Do I have one of these??

Surffx

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Apr 10, 2005
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Hey everyone, <br /><br />I am getting ready to winterize this weekend. I have a mercruiser 3.0L alpha 1 and am trying to follow the mfg. recomendations in the manual as well as a winterization article I found. There is a generic maintenance chart in the back of the manual and it says that once a year you should replace the "water seperating fuel filter" and the "boost pump pre-filter" I know what and where the fuel filter is but what the heck is the "boost pump pre-filter" and do I even have one in this setup? Any help would be great, thanks.
 

Don S

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Re: Do I have one of these??

You don't have one. Those were on some V6 and V8 EFI engines. Your 3.0 only has a mechanical fuel pump.
 

Surffx

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Re: Do I have one of these??

Sweet! Thanks!<br /><br />Case closed
 

Surffx

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Re: Do I have one of these??

Whoops, errr maybe I was wrong. At least I thought I knew where the fuel filter was. I traced the fuel lines from the tank all the way to the carb and can't find it. :confused: <br /><br />Anyone know where the fuel filter is on my Mercrusier 3.0L alpha? Thanks!
 

Don S

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Re: Do I have one of these??

There are 2, one in the carb at the line going in. The other is in the fuel pump. <br />NOTE: They are not waterseperating fuel filters. The 3.0 is the only Mercruiser engine that does not have one as standard equipment. Best thing to do is get an aftermarket filter kit and put it between the tank and pump.
 

Surffx

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Re: Do I have one of these??

hmmm,<br /><br />I went into WestMarine to get my winterization supplies. I looked up the part number of my oil filter in this "Fram" book they had. The book listed a number for the oil filter and right below it another number for a fuel filter. They both looked alike...ya know the big spin on canister deals. So I think I got ripped off on that one. However I would still like some info on these other ones you mentioned. How often should these be replaced? Every year at winterization maybe? Where would I purchase them?
 

vipzach

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Re: Do I have one of these??

When you buy a fuel/water seperator, the filter does look an oil filter. You have to buy the kit though first, it will come with the filter and the part that the fuel line runs to. Mine was around 20 dollars and easy to install. I had to buy two caps and the fuel line inlets for it.<br /><br />I changed mine last year at the the first of the season and again in the middle, just to see how it looked. <br /><br />You can buy them here at iboats, I bought mine from Bass Pro.
 

Don S

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Re: Do I have one of these??

You didn't get 'Ripped off', like I said, the 3.0L engine is the only Mercruiser engine that doesn't come standard with a water seperating fuel filter. <br />Here is a link to a typical filter type you can get from West Marine. This one is SS, which is nice because the Aluminum ones usually loose their paint and corrode after a couple of years if around salt water.<br /> Fuel Filter <br /><br />After you install the filter with proper fittings, hose and clamps (NO Teflon Tape) you shouldn't need to replace the fuelpump filter or carb filter unless you have problems with the WS filter getting too full of crap or water and allowing it to pass the filter.<br />Since you haven't had a filter installed, I would replace the fuel pump filter. Kit PN 35-803897K 1 from your Merc dealer, and check the screen and clean if necessary the one in the carb, it shouldn't need to be replaced unless it's damaged. It's a nylon mesh filter.
 

mike456

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Oct 23, 2005
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Re: Do I have one of these??

I have a 1992 5.7L Mercruiser that I bought this year. The fuel filter that's on it looks like the canister (oil filter) type but nothing on the outside if it indicates that its a water seperating filter. I plan to change it in the spring before I start'er up. Can I buy the water seperating canister and install it without a problem? I suspect that maybe the prior owner was too cheep to spend the extra $10 for the water seperating canister and used one that is just a fuel filter.
 

Scaaty

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May 31, 2004
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Re: Do I have one of these??

On subject, and I'm kinda curious as if there is really ANY difference in a "fuel/water sep" filter, and a regular oil filter. Both contain a filter media, and water simply heavier than water anyway, and gravity does its thing, not the filter. And if the filter media in a W/S won't let water through, I imagine the same with an oil filter. I have a canister fuel filter with a CG20 filter, and the media look no different than a oil filter. God, I love an oil question in the winter............. :D
 

Tail_Gunner

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Re: Do I have one of these??

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> There are 2, one in the carb at the line going in. The other is in the fuel pump. <br />NOTE: They are not waterseperating fuel filters. The 3.0 is the only Mercruiser engine that does not have one as standard equipment. Best thing to do is get an aftermarket filter kit and put it between the tank and pump.
:D You just saved me the expense of a fuel pump. Checked the fuel pump ceramic filter and she's toast, im just going to install one in the line.....Thank's Don...... ;)
 
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