DIY Fuel Filter - A3 8V 2.0 TDI 150ps (vag ea228 engine)

Shortyian

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DIY Fuel Filter - A3 8V 2.0 TDI 150ps (vag ea228 engine)

Just changed Fuel filter on my 2.0 TDI Sportback.

It's not too hard to find videos / pics on fuel filter changes but i thought i would document to help others as only a few specific to A3 8v... attempt at your own risk obviously!

Before anyone mentions about keeping full audi service history etc i'm planning to keep the car long long term & i keep all the receipts as proof / document my own service history in service book.

My car has 18k on the clock but is a 2013 and has never had this filter changed. I think Audi state 60k but i think this is quite a long time personally & at nearly 4years old the filter so i decide to change it.

Torx driver is all you really need for this change (think it was T20 or T25 - sorry i didnt make a note)

Bungee cord / string

New filter

Fresh diesel / jerry can

Turkey baster or syringe

Small clamp


I wrapped the filter housing in an old towel to avoid any diesel spilling.

IMG 7794

I pre soaked the new filter in fresh diesel inside a cleaned out / dry large pop bottle.

IMG 7793

I clamped the middle fuel line to minimise diesel draining from fuel line to engine.

The torx bolts on the top are only 5nm torque so not very tight at all. Once these are removed gently pull up on top cap - it should just pull up no need to pry open. Use bungee cord or string to hold it back. The filter housing should be full to the brim with diesel (this is how it should look once new filter added & ready to close back up)

Slowly lift out old filter into a container or sealed bag ( as will leak diesel) check bottom of canister - it should be relatively clean - you can drain if you wish or remove any bits with turkey baster or syringe. As you can see from photo this is what it looks like after 18k miles.

IMG 7795

Insert new pre soaked filter into housing. You may need to either remove a bit of diesel if too full or top up with fresh diesel. If topping up with fresh diesel only pour in the sides (not the centre hole as this will fill up itself through filter - this should only be filtered diesel in there as goes direct to engine from there)

Once topped up to the brim apply a little diesel to rubber seal & re attach cover with screw bolts & removed clamp from middle fuel line.

IMG 7796

A lot of people claim you need VCDS / VAGCOM Etc to prime fuel system / avoid running pump dry etc but i didn't use it doing this method - if you just chuck in bran new filter bone dry / don't top up with diesel then you will need to prime / bleed air from system. The way i did it there will only be a tiny amount of air left as housing full of diesel / fuel line clamped.

Car started first turn of the key without any hesitation what so ever - allow to idle for a few minutes & thats job done.....i don't know if it's just in my head but the car definitely feels like it responds to acceleration a little quicker than it used to!
 
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Forgot to add these - from a vw golf but exactly the same ea228 engine
 
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Nice write up. I agree that VCDS isn't essential to change the filter and many garages wouldn't take the same level of care that you have. I suspect that VCDS is recommended by some as it acts as a safeguard against possible contamination with people pouring in dirty diesel from old contaminated containers etc.
 
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Just carried out my annual full service again & replaced fuel filter - some may say this doesn't need doing once a year but for the small cost of the filter it's well worth doing! Only done about 6-7k miles this year and the filter was a little dirty still so who know what they must be like if you go off 'audi's recommended intervals' i'm sure it's something silly like 60k miles !
 
Another year has come and gone. Another full service completed. Anyone else attempted this yet? Old fuel filter was suprisingly discoloured after only 9k miles, well worth doing in my opinion ever year given the cost of the filter.