hpwhite
Junior Member
Prestige 36 - D6s (2006)
Posts: 17 
Country: UK
|
Post by hpwhite on Jan 20, 2015 11:15:44 GMT
Hi everyone, my 36 has 2 x Volvo D6 engines. I would like to attempt to change the fuel filters. Has anyone undertaken this job themselves and if so, could you explain the process and how easy or complicated this task is? Thank you.
|
|
|
|
Post by napoleon on Jan 23, 2015 16:20:12 GMT
Hi,
The secondary fuel filters mounted on the engines are very straightforward being regular screw on screw off types.
The biggest problem are the primary filters which are mounted on the bulkhead accessed from under the cockpit floor and positioned aft of the gearboxes.
The starboard one is not too bad but the port one was located by a relative of Houdini and is only accessible by relatively small persons. Once access is obtained the cleaning process is simple. Unscrew the lever type handle on top which will allow the tops to be removed. Inside is a filter cartridge which can be lifted up with a plastic loop built into the cartridge.
I should have said that before removing the tops it is important to turn off the fuel supply with the valves on top of the fuel tanks as if the fuel level in the tanks is higher than in the filters then the fuel will overflow from the filter body.
A drain screw in the bottom of the filter body allows any dirt or water to be removed.
Two tricks: As a one-off job it is worth moving the port filter towards the starboard side for ready access. Mine is now just to the right of centre and is easily reached.
Secondly, by controlling the level of fuel in the filter body (keeping it just above the outlet hole) by means of the valves on top of the fuel tanks, it is possible to change the filters and drain the muck without having to bleed the system afterwards.
Hope this helps,
Napoleon
|
|
Jim O'Donovan
New Member
Posts: 2
Jeanneau Model: Prestige 36
Home Port: Sovereign Harbour
Country: UK
|
Post by Jim O'Donovan on Mar 13, 2018 8:30:58 GMT
I am just about to undertake this operation too. I know this thread is now 3 years old but would be very interested in any further information you may offer. Such as, the port filter hoses won't be long enough to reach the preferred new location. What hoses did you use and where did you get them (I know Google can assist here but as you guys have done it...).
And did you keep the original filter housings or swap out for a more modern glass type?
Many thanks. Jim. "Christy" 2005 Prestige 36 with D6 310hp in Sovereign Harbour.
|
|
|
|
Post by napoleon on Mar 19, 2018 11:19:13 GMT
Hi Jim,
Can't remember where the new hose came from (I think a local hydraulics supplier).
Not difficult to to obtain but - goes without saying - must be the correct quality.
I used the existing metal filter housing only because I have more faith in metal rather than glass.
Good luck.
regards,
Napoleon
|
|
|
|
Post by so36idavid on Mar 19, 2018 22:59:34 GMT
I am just about to undertake this operation too. I know this thread is now 3 years old but would be very interested in any further information you may offer. Such as, the port filter hoses won't be long enough to reach the preferred new location. What hoses did you use and where did you get them (I know Google can assist here but as you guys have done it...). And did you keep the original filter housings or swap out for a more modern glass type? Many thanks. Jim. "Christy" 2005 Prestige 36 with D6 310hp in Sovereign Harbour. Jim, Welcome to the forum! I replaced my primary fuel filter with a Racor 230r. This includes a self-priming pump so that bleeding the system after maintenance is dead simple. If you are going to move the primary I would recommend something like this. I'll never go back to a vanilla fuel filter. If you do get this unit I recommend getting a couple of oil filter strap wrenches. Getting the filter off and separated is a PITA. David P.S. I recommend hoses that are approved for fuel and marked as such. If the boat is ever inspected or surveyed they will pick this up. Expensive but if you ever have an engine room fire you'll be glad. |
|
Jim O'Donovan
New Member
Posts: 2
Jeanneau Model: Prestige 36
Home Port: Sovereign Harbour
Country: UK
|
Post by Jim O'Donovan on Aug 31, 2018 10:00:17 GMT
UPDATE....
Since I bought my JP36, I have had fuel issues up until last week (hurrah).
Firstly, as the port pre-fuel filter is in such an inaccessible position, service engineers (before my ownership) have ignored it and it was clogged up with gunk to the point that it had collapsed in on itself. Main symptom was port engine revs dying once reaching 2000rpm. Resolution: getting a little VP engineer to change the filter. (The filter housings were the original metal bulb units).
But before he changed the filter element, he told me that the fuel pump on the engine was faulty as it wouldn't pump manually when bleeding the fuel. I accepted this and he changed the pump. Only then did he change the collapsed pre-fuel filter. Can you see what's going on here? Yes, the pump of course wouldn't be able to pump as the pre-fuel filter was all clogged up. (Or the fuel was switched off - I don't know). The long and short is that I believe I didn't need a new pump. The entire cost of this fiasco was well over £1,000 as I also had to pay for 2 weeks berthing fees. All for the price of changing a pre-fuel filter which costs £12.
After this (that was back in November 2017), the port engine was always slow to start. It would turn over for a good 20 seconds before I would try again where it would always start. So, I turned DIY as I now had no faith in VP engineers.
Firstly I bought 2 new Recor 500 series housings (June 2018) with glass bowls and swapped them out for the original Jeanneau installed units. This was quite a simple job as I realised that I could remove the timber bulkhead aft of the gearboxes.
Unfortunately it didn't resolve my slow starting port engine but was great to get this task done.
Next I decided to change the primary fuel filters on both engines (August 2018). Did the starboard one first which was very easy. As for the port one (insert many expletives), what a job. My brilliant VP engineer who swapped out the fuel pump must have used maximum torque on the filter because it was a real bitch to unscrew. I was very close to driving a screwdriver through it. But with the help of a fancy rubber belt filter remover (my own one was useless) I eventually got it off. Installed the new filter, replaced the water sensor, bled for air and job done.
Result: I now have a beautifully starting port engine.
So I can now see the whole episode for start to finish (isn't hindsight a great thing).
1: Port engine revs die at 2000rpm due to fuel delivery issue.
2: VP engineer diagnoses failed fuel pump and replaces it (was not required).
3: VP engineer changes pre-fuel filter which is totally clogged up and collapsed due to suction (too late as crud has been passed from collapsed pre-fuel filter to new primary filter)
4: Port engine slow to start (now known to be due to crud escaping from collapsed pre-fuel filter).
BTW, I have cleaned and reused the original Jeanneau Racor filters (they were full of diesel bug jelly) in a homemade fuel polishing system.
Moral of the story: Keep your fuel healthy with fuel treatment and maintain your filters yourself.
I am now an expert in fuel delivery systems!
I hope you all had a great summer 2018. I know I did.
Jim
|
|
|
|
Post by MalcolmP on Aug 31, 2018 10:52:34 GMT
|
|
