Fuel filter change

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saltyrob

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Fuel filter change

Hi folks,

We only ran our Volvo 2002 for approx 25hrs last year.Is it worth changing the fuel filter or will it do for another season. Usually change it annually.

Many thanks

Rob
 
Re: Fuel filter change

We skipped last year for the same reason but did it this year. Do you have a seperate water filter might be worth just checking thats clear.

Pete
 
Re: Fuel filter change

My opinion is the reverse, that because it's had so little fuel through means it's more likely to be gunged up, corroded or whatever. It's not worth the risk, not so much the engine but power loss through fuel starvation.
 
Re: Fuel filter change

Which filter are you talking about? the one on the engine or the CAV filter?

On our 2003, I change the CAV filter every year, and the engine fuel filter every two years - although it is being changed this year due to the engine being out and overhauled.

In fact, with the cost, I think everything is being replaced!!!


......expensive...... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif please don't ask.
 
Re: Fuel filter change

If it was your car then I doubt if you would be going to the garage and getting new filters every three days.
I would think it reasonable to expect 200 hours without problems.
I change mine at around 150 hours or every two years, whichever comes up first.
 
Re: Fuel filter change

Absolutely right. The natural insitinct is to change the oil filter before the fuel - wrong, in most cases.

And opening the fuel filter soon tells you if you've got troubles in the tank - just about as important a fact as you can want when at sea!

PWG
 
Re: Fuel filter change

no dont do it the only folk that want you to change it is volvo i change my filters every five years weather it needs it or not they are still purring like a kitten as we speek
 
Re: Fuel filter change

Boats are not cars!

I found that after a period of layup the movement of launching plus a sharp chop on the mooring stirred up sediment in my tanks (steel) and it blocked the primary filters, hence a warm up run then change the filters.

I recently changed a mates secondary engine filter on a newish bendytoy yanmar, full of crud after only a months use. The primary filter was an even worse mess.

Marina fuel supplies are iffy at best and I've had some real rubbish over the years, so unless you know you're getting the same quality and cleanliness of fuel that you buy for your car on the forecourt, change your filters regularly and allways carry spares, either that or take out a subscription to seastart.
 
Re: Fuel filter change

I understand your point.

But I would rather have a new filter in each year, and be reasonably certain that this would sort or remove any unexpected problem at a critical moment.

Also it is a regular service, at a time I can count, rather than trying to remember when I last changed it.

A few quid well spent I reckon.

Same applies to oil and oil filters.

JMHO
 
Re: Fuel filter change

[ QUOTE ]

Hi folks,

We only ran our Volvo 2002 for approx 25hrs last year.Is it worth changing the fuel filter or will it do for another season. Usually change it annually.

Many thanks

Rob

[/ QUOTE ]
Hi Rob

I think the answer is - it depends!
If you know your fuel is very clean, then by all means skip the change. So inspect your CAV prefilter bowl, and if it is absolutley sparkling clean - skip the change.

If there is some crud in it, it is perhaps time to look at cleaning out some of the fuel from the tank. I take about 15 ltrs of fuel from the bottom of the tank each year, the aim being to hoover up any crud at the bottom of the tank. I then filter the diesel and put it back it.

The first year I did that there was quite a lot of dirt - this will be the 4th year, and it has no crud in it at all. It doesn't take that long to do. Problem is that you have to be able to get at the tank from the top - which, due to numbskull builders, no- one thought about that when building....
 
Re: Fuel filter change

Changed my primary from the CAV type to Racor spin on. Makes changing filters dead easy ( and less messy). I change the primary at the start of every season and the engine filter every other season start.

What about impellers and alternator drive belts? I usually fit a new impeller at season start ( keeping the old one as a spare). Drive belts get swapped every other season ( again the old one kept as a spare).
I think not changing the fuel filter for five years is asking for trouble. Maybe I am influenced by a sphincter tightening experience of coming into St Marys in the Scillies in a charter boat when the engine cut completely and we were faced with a one shot chance of collecting the mooring under sail. Subsequent inspection showed the filter well clogged and clearly not changed for a while. My view is that anything that can be done to limit the sod factor should be done.
 
Re: Fuel filter change

Oh dear ...

So the years that filter worked without change in UK was a flook.
I get boat out here and change filters. Same year - I get blocked system.
Change filters, clean pumps, tank ..... had to change filters again shortly after again !

I posted a thread some time ago about cleaner fuels / additives etc. and possibilities to get tank crud in the system ...

I'll leave it to another to sort the search facility to link to it.
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: Fuel filter change

It appears that there are 2 diametrically opposite schools of thought - as it appears a matter of faith it's unlikely to find a meeting of minds on the matter.

I have a separation chamber, a Racor 40mu filter and a standard fuel filter on my line. Though I've had blockages in the line in the past, none of the crud has ever been in any of the filters, though I sometimes find a little water in the separation chamber.

I check the separation chamber every oil-change (100/250hrs) and do a visual on the Racor at the same time. In the last 1000 hrs I've not had to change the filters and have found no water in the separation chamber. However the boat is heavily used (3 years usage = 858hrs) and I choose where I get my diesel carefully, using a microfilter funnel and usually filling from shoreside filling stations.

Some points, the tank gets quite hot after 5-6 hours running (unfortunately not unusual in the Med), due to bypass from the injectors, and water is probably mainly evaporated off. Using, auto filling stations means the fuel is constantly turned over and doesn't have a chance to stand and get heavily contaminated (I've yet to find anyone who has had a bug-infection from anything but a marine filling station).

The fuel tank, when I cleaned it 3 years ago, after 15 years use, had a considerable amount of water and associated crud in it (blockages were occurring quite regularly in the up-pipe after passage through seastates 6-8) which I put down to regularly using marine diesel during the boat's sojourn in UK waters. At no time have I found any filter blockage.

So my observations would be:-
1. It's missing the real critical point in discussion of frequency of filter changes - of course engine manufacturers will endeavour to mitigate any costs involved in warranty claims and maximise profit on parts by specifying excessively short periods between filter changes.
2. The significant factor is the shortness of the period during which the fuel stands in the tank(s). Avoiding infrequent-use marina refuelling points and having a well-used engine are positive benefits.
3. On the balance of probabilities I think biocides have a negative value - they kill any bacteria and ensure the get into the filters - the only solution to a diesel infection is to steam-clean the tank.

Perhaps an overlooked benefit of red-diesel being withdrawn for leisure boating?
 
Re: Fuel filter change

If you have a CAV type filter change that every 6 months or so ( cost £1.20 , if you buy 5 at a time from local motor factors) then only change the main filter (cost £12 ish) if the CAV one appears dirty otherwise every 3 years. Well that's what I do and the regime was recommended to me by an engineer.
Regards
 
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