Fuel filter

A fuel filter element comprising a tubular casing surrounding a central axis and having an upper part, and a lower part which includes a bowl, the tubular casing having an inner wall surface, a tube having opposite upper and lower ends and having an outer wall surface, the tube extending axially within the casing, said casing and tube defining an annular space between them, an annular filter medium located in said annular space, and upper and lower annular support plates extending between the casing and the tube adjacent said upper and lower parts of said casing respectively, said support plates being apertured to allow fuel flow through said support plates and through the filter medium, the apertures in the lower support plate being located only adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the lower support plate and proximate said inner wall surface of the casing, said lower support plate having an upper surface, a plurality of ribs extending upward from the upper surface of said lower support plate, wherein said ribs include upper ends that are in contact with a lower surface of the filter medium for spacing the lower surface of the filter medium upward from said upper surface of said lower support plate.