Audi A6 C6: How to Replace Fuel Filter
Changing the fuel filter isn't the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about standard maintenance, but changing this part regularly can save some major headaches down the road. In this article you'll learn how to change the fuel filter yourself on your '05 to '11 Audi A6 with the 3.2L V6 engine.
This article applies to the Audi A6 C6 3.2L V6 (2005-2011).
The fuel filter in your car is there to make sure the fuel running through your system isn't full of all kinds of gunk. While changing out the filter isn't something you'll find on Audi's list of recommended maintenance jobs, it can be very beneficial to change the filter out around once a year, or twice a year if you put a lot of miles on the car. While it's not as frequent or expected a job as changing the oil and oil filter, changing out the fuel filter on a regular basis can help prevent a lot of headaches for your fuel system down the road. Since the filter is constantly doing its job, this is less of a repair and more maintenance. Dealerships and professional shops generally charge somewhere around $130, but for the more mechanically inclined (or thrifty), this job can be accomplished quickly and much more cheaply. Let's get into how it's done.
Materials Needed
- Jack
- Flashlight
- 10mm socket
- T-20 Torx bit
Step 1 – Depressurize the fuel system
Begin by making sure the car is turned off and prying the cover off of the front passenger side trim to reveal the fuse box. Remove the 20 amp fuse in the orange panel of the fuse box, this will disable the fuel pump temporarily. Turn the car on and let it run for about 10 to 15 seconds to run out of gas, then turn the car off again.
Step 2 – Remove the belly pan
Jack the car up right in front of the passenger rear tire and locate the belly pan (skid plate) just in front of the tire. The fuel filter is located right above this pan. Remove the two 10mm bolts and the T-20 Torx bolt, which hold it on, then set the pan aside. You should now have a clear view of the fuel filter.
Step 3 – Remove the old fuel filter
Now that you can see the fuel filter, it's time to remove it. Begin by uncoupling the two fuel lines at the back of the filter. To do this, push down on the fastening tabs, push the line toward the filter, then pull it away. Loosen the Torx bolt that holds the filter into its bracket. Once the filter is free of the bracket, you can remove the final fuel line by squeezing the bottom of the clip and sliding it off.
Pro Tip
When you remove the fuel lines, gasoline will spill out. Make sure you have something below the filter to catch it.
Step 4 – Install the new fuel filter
Now that the old fuel filter has been removed, it's time to install the new fuel filter. Hook the filter up to the fuel lines (they will click into place) and position the filter in the bracket. Tighten the Torx bolt back into the bracket and double check the three fuel lines. Once you are sure that the lines are secure, start the car and check for leaks.
At this point you should have no fuel leaks and the car should run normally. Replace the belly pan and clean up your workstation—you're done! You won't have to worry about doing this job again for another 365 days.
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