In line fuel filter - 8.1's

[Dkarolak]

This is my first season with my 2002 360 DA w/8.1's and getting her ready for winter I changed all the fuel/water filters as well as the engines. While at the parts store they asked if I wanted to change the inline fuel filters. Not knowing if the previous owner swapped them out I bought the OE filters. When I got down to the boat and traced the fuel lines to find the filters, none are present. Looking up my serial number online the parts list shows the filter with two barbed fittings on each end. Should I add the filters to the system? If I was going to add them, can someone with the filters on their engine recommend the best location for the filters and how to secure them so they are not just dangling on the fuel line in the bilge? Thanks! Dave

 

[jason78]

This may be a good read for you. http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/25757-Changing-the-Inline-Fuel-Filter-on-an-8-1s

 

[rondds]

All marine motors (even generators) seem to have two "lines of defense" when it comes to fuel. My 8.1s have Cool Fuel 4 so there's no inline filter, but there are two filters inside the Cool Fuel unit. My old Sea Ray had a bulkhead mounted filter as well as a spin-on water/fuel separator filter. I'm guessing there's a reason for double filtration so it might make sense to put that in-line thing back in there.

 

[my3sons]

You may want to double check for the port filter mounted on the stringer just inside and below the holding tank and the starboard filter mounted to the platform that supports the muffler, just aft of the crankshaft pulley. If I recall correctly, the filters are female pipe thread with a JIC fitting adaptor.

 

[carterchapman]

On my '05 340, they were on the port side of the respective engine's port stringer, on the fuel line, about a foot and a half prior to the water sep filter....

 

[Dkarolak]

Another note regarding my setup, I have 4 water/fuel separating filters, 2 on each engines. One is just after the fuel tank and then other is mounted on the engine. Perhaps the filter just off the gas tanks takes the place of the inline filter with the barb fittings?

On my '05 340, they were on the port side of the respective engine's port stringer, on the fuel line, about a foot and a half prior to the water sep filter....

 

[rondds]

That sounds right. Maybe someone replaced the in-line with a more easily accessible (and less ridiculously expensive) fuel filter.

 

[my3sons]

That's a possibility, my 360 didn't have spin on filters on the tank

 

[carterchapman]

That sounds right. Maybe someone replaced the in-line with a more easily accessible (and less ridiculously expensive) fuel filter.

I've never seen his configuration, so Ron - you may be spot on with that...

The GM fuel injected cars all have the inline filters, so I hope your extra spin on provides the same filtering capability as the inlines do...