How much of a spanner am I

[LoneWolf]

Today was my first ever oil change day.

I know the square root of nowt about engines but thanks to copious amounts of research on here I’d been down the auto parts shop armed with a list of 3 different options for a part number for the filter. I eschewed all the oil in the shop, ignored the patronising tone of the chap who explained “C, D, E, F it goes like that, means it’s a higher grade so better” and explained that bore glaze was a problem in an under loaded boat engine with your high grades and none of your fancy new fangled additives either (I have no idea what all this means) Got some proper oil (API: C) from the boat place. Gloves, plastic bag all set. Checked manual picture, looked at engine located pump & filter, drained oil; all fine so far. Spent 30 minutes trying to get the filter to loosen trying various bodily placings contortions, grips & rubber gloves (I don’t have much grip with my left hand this week and have puny girl wrists anyway). Finally loosened it and got it in the plastic bag – hurrah! But hang on, it doesn’t look very dirty more of a reddish colour, and too thin – ARSE! I’ve just removed the fuel filter – what a spanner!

 

Anyway all fixed now – the oil filter is hidden on the other side, under the engine in the dark corner where you can only ever see a bit of the end of it. And the thing I thought was the fuel filter (therefore making the one on the engine the oil filter) is… another fuel filter.

 

Why do I have 2 fuel filters? Do I change them both at the same time interval as in the manual (600hrs) or what?

[OptedOut]

The first filter is probably a combined fuel filter/water separator.

The name for this bit of kit escapes me at the moment.

[OldGoldy]

The first filter is probably a combined fuel filter/water separator.

The name for this bit of kit escapes me at the moment.

 

sedimenter? agglomerator?

[OptedOut]

sedimenter? agglomerator?

 

Agglomerator was the word.

[Naughty Cal]

I believe most marine engines (of the modern variety) have two fuel filters. One is a water trap and the other filters sh*t out of the fuel. Its a good idea to check the water trap on a regular basis to see if you have any fuel issues.

[LoneWolf]

Agglomerator was the word.

 

 

Thanks all - now that i know what it's called I can research any maintenance required....

 

 

I believe most marine engines (of the modern variety) have two fuel filters. One is a water trap and the other filters sh*t out of the fuel. Its a good idea to check the water trap on a regular basis to see if you have any fuel issues.

 

 

... and see if there's a water trap to check

[KenK]

Thanks all - now that i know what it's called I can research any maintenance required....

 

 

 

 

 

... and see if there's a water trap to check

 

Follow the fuel line from the tank, first filter looking objet you come to will (should) be the water trap. It will (should) have a fitting on the bottom, take small container open fitting and drain the trap, close fitting. You don't need to drain much out diesel floats on water so water (if any) is at the bottom. Leave it to stand for a while the diesel and water (if any) will seperate. Job done.

 

Ken

[Albion]

Follow the fuel line from the tank, first filter looking objet you come to will (should) be the water trap. It will (should) have a fitting on the bottom, take small container open fitting and drain the trap, close fitting. You don't need to drain much out diesel floats on water so water (if any) is at the bottom. Leave it to stand for a while the diesel and water (if any) will seperate. Job done.

 

Ken

 

Can also be a filter/agglomerator in which case drain as described but also change the filter which is first in line for all the muck from the tank. You can usually tell if it has the filter incorporated because there will be an obvious filter marked with make and numbers mounted above a grey aluminium housing with the plastic drain 'wing-nut' type drain fitting at the bottom. The other (second) filter is often fitted on the engine by the mariniser and, being second in line, won't be as vulnerable to the dirt as the primary.

Roger

[ditchcrawler]

Today was my first ever oil change day.

I know the square root of nowt about engines but thanks to copious amounts of research on here I’d been down the auto parts shop armed with a list of 3 different options for a part number for the filter. I eschewed all the oil in the shop, ignored the patronising tone of the chap who explained “C, D, E, F it goes like that, means it’s a higher grade so better” and explained that bore glaze was a problem in an under loaded boat engine with your high grades and none of your fancy new fangled additives either (I have no idea what all this means) Got some proper oil (API: C) from the boat place. Gloves, plastic bag all set. Checked manual picture, looked at engine located pump & filter, drained oil; all fine so far. Spent 30 minutes trying to get the filter to loosen trying various bodily placings contortions, grips & rubber gloves (I don’t have much grip with my left hand this week and have puny girl wrists anyway). Finally loosened it and got it in the plastic bag – hurrah! But hang on, it doesn’t look very dirty more of a reddish colour, and too thin – ARSE! I’ve just removed the fuel filter – what a spanner!

 

Anyway all fixed now – the oil filter is hidden on the other side, under the engine in the dark corner where you can only ever see a bit of the end of it. And the thing I thought was the fuel filter (therefore making the one on the engine the oil filter) is… another fuel filter.

 

Why do I have 2 fuel filters? Do I change them both at the same time interval as in the manual (600hrs) or what?

Take a look at http://www.tb-training.co.uk/13bfuel.htm#bmn43

[LoneWolf]

Cheers Ken & ALbion, I'll have a look tomorrow when it's light.

 

Thanks, that's a good site Ditchcrawler - have bookmarked it.

[Yoda]

Lone Wolf, well done and welcome to the lonely waters of self abuse. You really nearly got it right first time I guess, the fuel filters need to be changed if you do not know the last time that they were inspected.

[LoneWolf]

Lone Wolf, well done and welcome to the lonely waters of self abuse. You really nearly got it right first time I guess, the fuel filters need to be changed if you do not know the last time that they were inspected.

 

Yoda, your words of kindness, thanks for.

 

It did make me laugh. I'm enjoying the learning tbh, I think my life before boating was somewhat lacking challanges.

I didn't actually change the fuel filter, just shoved the old one straight back on still holding it in the plastic bag with only a small bit of fuel spilt.

 

Engine was serviced just before i got the boat which helps; I'm learning to do things as they fall due.

I'm near a good auto parts shop at the moment so I'll be getting fuel filters now for when the time comes I think.

[churchward]

Thanks all - now that i know what it's called I can research any maintenance required....

 

 

 

 

 

... and see if there's a water trap to check

 

I would change both fuel filters at the same time otherwise you have an issue of bleeding the system twice and filters of a different age/condition.

 

As Phylis says the first filter in the line separates water out of the fuel so needs to be checked regularly (weekly say) to drain off any water.