Fuel Filters: Primary and Secondary

[FootballFan]

All,

Looking for input - what you normally do.

My primary filters are 10 micron Racor. Secondary filter, 2 micron, screws on the engine.

Have changed out primaries as needed, or periodically after a few tanks of fuel.

Secondary's were changed out early in the Fall last year.

Decided to change out Secondary today on each engine. Not experiencing a problem, but more as a preventative measure. When on the boat we tend to stay on the go for up to two weeks at a time.

If you have secondary's, how often do you change? Looked a bit - didn't run onto a recommended interval.

What is the general consensus?


Mark

 

[Boatingnut]

I average about 75 hours a season, change them once a year. The Racors always look immaculate. I use the same setup you do, 10 micron in the Racor and Cat filters on the engine, which I believe are 2 micron.

 

[aquadancer]

I change engine-mounted fuel filters once a year at winterization - all new filters, fluid changes, and winterization.

I typically have to change my primary Racors about half way through the season when I start seeing some vacuum on the filter gauges.

 

[alnav]

The Cummins Owners Manual for the QSB engine calls for both primary and secondary fuel filter change at 250 hours or six months, whichever comes first. I imagine the QSC guidance is probably the same but don't know. That said, I usually charge mine once a year at winterization time.

 

[FootballFan]

Not far off, the secondaries have over 300 on them.

Thanks

 

[JV II]

I change in the Spring, winter store in the water with the same filters and Biobor in the fuel. Upon Spring commissioning I do Frank's Spring cocktail while running the filters from last year through that whole tank to catch the winter crud, THEN put new ones in and run Biobor and Diesel Kleen with every fill-up. Repeat.

 

[fwebster]

How long the filters last is as much a product of your fuel quality and your fuel management as it is hours run.

I religiously treat my fuel with a biocide, Diesel Kleen, and Stanadyne Lubricity Additive. My marina sells Valvetech fuel and they filter the fuel at the point of sale. As a result, My Racors stay clean. I recently did a test to see how long I could run them.........I put 5 years and 650 hours on the port filters and changed the stbd ones every year. The 5 year old filters looked as good as the 1 year old ones, and t here was no more crap in the bowl on t he 5 yea side than the 1 year side. The message here is that even in the wet, humid and hot Florida climate, treating your fuel with good additives and managing the system pays off.

As a general rule of thumb, on the Racors, using 30 micron filters, 250hours or annually, which ever comes first, and on the secondary filters I use the same guideline. I have older mechanical engines so owners of common rail engines with electronic injection should follow their engine manufacturer's recommendations.