My Tipo is the first diesel car i have owned.
I have heard you are supposed to drain the filter thing (is that the thing that looks a bit like an oil filter in the engine bay at the right hand side?) every now and then to keep it running nicely.
I have no idea when this was last done and so i thought it may be a good idea to do it now.
The question is how
is it easy?
is it messy?
does it take long?
does it cause problems with restarting, like when you run out of fuel?

Ta mucho in advance.

have i done this a few times! right,have a small container to go under the filter when you undo it.also a bucket for throwing the old filter in[it is messy and smelly.].fill the filter half way with diesel if you can as this aids starting.the pipe to filter should have a new washer fitted.when fitting new filter,it is only hand tight like an oil filter.when you turn over the engine,it will take a few turns before fuel gets through and system self bleeds itself.but it will start.job dead easy actually.just a bit smelly.change the filter every other oil change.oil/air filter change every 5000 miles regardless what fiat say.fuel filter 10000 miles.use regular,a fuel injector cleaner to keep injectors and line clean.car will run much nicer for it.good luck.

Be careful not to unscrew the fuel heater (black bit) while removing the filter, and transfer the sensor to the new filter before filling it with diesel. Fill the filter as much as you can - the less air the engine has to pull through the better!