Secondary filter replacement interval?

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Warren Milberg

Warren Milberg

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Dec 1, 1999
2,391
Hunter 28.5 Chesapeake Bay
This is a question for Yanmar 2GM20F owners(or any other diesel owner with a primary and secondary fuel filter): how often do you change the secondary filter (2 micron) element? I just changed my primary fuel filter (which I do annually) and my secondary (which I tend to do every 2-3 years). The secondary was just about pristine after 2 and half seasons (+/- 150 engine hours). A friend of mine, with the same Yanmar, tells me he changes his primary annually and has never changed, and had no plans to change, the secondary. He has had no fuel-related engine problems in the 6 yrs he has owned his boat... What do you do?
 
B

Big Windy

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Jun 2, 2004
1,077
Several Catalinas C25/C320 USA
Filter

I have a 3GM30F and change them both annually. The primary is the expensive filter, the secondary is less than $10...you do the expensive one, why not the cheap one? Plus the secondary, at least on my engine, is easier to change than the primary.
 
Tom S

Tom S

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Feb 4, 2004
172
Catalina 36mkII Stamford, CT
We just had a discussion about this on another thread today

There are also a few other fuel filter discussions going on recently. Must be that time of year. Please Note: I do not recommend anything I did to anyone else I am just refering back some actual data points from my own experience. I have a 1999 Catalina 36 with a Universal M35B (bought in 2000 with 50 hours on it). I just changed the Racor 2 Micron (R15S) secondary filter for the first time in 8 years and 786 hours !! I just started see some vacuum across the filter with a vacuum gauge so I changed it. I still haven't changed my Universal (actually Kubota)engine mounted fuel filter yet. I probably should do that soon Here is the other thread with good discussion on this very thing http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?fno=21&uid=73198077794&sku=2008153182615.48&rid=2008154084430.18#2008154084430.18 Rich H has mentioned that after a while, whether clogged with crud or not, these cellulose filters will break down and might actually lose material and get holes in them
 
GuyT

GuyT

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May 8, 2007
406
Hunter 34 South Amboy, NJ
Both every year.

I am frightened of the consequences of an engine failing when I need it most. Cheap insurance!
 
Mike B

Mike B

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Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
Always change both

Warren, I always change both at the same time. I've had problems with both my boat and another I was running, both when new, due to dirty filters. I usually put about 100 hrs on the engine a season and change the filters out at season's end. It's just too cheap and easy to do. This way, if by chance, I pick up some marginal fuel I know I have fresh filters that should handle any issues. Mike
 
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