D4 Fuel Filter - Good Lord!

[Rockjumper]

Are the original filters installed by angry gorillas at the Volvo factory? The C28 I picked up a few months ago has never had the fuel filter changed.

Tried getting it off yesterday with a good filter wrench but no luck. Looks like I'll need to remove a fuel line to get a bit more room and attack it with a breaker bar. Anyone have another suggestion? I thought the oil filters were a bit tight but, this is a whole different league.

 

[Captain Nice]

I use a nylon web strap wrench; has never failed. Cal-Van 814

CN

 

[PanaSeaAh]

Be sure to put a light film of grease on the gasket on the new one so you won't have to repeat the battle. The first time I tried to change my primary, it pulled the lag bolts out of the fiberglass. I also use a strap wrench.

 

[S. Todd]

When I did my new D-4 it was on tight but nothing like when I did the fuel filter on our 2015 D-3. That one I had to have my neighbor pulling on the filter wrench while I pounded on a drift to unscrew it. I was afraid I was going to break something but after the first full turn with the drift it would turn with just the filter wrench. When you put the new one on hand tight, like they should have done in the factory, it saves all kinds of energy and time every time you change it in the future.

 

[Mastercraft]

Try TWO of these at same time:
GEARWRENCH Heavy-Duty Oil Filter Wrench 3-3/4" to 4-1/2" - 2320D https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SR56W/re ... UTF8&psc=1

If out of stock on Amazon, try ebay. When I had the problem, there most have been many others too since Amazon was out of stock.

Look at my Sept 1, 2021 about same issue.

 

[BB marine]

The filters are Robot installed at the factory and have been an issue for years. I was told by a Volvo Penta technician that Volvo would be addressing this issue in the assembly plants. He also said that the boat manufactures were notified about the issue and Volvo recommended before the engine was installed to have the technician loosen the filter and replace if necessary confirming that the filter was installed as per recommendations. I'm going to speculate Fluid Motion didn't get the service bulletin or if they did forgot to pass it along.

Yes they are tight. I had to remove the complete filter housing block from the engine (D3) and put it in a vise, This required removing all the electrical components on the top side of the engine to remove the housing. The filter was so tight that the rubber seal actually scored the stainless steal sealing surface.
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When I contacted Volvo Penta Customer service (did't speak because they don't do that) Emailed them, they responded that this should have been taken care of from the builder or selling dealer which should be a Volvo service center. At the time Fluid Motion did not require their dealers to be an authorized Volvo dealer and service centers. Fluid Motion customer service response was "the filters are known to be tight" Basically deal with it. I did and never had an issue with it again.

 

[Rockjumper]

Thanks all for the recommendations. Hopefully can get this done without breaking the filter open.

 

[glider4]

I know this is different but I’ll throw this out. In my airplane the oil filter, which looks a lot like the d4/d6 fuel filter in appearance, was tightened and wire tied safe. For obvious reasons you didn’t want hot oil leaking from the oil filter and hitting the exhaust tubes directly below while in flight.
The filter was in the firewall and near impossible to reach with a standard oil filter wrench. Sometimes I had to take a really long Phillips screwdriver and tap, using a hammer, the screwdriver all the way through the filter. Then tap the screwdriver end with a hammer to get the filter to break loose. Messy but necessary at times.

 

[Headlee]

I can't add much more to the conversation other than I had the same experience with our 2015 C28. I almost gave up and tried Plan B, but gave it one more try and put every ounce of strength into it and it broke loose. My arm is still sore and that was two years ago.