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Author Topic:   Changing Spin-On Filters

ScoutMan posted 07-01-2008 06:49 PM ET (US)
Is there an easier way to change out the fuel-water separator [spin-on filter other] than sticking a bucket or jar underneath the filter and draining? I'm also going to replace the entire unit to include the filter and the [filter manifold]. [Tell me] an easy step by step way to do this without catching myself and my boat on fire.
jimh posted 07-01-2008 08:10 PM ET (US)
If you relieve the pressure in the fuel system, when a spin-on filter is loosened there should not be a lot of fuel that spills.
Peter posted 07-01-2008 08:32 PM ET (US)
There shouldn't be any pressure in the fuel system.
Often the spin-on water separating fuel filters is mounted on the transom which is at a slight angle from vertical. Removing the filter will probably result in some spillage. I've rarely ever been successful (over many years of trying) in removing a spin-on fuel filter without spilling a little fuel as they are usually full to the brim. Best bet is to put a bucket under it to catch whatever spills and then pour the rest into a jar or equivalent. Use in lawnmower.
kazankota posted 07-01-2008 09:28 PM ET (US)
On a similar note I just mounted a new Racor (Fuel Water seperator) and the see-thru collection/contaminant bowl is filled with fuel from when the marina was running the new E-Tec. This might be a stupid oversight ( I just never looked before) but I always thought that it was empty unless water and contaminants filtered into it? I didn't think it was supposed to be filled with fuel.
AtoZ posted 07-01-2008 10:12 PM ET (US)
I just use a large plastic baggie. Zip it up when finished. No drips. I also put a paper towel in the bag so I can wipe the filter base down.
Peter posted 07-01-2008 10:21 PM ET (US)
Bottom of see-thru of Racor should always be full of fuel.
jimh posted 07-01-2008 10:58 PM ET (US)
Peter--You are correct--in an outboard there should not be pressure in the fuel system; most all outboard motor fuel systems use suction, not pressure, to move the fuel from the tank to the motor. As soon as you unscrew the spin-on cartridge the suction should be broken.
Technical fine point: "pressure" does not automatically refer to a positive pressure with respect to the atmosphere. It could refer to a negative pressure with respect to the atmosphere. But most commonly, people think of "pressure" as meaning a positive pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure. Suction is just negative pressure. When you open a fuel system in which there is suction, you relieve the negative pressure.
AtoZ--I like your suggestion on use of a plastic bag to contain any fuel spills when un-spinning the spin-on filter.
Peter posted 07-02-2008 08:25 AM ET (US)
If you are releasing a vacuum at the spin-on fuel filter when the fuel system is at rest, something is wrong in the fuel system venting because ordinarily the fuel system is vented to atmosphere and so the filter should be at atmospheric pressure when there is no demand coming from the motor.
Buckda posted 07-02-2008 09:46 AM ET (US)
Kazankota -
Your filter must be full of fuel in order to filter contaminants out of it - the "tank fuel" flows into the filter, through the filtering element, where both particulate contaminants and water contaminants are filtered out, and then the filtered fuel flows on to your motor.
In the case of the RACOR, the clear bowl is full of fuel; but when there is water present, you will see that it has separated out of the fuel by the filtration process and appears like a "heavy bubble" at the bottom of that bowl. As more water is filtered out of the fuel, the water bubble grows larger...and eventually, you notice it and open the petcock and drain the water out without the need to remove the filter element or housing.
In the case of the other spin-on filter/cannisters (i.e. Mercury or the TEMPO branded equivalent), the cannister must be removed and dumped into a jar or other container to determine the presence of water in the fuel. These filters are much less expensive than the RACOR, so there is some financial incentive to put up with this invonvenience.
Scoutman -
I think that depending on where on your boat the filter is mounted, you are always going to have a very little bit of spillage when removing the cannister. If I am very careful, I can usually get my cannister off the mount without spilling, but generally, I put a towel down and have a jar or other clean container standing by for the filter and fuel to be dumped. I usually use a series of paper and cloth towels to "refilter" the fuel and strain the dirt/rust contaminants out and put the fuel in my truck. If there were water present in the fuel, I'd just dispose of it along with my other waste oil at a local recycling facility, or take it to a local shop that can burn it in their hi-lo furnace.
ukuslayer posted 07-04-2008 03:37 AM ET (US)
A nice feature of the RACOR fuel-water spin-on canister filter is being able to open the petcock and drain some of the fuel within into a container. Then you can remove the element with no fuel spillage.
I really like the clear bowl of the RACOR filter to see if there is any water passing through my fuel system. I once helped a friend with his 40-HP Honda, and the problem was his spin-on filter was completely full of water. With a RACOR filter you would see that long before it became a problem. May be a little more expensive, but worth it.
As for the original question, [is there an easier way to change a spin-on canister fuel filter other than using a bucket under it and draining it], not really..
Aloha Sean

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Author	Topic: Changing Spin-On Filters
ScoutMan	posted 07-01-2008 06:49 PM ET (US) Is there an easier way to change out the fuel-water separator [spin-on filter other] than sticking a bucket or jar underneath the filter and draining? I'm also going to replace the entire unit to include the filter and the [filter manifold]. [Tell me] an easy step by step way to do this without catching myself and my boat on fire.
jimh	posted 07-01-2008 08:10 PM ET (US) If you relieve the pressure in the fuel system, when a spin-on filter is loosened there should not be a lot of fuel that spills.
Peter	posted 07-01-2008 08:32 PM ET (US) There shouldn't be any pressure in the fuel system. Often the spin-on water separating fuel filters is mounted on the transom which is at a slight angle from vertical. Removing the filter will probably result in some spillage. I've rarely ever been successful (over many years of trying) in removing a spin-on fuel filter without spilling a little fuel as they are usually full to the brim. Best bet is to put a bucket under it to catch whatever spills and then pour the rest into a jar or equivalent. Use in lawnmower.
kazankota	posted 07-01-2008 09:28 PM ET (US) On a similar note I just mounted a new Racor (Fuel Water seperator) and the see-thru collection/contaminant bowl is filled with fuel from when the marina was running the new E-Tec. This might be a stupid oversight ( I just never looked before) but I always thought that it was empty unless water and contaminants filtered into it? I didn't think it was supposed to be filled with fuel.
AtoZ	posted 07-01-2008 10:12 PM ET (US) I just use a large plastic baggie. Zip it up when finished. No drips. I also put a paper towel in the bag so I can wipe the filter base down.
Peter	posted 07-01-2008 10:21 PM ET (US) Bottom of see-thru of Racor should always be full of fuel.
jimh	posted 07-01-2008 10:58 PM ET (US) Peter--You are correct--in an outboard there should not be pressure in the fuel system; most all outboard motor fuel systems use suction, not pressure, to move the fuel from the tank to the motor. As soon as you unscrew the spin-on cartridge the suction should be broken. Technical fine point: "pressure" does not automatically refer to a positive pressure with respect to the atmosphere. It could refer to a negative pressure with respect to the atmosphere. But most commonly, people think of "pressure" as meaning a positive pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure. Suction is just negative pressure. When you open a fuel system in which there is suction, you relieve the negative pressure. AtoZ--I like your suggestion on use of a plastic bag to contain any fuel spills when un-spinning the spin-on filter.
Peter	posted 07-02-2008 08:25 AM ET (US) If you are releasing a vacuum at the spin-on fuel filter when the fuel system is at rest, something is wrong in the fuel system venting because ordinarily the fuel system is vented to atmosphere and so the filter should be at atmospheric pressure when there is no demand coming from the motor.
Buckda	posted 07-02-2008 09:46 AM ET (US) Kazankota - Your filter must be full of fuel in order to filter contaminants out of it - the "tank fuel" flows into the filter, through the filtering element, where both particulate contaminants and water contaminants are filtered out, and then the filtered fuel flows on to your motor. In the case of the RACOR, the clear bowl is full of fuel; but when there is water present, you will see that it has separated out of the fuel by the filtration process and appears like a "heavy bubble" at the bottom of that bowl. As more water is filtered out of the fuel, the water bubble grows larger...and eventually, you notice it and open the petcock and drain the water out without the need to remove the filter element or housing. In the case of the other spin-on filter/cannisters (i.e. Mercury or the TEMPO branded equivalent), the cannister must be removed and dumped into a jar or other container to determine the presence of water in the fuel. These filters are much less expensive than the RACOR, so there is some financial incentive to put up with this invonvenience. Scoutman - I think that depending on where on your boat the filter is mounted, you are always going to have a very little bit of spillage when removing the cannister. If I am very careful, I can usually get my cannister off the mount without spilling, but generally, I put a towel down and have a jar or other clean container standing by for the filter and fuel to be dumped. I usually use a series of paper and cloth towels to "refilter" the fuel and strain the dirt/rust contaminants out and put the fuel in my truck. If there were water present in the fuel, I'd just dispose of it along with my other waste oil at a local recycling facility, or take it to a local shop that can burn it in their hi-lo furnace.
ukuslayer	posted 07-04-2008 03:37 AM ET (US) A nice feature of the RACOR fuel-water spin-on canister filter is being able to open the petcock and drain some of the fuel within into a container. Then you can remove the element with no fuel spillage. I really like the clear bowl of the RACOR filter to see if there is any water passing through my fuel system. I once helped a friend with his 40-HP Honda, and the problem was his spin-on filter was completely full of water. With a RACOR filter you would see that long before it became a problem. May be a little more expensive, but worth it. As for the original question, [is there an easier way to change a spin-on canister fuel filter other than using a bucket under it and draining it], not really.. Aloha Sean