B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
L ENGINE FUEL FILTER EICAS (Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System) MESSAGE CAME ON DURING CLIMB. EICAS MESSAGE CAME ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND REMAINED ON THROUGHOUT MOST OFF THE FLIGHT. LEFT ENGINE VIBRATED AND VIBRATION INCREASED DURING DESCENT COMPLIED WITH NON-NORMAL AND NORMAL CHECKLISTS [REQUESTED PRIORITY HANDLING] AND RETURNED TO ZZZZ. (Out of maintenance log.)We did not want to proceed over water with a possibility of fuel contamination. I was the monitoring pilot and completed the non-normal and normal checklists while FO (First Officer) was flying and handling ATC; I assumed the controls for the landing. We returned safely to ZZZZ. Excellent assistance from my FO.System malfunction.
B767 Captain reported an L Engine Fuel Filter EICAS message that was intermittent during a flight which made them return to departure airport.