Cummins Marine Diesel Repower Specialists Forums General Discussion Multi-Stage filtration for small boat diesel 39hp Yanmar 3Jh5E Diesel

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  • #18296

    Aidan Coughlan
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Holly
    Engines: Yanmar 3jH5E 39hp
    Location: Southwold
    Country: United Kingdom

    Hi there.

    I’ve just bought a sailboat with a new’ish 39hp Yanmar engine and a 20+ yr old tank. With diesel bug apparently becoming more prevalent, I’m looking around at ways of making sure the quality of the fuel getting to the engine is good, and that we avoid clogged filters as much as possible.

    While researching, I found the Fleetguard Multi-stage “The seaboard way” article here https://www.sbmar.com/articles/marine-fuel-filtration-the-seaboard-way/ , and later found a small sailing yacht using this system http://www.cruisingindigo.com/fuel-system.html

    Without knowing much about this, the filters in these seem huge flow capacity for the small 39hp size of engine we have (consumption maybe 4-6 litres per hour), whereas the FS5013 (for example) seems to copes with around 400 litres per hour. Engines mentioned here are up to 10 times the size of our little marine diesel.  

    Our only primary Fuel Filter at the moment is a Racor 120A (30 micron, spin on filter with glass bowl), flow rate up to 15GPH.

    http://www.parker.com/parkerimages/Racor/10219%20Rev%20A%20(120A%20and%20120B%20Series).pdf

    My questions are…Is there any downside to using over-sized filters like the FS1000 and FS19513 other than cost & size ? Is it OK to leave the filter on for several years at a time if it’s not clogging ? Alternatively, what heads/filters do you guys recommend as a multi-stage filtration system for small-diesel boat owners. Is there something like the #1 KIT https://www.sbmar.com/product/1-multi-stage-fuel-kit-fs1000-fs19513/ but with smaller filters ? 

    Also, any thoughts on plumbing a secondary parallel set of filters with a quick-changeover switch, perhaps plumbed so that it could do “normal” duty as a fuel-polishing setup ?

    Many thank,

    Aidan.

     

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  • #129977

    Aidan Coughlan
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Holly
    Engines: Yanmar 3jH5E 39hp
    Location: Southwold
    Country: United Kingdom

    Thank you

    I just did  a search on my engine (for a different reason)… I’m embarassed that I never replied to this post, I must not have clicked the “follow-up via email” / seen a reply at the time.  I know it’s (5 years) too late now, but thank you for replying.

    (BTW, I’ve been using the single Racor primary since without problems, but still think about doing this from time to time. So many boat projects to get to!.

    #18323

    Tony Athens
    Moderator
    Vessel Name: Local Banks
    Engines: QSB 6.7 550 HP
    Location: Oxnard, CA
    Country: USA

    Just to add to David’s post that he did not address..

    There is no concern about going for years without changing filters–We have many local boats that go years between filter change outs.. IMO, Extra large capacity filters are always better… Yes,  probably most sail boats with engines like yours operate on ONE off-engine pre-filter like you are now,  but there are many , especially those that went cruising in other “places” that wish they had an over sized  larger capacity multi-stage system…Just 6-8 ounces of water on a fill-up could easily overwhelm even a Racor 900 on a  smaller fuel tank………..Remember, you can never have “too clean #2..

    Tony

     

    #18312

    David Marchand
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Atlas Pompano 23
    Engines: Yamaha 70 hp 4 cylinder/cycle
    Location: Punta Gorda, Florida
    Country: USA

    99% of sailboats with engines like yours use a Racor primary filter followed by the engine manufacturer’s on engine filter. Usually they are set up with a 30 or 10 micron for the Racor and then the on engine filter is typically 2 microns.

    These have worked well for ages.

    An enhancement is a dual Racor system which Racor sells as a package with all plumbing and valves. Or you can plumb your own. This makes switching in a new filter when you have problems easy.

    Although I don’t see any problems with a very large capacity Fleetguard filter system, I don’t see any advantages either assuming that your fuel tanks are reasonably clean.

    David

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