Change diesel filter without spill

[MJH]

With the OEM secondary diesel filter mounted horizontally on my Volvo Penta D2-55B engine I find it impossible to change the fuel filter without spilling diesel into the bilge. I have tried the bag method without success. I have heard of another way by punching a hole in the filter with a nail and draining before removal but haven't tried it. The available space to put anything of any appreciable size close to the filter is nil. Does anybody have a sure-fire way of changing the filter without spilling diesel.

[Hobiehobie]

I have a large plastic soda bottle cut to shape that fits under the filter and is shaped to snug around the filter base. You can get it started with the strap wrench and then put the soda bottle under it before the oil comes out. I use the same device for the fuel filter too.

[skipperpete]

Originally Posted by MJH

With the OEM secondary diesel filter mounted horizontally on my Volvo Penta D2-55B engine I find it impossible to change the fuel filter without spilling diesel into the bilge. I have tried the bag method without success. I have heard of another way by punching a hole in the filter with a nail and draining before removal but haven't tried it. The available space to put anything of any appreciable size close to the filter is nil. Does anybody have a sure-fire way of changing the filter without spilling diesel.

Yours must be quite different, the lube oil filter is horizontal but the secondary fuel filter is vertically mounted and its easy to catch spillage with a yoghurt container. If for some reason the secondary fuel filter has been installed horizontally on the engine, consider remotely mounting it on a bulkhead and connecting it with flexible fuel lines.

[Bowdrie]

I can say this with assurance: When you remove the engine mounted filters, (both fuel and oil,) and remote mount them your life becomes so much easier and stress free.