Critical Signs That Outboard Motor Fuel Filters Need Replacement

If a boat were a human body, the outboard motor would be the heart and the fuel the blood. Therefore, a boat's outboard engine can only perform optimally with clean fuel. It makes fuel filters critical engine components for keeping water and debris from fuel lines. The last thing you want is a bad filter; therefore, you must watch out for signs of wear and take immediate action when necessary. This article highlights vital signs that outboard motor fuel filters need replacement.

Overheating Outboard Engine

The first sign of a clogged or worn-out fuel filter is an overheating outboard engine. If you do not regularly change the fuel filters in your outboard motor, they tend to block after some time and prevent the smooth flow of fuel through the membranes. Unfortunately, it also cuts off lubrication from critical engine components, leading to overheating due to excessive friction. Fuel filters could also be blocked or worn out if an engine keeps getting unusually hot for no apparent reason, even on short trips. Most importantly, immediate replacement of faulty fuel filters is crucial to prevent catastrophic engine breakdown due to overheating of critical components.

Low Fuel Pressure

Optimal fuel pressure is necessary to keep an outboard motor running smoothly and efficiently. Filters in optimal condition maintain adequate pressure as fuel flows to various parts of an engine. However, the pressure tends to reduce as fuel filters begin to clog. As clogging gets worse, it slows fuel circulation in the core components of an outboard motor. Fortunately, the low fuel pressure triggers dashboard lights in most boats, a sign that you need to inspect fuel filters immediately. Even if the clogging is not severe, it reduces fuel pressure and warrants immediate replacement.

Inadequate Power

When the filters in your outboard motor are clogged, they prevent fuel from flowing freely throughout the engine. It means that components such as pistons struggle to operate optimally due to a lack of adequate lubrication. Thus, you begin to notice difficulties in accelerating when trying to achieve cruising speed. The reason is that critical engine components do not receive adequate fuel to assist in acceleration. Besides, inadequate power caused by poor fuel circulation makes an outboard motor struggle at low speeds. If you ignore such symptoms, the chances are high that your outboard motor will die in the future. It is usually a sign that fuel filters have hit a point where there is too much blockage for fuel to flow easily.

Get some marine fuel filters so that you can replace them when needed. 


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