Perkins M20 - Fuel Filter

[bluenoser613]

Hello everyone,

I'm a new boat owner learning the ropes with diesel engine maintenance. I have a Perkins M20 on a 1995 Catalina 270.

I've not replaced the fuel filters before. The primary filter after the tank is a Racor. The second filter, a Perkins filter, is mounted upside down on the engine.

Here are the newbie questions:

How often do you replace/maintain each fuel filter? Is it number of hours like the oil? e.g. 100 hrs per oil change?

What kind of mess can I expect maintaining these filters? Any tips on limiting fuel leak mess?

Does anyone have a reliable procedure to bleed the fuel line after filter replacement on the Perkins M20?

Thanks,
Brent

[DeepFrz]

When dirty or at least once a year. Spring commissioning is a good time to replace them.

[perchance]

[QUOTE=bluenoser613;946714]Hello everyone,

I'm a new boat owner learning the ropes with diesel engine maintenance. I have a Perkins M20 on a 1995 Catalina 270.

I've not replaced the fuel filters before. The primary filter after the tank is a Racor. The second filter, a Perkins filter, is mounted upside down on the engine.

Here are the newbie questions:

How often do you replace/maintain each fuel filter? Is it number of hours like the oil? e.g. 100 hrs per oil change?

What kind of mess can I expect maintaining these filters? Any tips on limiting fuel leak mess?

Does anyone have a reliable procedure to bleed the fuel line after filter replacement on the Perkins M20?

Thanks,
Brent[/QUOTE

Your owners manual will have that information. If you plan on doing your own servicing and repairs I suggest you invest in a shop manual for your engine.

[Jbaffoh]

Originally Posted by bluenoser613

Hello everyone,

I'm a new boat owner learning the ropes with diesel engine maintenance. I have a Perkins M20 on a 1995 Catalina 270.

I've not replaced the fuel filters before. The primary filter after the tank is a Racor. The second filter, a Perkins filter, is mounted upside down on the engine.

Here are the newbie questions:

How often do you replace/maintain each fuel filter? Is it number of hours like the oil? e.g. 100 hrs per oil change?

What kind of mess can I expect maintaining these filters? Any tips on limiting fuel leak mess?

Does anyone have a reliable procedure to bleed the fuel line after filter replacement on the Perkins M20?

Thanks,
Brent

Perkins manual says every 12 months or 200 hours.

Bleeding is simple: Loosen the nipple at the top of the filter housing (on the pipe running from the filter to the injection pump). Manually pump the lever on the lift pump until fuel squirts from the nipple. Tighten nipple. It should not be necessary to bleed at the injectors (my M30 is very forgiving in that regard).

You can download Perkins shop manuals online.

[Jbaffoh]

Originally Posted by bluenoser613

Hello everyone,

I'm a new boat owner learning the ropes with diesel engine maintenance. I have a Perkins M20 on a 1995 Catalina 270.

I've not replaced the fuel filters before. The primary filter after the tank is a Racor. The second filter, a Perkins filter, is mounted upside down on the engine.

Here are the newbie questions:

How often do you replace/maintain each fuel filter? Is it number of hours like the oil? e.g. 100 hrs per oil change?

What kind of mess can I expect maintaining these filters? Any tips on limiting fuel leak mess?

Does anyone have a reliable procedure to bleed the fuel line after filter replacement on the Perkins M20?

Thanks,
Brent

Oh, and the mess is minimal--one paper towel will wipe it up.