45CC fuel filter change

[RWSlater]

ok I guess it’s time I change the fuel filter. 2015 was the last change, has only had clean fuel for 2 1/2 years plus additive added each fueling.

As you can see from the picture, the filter is not easy to get to (I just love designers) and it’s right under my bed, so I don’t want to make a smelly diesel mess. The filter just screws off easily enough. I would like to have the filter less than full when I pull it off so I was thinking of how I can do that. Turn the fuel off and drain it out, but again I would rather not have a smelly mess in my little drain pan I put under it. So I was wondering if anyone has every changed their filter on the 45 CC and maybe turned the fuel off and then start the engine to get some fuel out of the in line and the filter. The feed line from the shutoff valve to the filter is about 3 feet. I don’t was to run engine dry of fuel.
How long do you think I should run the engine? Is this a ridicules thing to do?
I like the little pump and bleed screw on top of where the filter screw into.

How often to you change filters?

 

[Stu Jackson]

I understand your concern about it being under your berth. Regardless of how much fuel you have left in the bowl and filter, anything you spill would have to be cleaned up anyway. Just because you have half left doesn't mean you can't spill half of that half or all of that half!

My goal has always been to avoid spilling ANY. My solution has been a BIG coffee can (one pound). They have wide openings.

Others suggest freezer bags, the BIG ones, and not just regular plastic bags.

Drop the bowl and the filter into your receptacle and take it somewhere you can actually work on/with it.

With a little extra work, some other time, could you move the filter housing?

Good luck.

Some people change their filters yearly. When we bought our boat 20 years ago I was afraid of bleeding the engine, so didn't change the filter for two years. I've had this one in for four years. Somethin' to do this spring.

 

[KD3PC]

I use the thick, large ziplock with some dead rags in it....RW that filter has GREAT access to many I have seen.
And a pan under the filter..

bests

 

[JimInPB]

...
As you can see from the picture, the filter is not easy to get to (I just love designers) ...

It is my firm opinion that every engineer should be required to be a technician for a minimum of 3 years before he is allowed to submit his first design for fabrication.

... I don’t was to run engine dry of fuel...

No, you don't want to do that. It can be a real hassle.

Do you maybe want to consider relocating the filter assembly while you are in there?

 

[RWSlater]

Stu
The filter is a spin on type (like an oil filter) and has no bowl, so I was thinking I could use up some of the fuel inside the filter to get the level down so that when I spin it off I can keep it upright and not spill any out of the thing.
A big coffee can is a good idea however the bottom of the filter has the water train attached to it and there is no room to get the can under it BUT there is room to get a bag under and around the filter which I think may be the solution.
And yes I will explore moving the filter housing somewhere else at some point

Ron

 

[RWSlater]

It is my firm opinion that every engineer should be required to be a technician for a minimum of 3 years before he is allowed to submit his first design for fabrication.

Agreed! Airplanes too!!


No, you don't want to do that. It can be a real hassle.
True

Do you maybe want to consider relocating the filter assembly while you are in there?

Yes I will consider moving it

 

[RWSlater]

There is a part of me that wants to wait until I get the boat north to do the work, on the hard.
The filter is 2 ½ years old, only clean fuel has been used and additives used. But my first boat was bought with ¼ tank of fuel, sitting in Florida for an undetermined amount of time and 80miles out of Hilton Head the filter clogged and I had to change the filter at sea bobbing in 4 foot seas.

 

[John T1594]

My best solution in dealing with anything diesel is to buy a package of baby Pampers and overlap a lot of them around the area you are working on. They absorb a lot of diesel and they have a plastic liner to keep the fuel in place. I would not pour a whole filter bowl of fuel into one but they are great at holding onto those inevitable spills. I freely pump fuel into them when bleeding my secondary engine mounted fuel pump as they catch any drip and/or spill. Disposal and clean-up is easy.

 

[RWSlater]

It’s a Yanmar 4JH3-TE (circa 2007) and I “heard” it’s self bleeding/priming. I haven’t read it anywhere though.
The top of the housing has a pump and bleed screw so I’m wondering if I did idle to engine until it started quitting, bleeding so be such an issue. I honestly don’t know the answer though

 

[RWSlater]

Success! So I called the owner of a sister ship, and he said the bottom of his fuel filter (with the attached water separater bowl (it’s. 230 series)) was a good 2” from the floor. Mine was not, mine was about a ½” from the floor. So I did some measuring, and moved it up 2 “. Scary drilling new holes when the plastic fuel tank is right behind the bulkhead! I pulled the filter off while the housing was not attached and hovering over a gallon water jug cut in half. The filter was full but Very little leakage out of the inlet hose, maybe a few drops which dripped into the aluminum pan with paper towels in it. Screwed on the new filter, did not fill it with fuel (I had a second water separator bowl in stock) and then attached the housing to the new position on the bulkhead. Turned the fuel on and

Loosened the bleed screw thinking I would have to pump fuel into the filter, some fuel seeped out without any pumping. Started the engine and it ran a little rough for about 30 seconds and then ran smooth.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Ron

 

[artboas]

Success! So I called the owner of a sister ship, and he said the bottom of his fuel filter (with the attached water separater bowl (it’s. 230 series)) was a good 2” from the floor. Mine was not, mine was about a ½” from the floor. So I did some measuring, and moved it up 2 “. Scary drilling new holes when the plastic fuel tank is right behind the bulkhead! I pulled the filter off while the housing was not attached and hovering over a gallon water jug cut in half. The filter was full but Very little leakage out of the inlet hose, maybe a few drops which dripped into the aluminum pan with paper towels in it. Screwed on the new filter, did not fill it with fuel (I had a second water separator bowl in stock) and then attached the housing to the new position on the bulkhead. Turned the fuel on and View attachment 149630 View attachment 149631 Loosened the bleed screw thinking I would have to pump fuel into the filter, some fuel seeped out without any pumping. Started the engine and it ran a little rough for about 30 seconds and then ran smooth.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Ron

Ok, I have a the BEST idea in the world for you.
Ideally, what you really want is to have access to the underneath part of the filter, and to have it away from the wall so that you can contain any drips.
I have the same mounting, where the fuel filter is mounted on a board on the other side of the tank. The screws are quite short, so that you don't puncture the tank.
This board isn't very beefy material, and it's super easy to rip the filter off the wall if you put any force on it.
And, if you remove the screws once or twice, the wood will chip out.
So,,, what you want to do is as follows:
Make a 1/2" thick plywood block about 8" x3"
Drill & tap 1/4- 20 holes on the locations of the fuel filter holes. Get two 1/4-20 x 2" flat head bolts.
Then countersink the holes for the bolts

Drill 6 small holes for #10 screws.
Then, thread in the 1/4-20 bolts.
Mount the plate, and put a bit of epoxy behind the bolt locations.

Now, you have super-handy studs. All you need to do when you want to service the filter is spin off the nuts, pull the filter, and service it.
Then pop it back on, put on nuts & lock washers. Couldn't be easier!!

 

[RWSlater]

Nice AR, thanks

 

[artboas]

Glad you like it.
At most, a 1 beer job. But you will really be glad you took the time to do this!

 

[RWSlater]

I wonder if I really need to the type of filter that has the water separator bowl on the bottom if I change them every year? I would sure like to have a simple spin on filter instead.

 

[JimInPB]

A lot of guys who haven't had a history of water in the fuel, will just use the filters without the removable water bowl. As for me, I like to have them. In fact, I prefer the ones with the see through water bowls. That way I can see a problem coming before it hits me.

 

[artboas]

A lot of guys who haven't had a history of water in the fuel, will just use the filters without the removable water bowl. As for me, I like to have them. In fact, I prefer the ones with the see through water bowls. That way I can see a problem coming before it hits me.

The more things you have which alert you to trouble lurking, guarantees you less stressful times on the water.