Active Carbon Filter (fuel system) service item

[Simon]

Hi,
is everybody changing these at the recommended four year interval? Its basically a filter box that sits on top of the fuel tank and to get to it you have to remove the boot liner/trim and open a metal access hatch. When I discussed it with some technicians(at main dealer) it sounds like its a royal pain in the *** to change from their expressions/tone of voice.

Any experiences?

thanks

Simon

 

[2b1ask1]

Eeeer? Had my car over four years & not changed it yet, is there any benefit?

 

[safrane]

Unless you start smelling the fuel in the car then leave it.

 

[Parisien]

Mine wasn't done until 8 years old and 50K...NO apparent harm occurred


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[2b1ask1]

I don't recall seeing it in the wadge of recipts either..

 

[BennyD]

Mine wasn't done until 8 years old and 50K...so harm occurred

Should that be NO harm occurred?

 

[Parisien]

Lol.......as ever my resident proof reader earns his stripes...........am laffin here Ian!


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[BennyD]

Me too.

 

[Parisien]

Just shows you the importance of a single SODDIN' letter!


Who'd want to be a lawyer!!!!!


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[c4sman]

No idea whether it needed doing but i managed to get mine done FOC by the main dealer at just over 3 years old at purchase way before recommended 4years. I just wanted to know that I had 4 years ahead without that bill (and the lambdas done at the same time). So I am good at least until it is 7 years old.

 

[Simon]

I don't recall seeing it in the wadge of recipts either..

Its funny that, the aircon compressor is meant to have a top up of oil, coolant and a filter change every 2 years.... no sign of it on my main dealer receipts but previous main dealer told me they had done it.

 

[safrane]

My GS has...at MD...I guess some people don't think it is worth the cost. (Air con top ups and pollen filter)

 

[Parptoot]

What are the symptoms IF it does fail/become blocked or whatever? Just a smell of fuel?

 

[Chrisbassett]

What are the symptoms IF it does fail/become blocked or whatever? Just a smell of fuel?

You will get a smell of fuel when accelerating/at high revs.

 

[Parptoot]

And that's all it does? Stop fuel vapour or smells getting into the cabin? Does it have any effect on the running of the car at all?

 

[Parisien]

I think its more to do with stopping the escape of non-green gases into the atmosphere......ie evaporating petrol, at petrol pumps they sometimes have vacuum systems to suck gases back into a special filter system ( in the USA anyways)


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