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How To Change A Yamaha Fuel Filter On An Outboard Motor

How to Change a Yamaha Fuel Filter on an Outboard Motor

Why change out your Yamaha fuel filter/water separator? 

All would agree, a bad day on the water is needing a tow home because of engine failure.  One way to prevent a break down is to make sure your outboard motor is equipped with a clean, water separating fuel filter. A fuel-water separator will filter debris and water out of a boat’s fuel line, preventing it from reaching the engine. If your water separator is past it’s prime, the water goes into the injectors/carburetor, causing the engine to not run properly, in extreme cases the engine will stop running.  Fortunately, changing a yamaha outboard fuel-water separator filter is an easy, do-it-yourself project that can save you costly repairs in the long run. 

How to change a Yamaha outboard fuel filter/water separator?

A separator cylinder changes quickly and easily, and looks similar to the oil filter on your car.  The only tools you’ll need are a filter separator wrench and a screw driver.

1. Locate your fuel filter/water separator and remove the filter with the water filter separator wrench. Pour the gasoline from the filter into a clear container and inspect the fuel. If the gas is a single color, all is well. If there are two different color liquids, this is evidence that water and debris has entered the fuel. Indicating that the filter will need to be replaced more often.

2. Fill the new Yamaha fuel filter/water separator about 3/4 full with fresh, stabilized fuel before installation.  This will make priming the outboard fuel system, afterward, much quicker and easier.

3. First, hand tighten the replacement filter in place. Finally, making sure not to over-tighten, with the filter separator wrench.

When to change out your filter for a Yamaha fuel filter/water separator?

Yamaha recommends changing a fuel water separator every 50 hours.  A clean and fresh filter will help protect the other fuel filters on the engine and extend their service life. Also, carry a spare on board, just in case you get a load of bad gas and your filter gets overwhelmed. 

Happy Boating!

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