Gas/water separator filter

prc03sx195

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 3, 2007
Messages
153
How often should I be changing the filter. It has 48 hrs on it. Three yrs old. Am I good to leave it go? This is on a 4.3 v6 mercruiser. Thanks
 

Bondo

Moderator
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Apr 17, 2002
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71,148
Ayuh,.... I change mine once a year when I do the end of season service, or if I have a runability issue,.....
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,149
And also dump the gas into a mason jar, this allows you to get a sense of what's in your fuel, and if your fuel tank might need cleaning, or is getting water in itgas from boat 2021 season.jpg
 

prc03sx195

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 3, 2007
Messages
153
Are the WIX or napa gold fuel filters comparable or better than the mercruiser brand?
 

KD4UPL

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 13, 2010
Messages
683
I change mine every year with a NAPA. I do it in the fall when I winterize. If there is water in there I don't want it freezing.
 

ratdude747

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 30, 2023
Messages
325
I do mine every year, although that means I've done it twice since I haven't had it (or any boat) all that long. Original (as I received the boat) was a badly rusted noname (boat sat for 12 years, but had a water intrusion incident 2 years prior to sitting; the filter was changed by the sketchy marina that had caused said incident). Last year I ran a Sierra (did fine); this year a Quicksilver (since the price was cheaper than sierra oddly enough), and the next two years will be Fram (since I found a couple of them at an outlet store for virtually free and the quality looks decent, about the same as the sierra and the Quicksilver).
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Jul 23, 2011
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50,478
Every 50 hours or once a year. Which ever occurs first

So if you are only getting 16 hours a year, you change them with your annual service
 

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
11,772
Definitely dump into a pickle jar to see if you are getting water intrusion regardless of how often you change. Can even do with fresh fuel from wherever you fuel up. That will tell you where, if any, water is coming from.

I got stupid and installed my tank vent upside down. Don't be stupid, don't be joe....
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Jul 23, 2011
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50,478
I got stupid and installed my tank vent upside down. Don't be stupid, don't be joe....
Ha Ha

Sounds like when I splashed I had the steering rack installed backwards..... Right was left .. made for interesting first splash
 

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
11,772
Ha Ha

Sounds like when I splashed I had the steering rack installed backwards..... Right was left .. made for interesting first splash
Trying to not go off topic but did the same on the 36 footer we bought about 16 years back. Sat for 12 years unused so I chose to redo and luckily had several folks at the dock sending us off that w could throw ropes to ...

To the OP, are you getting water or just a maintenance question?
 
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