A fuel filter comprising a manifold , a connector element , a filter bowl , a filter element , a shutoff valve, an inlet port , an inlet passage , an outlet port , an outlet passage and a relief valve in which the connector element is fixed to the manifold , and the filter bowl is reversibly fixed to the connector element , the filter bowl is adapted to reversibly receive the filter element and is so configured that when the filter element is located within the filter bowl and the filter bowl attached to the connector element the filter element divides the space defined by the connector element and filter bowl into an inlet filter chamber and an outlet filter chamber , the inlet port is incorporated in the manifold , and the inlet port and inlet filter chamber are in fluid communication via the inlet passage , the outlet port is incorporated in the manifold and the outlet port and outlet filter chamber are in fluid communication via the outlet passage , the shutoff valve is biased by a biasing means into a closed configuration which prevents fuel flowing along the inlet and outlet passages when the filter bowl with a filter element located therein is not connected to the connector element , and connection of the filter bowl with a filter element located therein to the connector element causes the shutoff valve to be impelled into an open configuration which allows fuel to flow along the inlet and outlet passages , the relief valve is biased by a biasing means into a closed configuration in which fuel flowing between the inlet passage and outlet passage passes through the filter element , and movement of the relief valve into an open configuration allows fuel to flow between the inlet passage and the outlet passage without the fuel passing through the filter element , and the relief valve is caused to move into its open configuration when a predetermined fuel pressure is reached in the inlet passage . the filter bowl is adapted to reversibly receive the filter element and is so configured that when the filter element is located within the filter bowl and the filter bowl attached to the connector element the filter element divides the space defined by the connector element and filter bowl into an inlet filter chamber and an outlet filter chamber , the inlet port is incorporated in the manifold , and the inlet port and inlet filter chamber are in fluid communication via the inlet passage , the outlet port is incorporated in the manifold and the outlet port and outlet filter chamber are in fluid communication via the outlet passage , the shutoff valve is biased by a biasing means into a closed configuration which prevents fuel flowing along the inlet and outlet passages when the filter bowl with a filter element located therein is not connected to the connector element , and connection of the filter bowl with a filter element located therein to the connector element causes the shutoff valve to be impelled into an open configuration which allows fuel to flow along the inlet and outlet passages , the relief valve is biased by a biasing means into a closed configuration in which fuel flowing between the inlet passage and outlet passage passes through the filter element , and movement of the relief valve into an open configuration allows fuel to flow between the inlet passage and the outlet passage without the fuel passing through the filter element , and the relief valve is caused to move into its open configuration when a predetermined fuel pressure is reached in the inlet passage . <EOS>