Changing fuel filter and pre-filter

[cmedsailor]

Does it really matter if I change the fuel filter and the pre-filter (water trap) before or after lifting the boat out of the water for a couple of months? I mean it's not like oil that need to be changed before so I quess it will not make any difference. Correct?

 

[Piers]

I change the fuel filters as one of the last items before starting the engines for the first time of the new season.

However, I don't think it really matters when they are done, just as long as they are.

 

[ksutton]

There is a saying that you cannot over service and engine in a boat. My own view on fuel filter maintenance is that providing the engine has been serviced on time throughout the season at the correct intervals and I have not seen any water deposits in the filter water trap, I prefer to defer changing the engine fuel filter and pre-fuel filter until beginning of season. Even use the engine for approx 10 hours at beginning of season and let any winter accrued sediment go into the pre-filter, then change them both.

 

[Rustyknight]

I found that after sitting doing nothing in the boatyard all winter, it was easier to start the engine in spring using the old filters (with no bleeding the system necessary).

After running the engine for a while to warm up, changing the filters and then re-starting seemed far easier than when the engine was cold.

 

[pappaecho]

If the boat is on the quayside is the fuel tank full? If so then there is not going to be any condensation, so there is no reason to delay the changes.
If on the other hand the tank is half empty, then there is bound to be condensation, and if that is the case I would launch the boat, fill up, and then change the filters.

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

It is probably more important to change the oil and the oil filter to avoid nasty corrosive acids eating away at your nice bearings during the winter. The fuel filter can wait.