Explain this to me Please

[dwna1a]

Im not a gearhead. So can someone explain this to me in simple terms please.

I've changed all my fuel filters and one was very bad. Another boater said it may have been caused from a collapsed filter. What is that and how does it happen?

 

[Lazy Daze]

I've changed all my fuel filters and one was very bad. Another boater said it may have been caused from a collapsed filter. What is that and how does it happen?

I'm not sure I understand the question. What does "one was very bad" mean? What exactly was bad and how do you know? And... ask that other boater what the heck he is talking about. What did/does a collapsed filter cause in terms of your initial question? Filter media can get a hole in it (or pleats can become separated, especially with cheap filters), but I don't understand what he means by "collapsed"?

 

[dwna1a]

The fuel that came out of it is beyond nasty. It has what looks to be shredded leafs in it. Small brown paper bag looking.

The guy behind me races cars. He used the term about the filter and I'm just trying to understand what he meant

This was the filter just under the fuel pump. Separator filter was alright and the carb filter was fine ( freshly rebuilt )

 

[Loyd Dinneen]

How old is the fuel? Old fuel especially gas station gas setting for a long time in your tanks will distroy a fuel element especially a cheap one.

 

[Timeflys]

Maybe not exactly the same situation but...I used to own a Benz and was discussing maintenance requirements with the service manager. He stated that cheaper oil filters were available but they used a paper element which would breakdown under high temperatures and dissolve. Fwiw.
Were your filters recommended by the manufacturer??

 

[dwna1a]

Fuel was new, less than a month old. It was mixed with about 20 gallons from early Spring. I only get fuel from the marina.

It was a Serria filter, I replaced it with a Fram.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Isn't the one directly below your fuel pump a spin-on style?

From what you've said, it sounds like, to me, that there's a build up of old varnish/gum/fuel and the new fuel (ethanol?) is dislodging it. Could be coming from the tank, as well (very likely, in fact).

By the way, at 31 years old, if you haven't done it already, it's overdue for new fuel lines.

FYI, Fram is one of the worst. After cutting some apart, they are very cheaply made on the inside. Sierra is better. Merc is better than Sierra. Mallory, Wix, Baldwin make good ones, too, if you simply don't want to buy a Merc product.

 

[dwna1a]

The fuel has ethanol but is treated with Valtec. Hampton Marine will be replacing the fill lines this month. The lines from the tank to the engine are all new (last month).

I will order the Wix, I want to run her a month and pull the filter again and see what I find.

It is the one under the pump that was so bad, I have no idea when it was done last. Tomorrow I hope to go out for a test run

 

[Lazy Daze]

Ethanol is a good "cleaner"... but the down side is that it breaks up all the varnish/sludge/whatever that accumulated over the years and sends that towards the engines. Luckily, good filters "should" catch most of it. The additives that are in Valvtect, though, don't do anything to combat this - they have a different purpose.