fuel system. Twice a year or so I look into doing a lift pump but talk my self out of based on being cheap and "if it ain't broke".

I do oil every 5k. Trans filter and fuel filter every 10k. At 190k, that's a lot of fuel filters. I don't know for sure, but I like to think that's helped the CP4 hold on to its ghost.

(Knock on wood)

Factory setup should be sufficient. I would advise against doing the adapter that lets you put a better CAT or other filter on it. That ends up being too small a straw so to speak and choking the system. Fass or air dog setups are nice and you might be able to convince me it might make one last another 50k miles or so, but it's not a cure for the problem. I think minding where you fuel up is as important as anything. You want high volume places that provide top tier fuels. I do that and run hot shots or diesel kleen.

I agree with MTTANK. A fuel filter is a last line of defense situation. If you're getting good fuel from a station that sees a lot of turnover, it shouldn't be an issue. If you fill up out of a portable fuel tank on a farm that gets filled once or twice a year then maybe you should be a little more concerned.

I got bad fuel from HEB a couple summers ago. When I pulled up I noticed bags on the diesel pump at the opposite end of the pumps, and didn't think about it. It was right before Hurricane Beryl so I bet I just got the dregs. I also think I got bad fuel at a Stripes in Navasota (now 7 eleven). Both of those places are fairly high volume. I also fill up a lot at Buc-ee's. The one in Waller has the best diesel price around.

I will start requesting every 10k fuel/transmission filter changes instead of waiting for the dealer to recommend or for the filter "gauge" to get close to 0%. Again, I am beginning to think the dealer is not recommending filter changes as often in hopes of creating repair scenarios…..Maybe I am just paranoid