Filter Recommendations

[Peter3607]

'89 Carver 3607 Aft Cabin
Mercruiser 7.4L Blue Water Inboard Thunderbolt IV Ignition (gas)
What is the manufacturer's recommended oil filter and fuel/water separator filter?

Kohler Generator
Model 785R63 (I think)
7.5kW Single Phase 60 Hz
Looking for same manufacturer's recommendations as above.

Thanks!!

[tomschauer]

Mercruiser will recommend quick silver, the mercury brand. But you can Xref to any quality filters.

[buster53]

Any decent brand from either an auto or marine dealer for the oil filter will do. Reading different forums, Purolator doesn't have a great reputation.
As far as fuel/water filter, kinda depends on what kind of filter housing is there now. Probably best to use what is there now.

[Midnightsun]

I never ran "mercruiser filters", always cross referenced. Mostly because of availability and secondly they were priced ridiculously high being they were sold through marine stores. Have run Fram, Mobil1, Wix and Sierra however any cross referenced filter will work fine.

[Cooler]

Peter - try this link. There is usually the OEM parts listing as well as Xref to Sierra brand. Sierra warranty is better than most other brands. Been using Sierra for years, both oil and fuel filters. Have your engine serial number handy, easy to get to best part list for that engine. er

https://www.marineengine.com/parts/parts.html

[km1125]

I stopped using FRAM for anything when they did those tear-down analysis several years ago. Don't know if they every resolved the construction problems or ever moved away from the cardboard interiors.

I've used Mobil1 and Sierra mostly.

[Midnightsun]

Qr Bbpost I stopped using FRAM for anything when they did those tear-down analysis several years ago. Don't know if they every resolved the construction problems or ever moved away from the cardboard interiors.

I've used Mobil1 and Sierra mostly.

Time flies as that tear down thing you refer to goes back probably 15-20 years and like they say, don't belive everything you read on the internet.

Fram is the largest filter manufacturer in the world, no way can they produce stuff that would be inferior and wreck an engine. They are all built largely on the same principle. Can, filter media and a bypass

[Viper]

I can't speak for more recent production but I won't use Fram anymore either. I had their oil filters fail. One time, I figured after replacing a filter twice, that there was a problem with the oil pump. I had no oil pressure. Luckily a Chrysler Marine 440 oil pump is mounted on the outside of the engine so I tore it down and inspected. Nothing wrong with the pump, very puzzling. Put in another filter, a Fram because I had a few, and away she went. Opened up the bad filters and found black rubber chunks and a weird film throughout the media. I'm gun shy now! Having said that, the same manufacturer probably makes the exact same filter under several different brand names.

[tomschauer]

I was at Pep Boys the other day and they no longer stock Fram filters.

[Midnightsun]

If you do not trust a certain brand then by all means do not use it. Thinking you used and inferior product is not beneficial to your phycological health. Same goes for many who would not be caught dead using and after market filter or oil for that matter. Bottom line is you need to have a warm and fuzzy feeling based on your decision.

This is a very long video, definitely not scientific but does give you a really good idea of what is inside many of the brands. Oddly enough the end results were the best filters were Fram Ultra Synthetics and Wix Synthetic but this is just based on materials and construction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzCqjZgIMBk