Racor Filter element

[hooligan6a]

I have a Yanmar 3YM30 engine with a Racor 500 filter What is the best element to use a 10 Micron or 30Micron? know it is not the 2Micron

[a64pilot]

It's a pre-filter of course used to get all the big bits out so the final filter doesn't clog as quickly.
I belive most use a 30, but either will work, the 10 will clog a little quicker, but will remove more trash and keep the final filter from having to catch so much.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Like A64 was trying to say... Depends on which filter you'd like to change the most...

30 will mean most of the stuff will get caught in your engine filter....

10 will mean you have to change the Racor more frequently...

[Sailmonkey]

Fwiw I use a 2 micron and never change the engine filter.


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[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Fwiw I use a 2 micron and never change the engine filter.


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ITWW (it was worth)

One boat has a 10 that I haven't changed in years... Change interval and supply health is indeed relative...

[Triumphant]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Fwiw I use a 2 micron and never change the engine filter.

+1
Changing the Racor filter only means I do not have to bleed the engine so much quicker to do in an emergency

Also I have fitted a vacuum gauge which has saved me serious bucks avoiding unnecessary filter changes

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Fwiw I use a 2 micron and never change the engine filter.

Check some of the other threads on this here. Be aware that several engine manufacturers specifically warn against using 2 micron primary filters, and void warranties if they are used.

The point of a primary filter is not to avoid ever having to change the secondary.

Mark

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by colemj

Check some of the other threads on this here. Be aware that several engine manufacturers specifically warn against using 2 micron primary filters, and void warranties if they are used.

The point of a primary filter is not to avoid ever having to change the secondary.

Mark

This is how I understand it and have seen the same recommended by most mechanics.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by colemj

Check some of the other threads on this here. Be aware that several engine manufacturers specifically warn against using 2 micron primary filters, and void warranties if they are used.



The point of a primary filter is not to avoid ever having to change the secondary.



Mark

My engine is well past warranty, and consumes less than 1/2 GPh all while moving less than 10 GPh all on a filter rated at 60 GPh with a 2 micron filter.


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[darylat8750]

I can't find the threads that indicate warranty void with 2 micron fuel filter. Can someone include a link please?

[Greatketch33]

I was at a Yanmar Macboring class last year. They advised not using less than 30m on the filter prior to engine fuel filter. Something about creating too much "draw" pressure.

I wish I took better notes on this particular bit of advice.

Greatketch33

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Greatketch33

I was at a Yanmar Macboring class last year. They advised not using less than 30m on the filter prior to engine fuel filter. Something about creating too much "draw" pressure.

I wish I took better notes on this particular bit of advice.

Greatketch33

I would call "draw pressure" a vacuum.


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[robert sailor]

I had the same advice but it was no less than a 10m.

[Sailmonkey]

If the vacuum gauge doesn't move I don't see how my massively oversized filter is starving the engine.


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[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

My engine is well past warranty, and consumes less than 1/2 GPh all while moving less than 10 GPh all on a filter rated at 60 GPh with a 2 micron filter.


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We have used 2 Mc Filters in our Racor FG500 filters on two different boats since 1987 without any difficulty over thousands of miles and hours of running time. If one changes one's filter element at regular intervals (we do at 100 hours) there doesn't seem to be any problems. For the sake of the exercise, on one occasion when we changed our filter element I cut it apart to compare with the 10 Mc filter element on a neighbor's boat who was also changing his at the same time. Our's had somewhat more detritus than his but both elements likely had several hundred useful hours of life left.

On the matter of "warranties" being voided by using 2 Mc filter elements, I have yet to have any confirmation of that from any engine dealer and we have asked numerous reps at various boat shows over the years including those for Yanmar, Beta, Westerbeke, Perkins, Kubota, etc. I think the allegation is a myth, perhaps perpetrated by OEM filter element resellers?

FWIW...