Fram Diesel Fuel System?

KD3PC · Oct 5, 2011

you will find many opinions about Fram, their filters and certainly their "marine" stuff...

IMHO, they are a car part company trying to get in to the marine market. It likely won't hurt as long as you change filters regularly, but it is not a Racor system, and does nothing to remove water. Their filters have been panned by many in the car parts market, marine stuff suspect the same.

I think that you will find their gear comparable to low end marine quality, and perhaps a bit off the mark of doing the job that your Yanmar needs.

I would budget soon for a complete Racor system, as it is much cheaper than relying on the FRAM gear.

wetass · Oct 5, 2011

I agree - Look around and you can likely find a Racor 500ma for around 150 or so - somewhere - They come up on sale at various places from time to time. There was a brand spanking new one at the Fisheries SUpply swap meet last month from their excess inventory for only ~$40 (almost bought it for a spare). Totally worth it when it takes < 30 seconds to change a filter with practically zero mess and the replacement filters cost ~$10 each. You never even have to bleed the engine if you do it right - and its hard not to. The ma has a metal bowl for a heat shield - I think its technically required if its sitting next to the engine, but I'm not sure 100% necessary for diesel. The drawback to the MA is that you can't drain the bowl as easily if you see water in there - still not hard, just not as easy as the model without the bowl since it has a little spigot.

Warren Milberg · Oct 5, 2011

I've been using a stock Fram fuel filter and cartridge on my H28.5 with the Yanmar 2GM20f for the past 8 years. I change the primary Fram filter at the end of each season or at 100 hour intervals, whichever occurs first. I change the secondary filter about every 3 years. I've found the Fram filter cartridge, which is a bit more difficult to replace than say a screw-on Racor, does the job of keeping the fuel clean enough. I am meticulous about keeping water out of my fuel by buying what I believe to be the freshest fuel around, and triple filtering it with a Baha-type filter before it goes into the tank. Finally, I keep a close eye on the condition of my deck fill cap and "O" ring. I've never had a fuel and/or fuel filter related problem on my boat.

Benny17441 · Oct 5, 2011

Check the replacement filter's model number. The only ones I have found that Fram offers for a water separator are #PS3808. Diesel engines are pretty tolerant of a certain amount of excess water so if you are not using a separator you may not even notice any ill effect. Filtering the fuel for dirt, dead organisms or impurities is important. So if you have replaced the fuel filter and need to perhaps wait until you can get a Racor unit for a separator there should be no harm done. The primary filter is there to protect and extend the life of the secondary filter on the engine which is the one that does the heavy lifting. I have heard stories about the maladies of water in diesel fuel with even claims about how it rusts the interior parts of the engine and although they are pretty entertaining there is no substance to them. As long as the engine runs Ok the amount of water in the fuel is acceptable. There is always water in diesel fuel and its just the excess amount that we are concerned with. I have come to believe that the water separating ability of the Racor is an overkill. Anyone remeber the old water separators with a washable filter element. I would drain a 1/2 cup of water out of it once a year and the engines ran fine and lasted 20+ years. Now I have a Racor which I need to drain every month and replace the filter every three months. Perhaps the secondary filter lasts a little longer but I could not swear to that. What is your take?

Fram Diesel Fuel System?

JDB

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KD3PC

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wetass

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Warren Milberg

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Benny17441

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JDB

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