Racor 500FG Replacement Filters

Irish Rover

Irish Rover

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My Yanmar 8lv320 engines were serviced today for the first time since I bought the boat. I was surprised when the mechanic removed the filters from the Racors that they weren't branded, and there was no indication on them of the micron rating. My mechanic said they're probably Ali Express knock offs but he seemed to think they were doing the job. He fitted 10 micron Parker filters. I didn't get the bill yet but the mechanic thought the filters would be around €25 each (all branded parts excessively expensive in Türkiye). Anyway I had a look on Ali Express and knock offs are, as you'd expect, considerably cheaper. Sunsail were obviously happy to use them and all other parts we took off were Yanmar branded. Is anyone here using knock off filters and what's the verdict?
 
I did for a while use the unbranded filter that came with my Racor copy housing, when I next changed the filter I got replacement from truck supplier, cannot remember the brand but industry recognised that were about £8 each
 
Parker filtration own Racor.... from google...

Who makes Racor filters?


Parker Hannifin Corporation

Racor, a Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation, is the global leader in fuel, air, oil, and coolant filtration systems for internal combustion engines and fuel delivery applications.
 
david_bagshaw said:
Parker filtration own Racor.... from google...

Who makes Racor filters?


Parker Hannifin Corporation

Racor, a Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation, is the global leader in fuel, air, oil, and coolant filtration systems for internal combustion engines and fuel delivery applications.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I read their blurb but it doesn't answer my question - are the cheaper non Parker filters good enough to do the job?
 
Irish Rover said:
Thanks. I read their blurb but it doesn't answer my question - are the cheaper non Parker filters good enough to do the job?
Click to expand...
I have used the ba;dwin ones and the gen item, personally I prefer the gen item, but it is sometimes useful to have a load of cheaper ones , when prepared to change them morefrequently...
Irish Rover said:
Are they not part of Parker?
Click to expand...
, didnt know that... but i see they are...
 
I have the 500FG, and at great inconvenience go to the local official Racor distributor every year to buy filters. In that sense, I can't comment on how good the off-brand filters are, as I've never used them. To me it's a matter of safety and seaworthiness -- is the fuel filter really the place where I'm looking to cut corners? I'd rather spend an extra £15/year to have the peace of mind. It's a tiny fraction of the annual boat budget.
 
As I said in post #4, Racor make the hardware.

It appears that Parker Hannfin Corp. make the filters. An associated company, but with a different skillset. Making high quality filters is a demanding business, as I found when visiting the Crossland factory in the 80's.

I worked for several years for Lucas Service. An associated company was CAV, the Diesel specialists. CAV supplied fuel filters, often from OE with CAV on the canister.

However, they were made by a fitration specialist and badged with the CAV logo. The filter specialist was probably Crossland, which was also a Lucas owned brand.

I use Baldwin filters for my three Racor 500's, from various sources. Never had a problem, we average 2,000 NM's each season, much under engine. The cost benifit is considerable if you buy in bulk.

The Chandler's at Kilmore Quay, Ardglass and Howth sell shitloads to the fishermen.

They would not buy if they were crap.
 
Thanks for the replies. Seems everyone who's contributed is using Parker or Baldwin, which are under common ownership with Racor, so probably the same with different branding. So nobody, except Sunsail, appear to be using the cheaper unbranded ones.
 
I have bought and fitted hundreds of the chinese copy filters and elements including fg500 copy filters for customers,(yes they know what they are getting)...the chinese fg500 are an exact copy of the racor units and can bought for as little as £17-19 a piece on ebay.

with over 40 years in filter element manufacturing experience, I can say that all the chinese filter elements I have seen are visually of good manufacture the encapusulation, moulding and media, number of pleats and spacing... always looks good...... what I cannot say is if the media is a nominal 30 micron or not, because I dont have the test equipment to measure it! at the begiining of the year target price for elements was £3.99 for 2 now its more like £6 each, increasing transport costs due to extended sea shipment from china.

incidently some unscrupulous chinese manufacturers will offer badge thier products as racor a big temptation just look at the profit margins........... (i dont need or ask for this ), so I would guess manyracor products in circulation are not the genuine article!
 
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I've been using chinese cheapy knockoffs without issue.

Its easy to change them, so likely better off as I change them more often.

To be fair, its easy and cheap so no reasonable excuse not to.

Perhaps more to worry about with a cheap knock off oil filter?
 
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