The fuel filter might be a part that doesn’t draw a whole lot of enthusiasm from car lovers, but its function is essential to the well-being of your vehicle. Without the filter, your fuel could end up tainted by all kinds of crud, including dirt and paint chips. Not only does the filter help to shield your fuel pump and injectors, it also plays a significant role in ensuring that you are achieving the highest fuel-efficiency possible. For many people, it is easy to forget about the importance of the fuel filter, which results in too long of a time passing before changing it out for a new one.

This is one of those basic maintenance things. While it’s easy to put off, it’s necessary, and absolutely worth it, to get it taken care of. If your fuel flow becomes reduced because foreign particles are not being filtered out, then you will risk reducing your engine’s performance, as it won’t be able to freely draw fuel, as it so desires. So, be sure you are mindful of signs that it’s time to replace the filter. Here are five of those signs.

Shaky engine idling

If you’re sitting at a stop light and the engine is feeling all herky-jerky, then this could mean that you’re experiencing some kind of fuel flow inhibition, and there’s a fair chance that this could be because of a clogged filter.

No-start

Sure, there are myriad reasons why your engine might not be starting. But if your engine is unable to draw fuel this could be one of the reasons. If you’d already noticed symptoms of a fuel distribution problem prior to the no-start, then this makes your fuel filter all the more suspicious when trying to find the culprit.

Difficult to start

If you’re experiencing partial blockage rather than full blockage, your car may well still start, but it won’t necessarily do so without a struggle. At this point you’ll want to make sure that you address the problem quickly so that you don’t end up finding yourself stranded once the filter is totally done for.

Engine dies while on the road

If it seemed like your car was having fuel distribution issues, and then all of a sudden you found yourself stranded on the shoulder, this could well indicate the filter.

Struggle at low speeds

If your engine seems to be receiving fuel just fine while on the highway, but then seems all shaky while pulling out of your driveway or hitting the gas after the light turns green, then this is another sign that it could be the filter