While we're on the subject of fuel filters ... Is it recommended that both primary and secondary filters be replaced annually .. irrespective of hours on the engine. I have about 40 hours on my filters .. and I'm wondering if I need to swap.
Depends on how contaminated your fuel is. Clean fuel - change per engine manual. Dirty fuel - change more frequently. In the final analysis be careful where you get your fuel from.
...the primary Racor R20 has a recommended 500 hour changeover. The secondary Yanmar filter has a recommended 250 changeover. I do the secondary every year (spring) and I just keep checking the see-thru bowl on the Racor until I approach the 500 hours.
Looked at the first filter and saw a little junk in the bowl. Changed both filters. Both filters appeared slightly dirty. recently bought a west marine filter that is supposed to be better than a Baja filter at removing water and crude. Uses a teflon coated stainless steel screen. Practical sailor thought that they were great. Keeping crude and water out of the tank is the first step to having good fuel with few problems. I bought a couple of gallons of diesel at a BP service station and was surprised that I could see stuff floating in the fuel. Remember the good old days when fuel pumps had a clear bowl so that you could see what was going into your tank?? Fuel distributors were wise to hide the crude that they are now pumping.Tom
When I took my diesel course (highly recommended) 15 years ago, the very first thing that the instructor told us was to treat ALL fuel as suspect (no matter where it comes from). A couple of years ago I filled a jerry jug with marina fuel at a place that has a lot of volume turnover. When I finally put it into the tank during a cruise (about a week later) I was amazed to see impurities floating in the bottom of the jug after I had emptied it.
Which will show you when the flow is restricted enough to bother changing - that is the real issue. You can go all year with clean fuel, but if you get some water (and some growht) in the tank - or just plain dirty fuel - your filters can clog pretty fast.I don't actually know anyone who has said pressure guage. If anyone out there does, I would like to know your experience.
I like to run my fuel thru a paint filter funel at home to keep the big stuff out of my tank.Ichange my filters about every three years.I run about 30 gal fuel a year.If there is alot of junk in my paint filter I dump the fuel in my truck and get more for the boati
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