.....regardless of what the maintenance schedule says, when would you guys recommend changing the fuel filter?

I change mine every time I change the oil but i also get the filters free so your guess on changing it is as good as mine

Do you know it has 2 fuel filters? I change them both at the same time as per maintenence schedule in the owners manual. Last time I changed them they both looked good. I try to avoid small mom and pop type gas stations where deisel might be dirty.

I dont know boys. I just had light come on dash telling me water in fuel filter. I brought it to the garage and they changed the filters 187.00 dollars later> Is ther some place I can get filters and change myself cheaper. I bought a diesel for mileage and ecomony but it seems it cost more to run. And the light still is on after they done this.

I've been changing both fuel filters everyother oil change, and draining the water out of collection point every oil change. Easy to do the water drain thing, it's located just in front of the fuel filter on the frame on the drivers side (under the driver's seat). Just need a 6mm allen wrench and bucket. You'll lose about a pint of fuel when you pull the plug. I always find great deals on the filters on ebay.