Can't get fuel/water separator filter off

Mobile Mike

Mobile Mike

Member
Aug 10, 2015
61
Mobile Alabama
Boat Info
205 Sport, 2012
Engines
5.0 Mercruiser
Servicing my new to me 2012 205 Sport. I have the 5.0 MPI. When I bought it back in July, the current owner bought it from one of his employees at his Toyota dealership that could no longer afford the payments. The guy I bought it from only used in a handful of times in the year or so he owned it. He did not do any maintenance on it. Kept it covered in his lift. Boat looks brand new. Amazing for a boat 3 years old. He said the previous owner changed the oil in it prior to his purchase. When I got it, it only had 45 hours on it. I always change all the fluids and do any other services needed at the end of every season, that way in March it is ready to hit the water. From what I can tell, this very well could be the first service it has ever had. I changed the oil and filter, had to fight to get the filter off, don't know why it was on there so tight. Changed the lower unit oil, PCV valve, cleaned the spark arrestor and filter.
Engine oil and lower unit oil very black, no metal shavings in the drain plug magnet of the lower unit, that's good, and no water in the oil, so I feel pretty good about it.
Now I get to the fuel/water separator. I cannot get it off. Like the oil filter, it is on there really tight, and being in the tough to get to spot that it is in, I cannot get any leverage on it. Any tips, tricks, suggestions for getting this thing off. I have tried the cup type puller from the bottom, not really enough room to get to it from the bottom, fought with it using a wrap around style puller, with not luck. I am not sure what to do next. At 6'1" and 210 lbs, I don't fit so well in the small storage compartment next to the engine bay that has an access panel between the two.

I'm afraid that I am going to tear up the filter, leaving me with a completely disabled boat if It does not come off.

I guess I am spoiled being that my last 2 boats were inboard competition ski boats, very easy to get to everything for service when you lift the engine cover.
 
Same as oil filter...I have done two things in my life...drive a long screw driver completely through it and try to turn it...may not be enough room...I have also taken a punch/dull chisel and a hammer and placed it up high on the collar near where it contacts the surface and slowly, bit by bit, make it turn until I loosen it enough to get it off.

Bennett
 
I have a pair of the player/claw type wrenches - if I can't get a cap wrench on it that is what I use. A tight filter can be a real problem sometimes.
 
physically remove it and mount it on a section of angle iron, use:
a chain wrench
long screwdriver
air chisel
last resort, puncture and drain any remaining fuel, use a torch to melt the rubber ring
 
No cool fuel 3 on that motor, old style spin on ? When you put the new one on, grease the gasket and hand tight is good enough
 
I had the same problem on my 5.0. I had to remove a hose to get a chain wrench on it close to the mounting end so it didn't just crush it. It took almost 2 full turns until I could spin it by hand. No idea why it was so tight. Maybe because it was a OMC filter.
Added. I'm not a fan of the screwdriver method. I've had them rip in half on cars using it. What a mess.
 
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I am thinking about removing the rear seat back and removing the panel behind it. Might give me better access. Anyone tried this.
 
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I wouldn't use a chisel or puncture a fuel filter in the boat either a spark or a bilge with fuel in it a real dangerous.

I use one of these slip it on & use a 3/8" ratchet with extension never had a filter I couldn't get off in 10 years with these. You can buy them at napa or oreilly K-D 2029.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d....oap?ck=Search_N0066_-1_-1&pt=N0066&ppt=C0164

DSCN1101_zpsqaez3rku.jpg
 
At this point, the old filter has to come off and you have to use whatever method works to accomplish that. The strap wrench pictured above is the best approach because it applies equal pressure around the circumference of t he filter can. Slie the strap up as high on the filter as you can because you can put enough pressure on it with t he strap wrench that you can actually twist the filter can. The more you deform t he filter can, the fewer options you have. The only other suggestion is to spray the filter base where the gasket is with PB Blaster on about 3 successive days before trying the strap wrench, It is a cheap approach and some of the penetrating oil may work its way under the gasket.

About the worst thing you can do is to put grease on the filter gasket. I'd bet the original owner put white lithium spray lube on the gasket, add hot summer sun, high rpms and vibration and the filter becomes almost welded on. Use only clean engine oil on filter gaskets.

Good luck with it............
 
Depending on your access, you might be able to use 2 of the strap wrenches above, opposing the handles for leverage, or even using a second person on one wrench. As Frank noted, try to get right up on the base of the filter to avoid crushing/twisting it.
 
fwebster said:
The only other suggestion is to spray the filter base where the gasket is with PB Blaster on about 3 successive days before trying the strap wrench, It is a cheap approach and some of the penetrating oil may work its way under the gasket.

About the worst thing you can do is to put grease on the filter gasket. I'd bet the original owner put white lithium spray lube on the gasket, add hot summer sun, high rpms and vibration and the filter becomes almost welded on. Use only clean engine oil on filter gaskets.

Good luck with it............
Click to expand...

Good advice never use anything but oil all your trying to do is have it lubricated so it won't tear the rubber seal when tightning it.
 
Grease works just fine, the trick is not to wrench it on. Hand tight . Not sure how sunlight, rpm's and vibration turns grease into a bonding agent ?
 
Thanks Frank, good advice. O'reilly's is ordering me a 2029 wrench from their Atlanta warehouse,
gives me a few days to let the PB Blaster to soak in.
 
Every competent engine builder and mechanic i have ever known have always said only use oil on filter seals. I am not a chemist, but have been told that ingredients that make most grease so viscous react (under heat and pressure) with the ingredients in the rubber seals to create adhesion. i have not, and will not test that theory.
 
Been using oil on these type seals on both oil, and fuel filters. Thin coating on the rubber seal, and hand tighten, makes it easier to take off.
To get the stuck one off: Try the strap wrench. If it slips, then you need something with some grip. Use an adjustable filter wrench. They have a slip joint like a pair of channel locks, and some teeth on it to grip with. If you can get a bite on it, and some swing, that should do it for you.
It may puncture the filter so put some absorb mats under it before you nite in to it.
 
I've used this type of filter wrench with success and prefer it to the strap wrenches (which still have a tendency to slip) as it has more of a positive bite.
 

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Juggernaut, I like that. I might have to add it to my collection. I might be concerned about the filter twisting and/or tearing, though...
 
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