Fuel Filter (what is this?)

[Russ]

Went to launch the boat (finally) and when I hooked up the fuel line....fuel was leaking.

Opened the cowl and saw the fuel filter is leaking. It's only 3 years old and leaking from this black plug rubber thing at the bottom. Dry rotted it seems. Dang! Now how do I launch the boat? My tow rig is heading home after this. Fuel leaking like crazy out of that black pluggy thing.

I McGyver'ed it. Removed the dry rotted hose puggy and replaced it with a short piece of fuel line and plugged it with of all things, a mast pin (had it in tool box) with several hose clamps. Woala... no leaks. We could launch. Good enough to start the motor from the ramp to the slip. Tragedy narrowly avoided. Luna got safely into her slip and rested.

I quickly ordered a new fuel filter. Today I went up there and replaced the black pluggy thing from the new filter to the old filter because I can't remove the lower cowl with the boat in the water. I can't remove the fuel filter without removing the lower cowl.
So, hopefully, I'm good to go for the season. I'll replace the fuel filter (and maybe fuel lines) in the fall.

My question is what is that black pluggy thing for? It was my point of failure. I presume maybe for draining the fuel filter. But that's not easy.
Why did Suzuki put that point of failure on the filter?

[Jimmyt]

Water drain point would be my guess. Unit is configured to separate water. A petcock would be much better, but then the price point would be higher...

[Russ]

Yes...water drain would make sense.

Although it's not easy to remove that thing to drain water.

I have a proper filter/water separator. Although today's mission was to get the motor running again. Next step, add the filter/separator to the line

[rsvpasap]

That is to drain the water without having to remove the filter apparatus from the outboard. As you can see, when I had to deal with this, I found it easier to take the whole thing off of the outboard because I did the work without taking the boat out of the water.

[Russ]

I did the work without taking the boat out of the water.

How did you get the filter out while the boat was in the water?

I tried and couldn't get it out with only the top cowl off. I opted to twist the filter so I could get to the plug and replace it.

[rsvpasap]

I have a 2016 Suzuki DF60AV. Other models might be different. The fuel filter is pretty accessible by tilting the motor up a little bit, but it's a tight fit at a difficult angle to get your hand in the right space to release the clasp that holds the black drain plug in place. It was easier to me to just remove the filter, drain it, and put it back in place. I would love to see a photo of where you installed your proper fuel water separator.

[Russ]

Oh wow, Suzuki must have changed the location. My DF70 (2008) fuel filter is on the opposite side of yours. It's on the transom port side and lower beneath the lower cowling. I had to tilt motor DOWN and reach into the lower cowling, detach the metal bracket holding it and lift it up. Sorry, no pic and the boat is 90 minutes away right now.

I'll snag a photo of the external fuel filter/water separator next time I go up there.

The external filter is not connected right now. I had the hose for it fall apart, so I'm using my backup fuel line currently.