Racor Fuel Filter to Replace Yanmar Primary Filter?

[Brian B]

I was recently speaking to a Racor Rep and I mentioned the high cost of the Yanmar fuel filters. He related the primary filter (water separator mounted on bulkhead) is made by Racor for Yanmar.
I was searching the Internet and came across a German Co. for Yanmar. In their parts catalog they offer a Racor R20P 30 Micron as the primary filter for the 4BY2 engines. This filter attaches to the Racor 230 filter head which resembles what I have.
I called Racor and they cross referenced the Yamar Primary Filter 120650-55020 to their part no. S3204TUL (10 micron) which is used on a 445MAM filter head. This does not resemble what I have on the boat.
The first letter following the numbers designates the micron rating, S-2 micron, T-10 micron, P-30 micron.
I found an old thread that mentions the primary fuel filter should be 30 micron. I don't know the micron rating of the Yanmar.
Is anyone using a Racor cartridge to replace the Yanmar cartridge? If so what part number?
Racor filters are 1/2 the cost of the Yanmar.
There is no cross reference for the Secondary (engine mounted) filter with Racor or Wix filters.

 

[HRowland]

Hi Brian,

Refer to Yanmar bulletin MSA09-007 at: http://portal.mastry.com/bulletins/BY%2 ... er.doc.pdf

Some early BY2s shipped with a Racor labeled filter rather than the Yanmar labeled filter. The Racor used is a S3227 10 micron filter. This filter is labeled for Gasoline use but Yanmar states it is OK for diesel.

Statement from the Yanmar bulletin:

"In October 2008, it was decided that the fuel pre-filter would be a standard engine option for the BY2 engine series.
In the first shipment of engines, we have shipped pre-filters with a RACOR filter element instead of the Yanmar filter
element.
On some of these filter elements, it is mentioned that the filter can be used for GASOLINE ONLY.
This warning label is only valid when the filter is applied to outboard engines. This warning is to prevent electrical
water-probes being used in the assembly and potentially catch fire. [with petrol]
The filter element itself is 100% identical to the genuine filter elements from Yanmar, or the RACOR filter element for
diesel engines. Therefore, these elements are allowed to be used for our BY2-engine series
We apologize for the confusion this has caused in the market, but we can guarantee that the same functionality and
filter-specifications are valid for these elements."

There are pictures in the bulletin.

Howard

 

[knotflying]

Hey Brian,

Check out this link on Amazon. Supposedly this is a replacement for the Racor. You can't beat the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Sierra-18-7948-Micron-Fuel-Filter/dp/B001F0O1BI/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_i

 

[elan]

Good evening everyone,
We have installed a Racor series 500 with a 10 micron element to replace the factory water separator/filter & a vacuum gague at the helm.
My question is what is the particle size (micron size that is attached on the, engine as the secondary filter?
Thanks much!
Mike
M/V Elan
Cutwater 26 with a 180 hp Yanmar

 

[Hydraulicjump]

The secondary filter is 2 micron. Your 10 micron primary filter (Yanmar prescribes a 30 micron) will now take up most of the load. Good to have the gauge. My mechanic wants me to switch to a Racor 10 micron with vacuum gauge for the primary. That is the next boat project.

BTW after extensive hunting online I found that the FRAM P11057 Spin-On Fuel Filter (Amazon) is a much cheaper option for the secondary fuel filter. And of course, it is easier to get if, like me, you are not located near a Yanmar dealer.

My mechanic also pointed out that I had to be careful about substituting some filters for the primary because the fuel flow direction in the Yanmar set up is plumbed backwards (inside out vs outside in).

 

[elan]

Thanks for the infomation on the micron size for the secondary fuel filter located on the engine 4YB2 Yanmar!
Mike
M/V Elan
Cutwater 26

 

[nzfisher]

Does anyone know what BMW recommends for this engine? I would be happy to go to a 10 micron if BMW uses a similar filter. After all, it is their engine, not Yanmar's. Until I know better I will stick with paying the $90.00 every 250 hours for a 2 micron that is unavailable from anyone but Yanmar (as far as I know).

 

[Brian B]

Here's a link to the Racor Product catalog http://www.ilk-end.com/SharedFiles/Down ... 3&mid=1070
I believe my primary filter head is the 600 series shown on pages 23-26. On page 3 is the formula to calculate the GPH rating for an engine ( HP x 18%) and the filter should have a larger capacity rating. It is also recommended that the primary filter be 30 micron and secondary 10 or 2 micron. I measured the Yanmar primary filter and it is comparable to the Racor R45P filter measurements. The R45P would be a 45 GPH, 30 micron filter.
I'm with NZ Fisher in sticking with the Yanmar secondary without knowing more about that Fram. Just think about the intricate parts that filter is protecting.

 

[Brian B]

Here's a link to the Racor Product catalog http://www.ilk-end.com/SharedFiles/Down ... 3&mid=1070
I believe my primary filter head is the 600 series shown on pages 23-26. On page 3 is the formula to calculate the GPH rating for an engine ( HP x 18%) and the filter should have a larger capacity rating. It is also recommended that the primary filter be 30 micron and secondary 10 or 2 micron. I measured the Yanmar primary filter and it is comparable to the Racor R45P filter measurements. The R45P would be a 45 GPH, 30 micron filter.
I'm with NZ Fisher in sticking with the Yanmar secondary without knowing more about that Fram. Just think about the intricate parts that filter is protecting.

Update:
R45P does not match the original Yanmar filter and will not fit the filter head.

 

[HRowland]

A Racor S3227 will fit the primary filter holder/water collection bowl. Some early shipments of the BY2 engines included this filter element instead of a Yanmar labeled filter. Refer to Yanmar service advisory MSA09-007:

http://portal.mastry.com/bulletins/BY%2 ... er.doc.pdf

The primary filter (or pre filter as Yanmar calls it) is 10 micron, the engine mounted fine filter is 2 micron.

Neither of these specific filter models are used on BMWs. The predecessor to the BY2 series, the original BY series, used a completely different fine filter, this is likely a BMW version. This is an inline filter instead of a spin on. See http://www.oldportmarine.com/store/p222 ... ilter.html

Howard

 

[Joan and Jim]

Still looking for a substitute for the Yanmar secondary fine filter. On April 1, 2015, Hydraulicjump posted (below) that the Fram 11057 would work on the 6BY2. NZ Fisher then posted that until he knew more about the Fram, he would stick with paying $90 for the Yanmar. Brian B agreed with NZ advising us to just think about the intricate parts that the filter is protecting. The advice of NZ and of Brian is not to be taken lightly. (BTW, where I live the quotes on the Yanmar filter range from $170 to $250. Even with our current exchange rate, the cost is way higher than what NZ is experiencing.) Since NZ's post, are people, in addition to Hydraulicjump, now comfortable about the Fram? Its cost is $35.

Also relating to the Fram, I went to Lordco Parts. They cross-referenced the Fram with the Racor and their computer search confirms Hydraulicjump's view that it is a fit. They cannot get the Racor but is seems that there is agreement amongst the Tugnuts that the Racor would work fine. However, upon opening the Fram box, inside was a Mann 1150. Lordco contacted its other stores in the province and also other parts dealers. Those who had the "Fram" in stock also found in the box the Mann. Seems weird to me. Are the Mann and Fram the same filter?

Thanks in advance, Jim.

 

[knotflying]

My experience has also been that the Fram is actually a Mann filter. I carry the Filter with me as an emergency filter. I am a bit reluctant to use it since I was not able to confirm if it was the smaller microns or not. Additionally, you can see that the construction is not as robust as the Yanmar. What I do like is that it has the ability to use a wrench socket to put it on and take it off rather than squeezing in the strap wrench.

 

[Hydraulicjump]

I just replaced the filter last week. It fits fine and according to my mechanic it is the correct mesh size. The mechanic really likes the nut at the bottom of the filter, but points out that it gets real close to the ground wire on the bell housing. Still, seems to work just fine.

I happened to have an extra Yanmar secondary filter in the parts box so we put that one on rather than buying a Fram.

Although annoyed with Yanmar for making these filters 1) so expensive and 2) such a pain to get if you are not near a distributor (I ordered my Fram filter through amazon prime), the overall cost of the Yanmar filter is really noise in your operating and capital costs for the boat.