M5DI fuel filter

[BuFootin]

Anyone have a cross-reference number or manufacture/part number for the fuel filter on the M5/M6 Malibu engines?  I'm looking for the one that is mounted on the engine, not the one inside the fuel tank.  Thanks for the help!

 

 

[dlb]

I use either

Wix 57214

Napa Gold 7214

in my M6

[wdr]

I don’t mean to be a Debbie downer, but if you pull the “block fuel filter” on a still under warranty boat you may get your soul crushed by the dealer at a later date. IMO, unless you have had an incident with very bad gas or a sunken boat, I wouldn’t mess with it. If really you want to get a good idea on wether or not you need to mess with it, pull a fuel return line head on the top of the tank and have a look inside the tank. I think you will change your mind. 

[hethj7]

1 hour ago, dlb said:

I use either

Wix 57214

Napa Gold 7214

in my M6

He is looking for the fuel filter.  

[dlb]

16 minutes ago, hethj7 said:

He is looking for the fuel filter.  

Oops

[klntime]

Malibu Boats Part#E990004

 

[BuFootin]

Thanks kintime!  Any chance you have an aftermarket part number or manufacturer that matches the Malibu filter?

[ThrashMetash]

On 2/28/2023 at 6:38 PM, wdr said:

I don’t mean to be a Debbie downer, but if you pull the “block fuel filter” on a still under warranty boat you may get your soul crushed by the dealer at a later date. IMO, unless you have had an incident with very bad gas or a sunken boat, I wouldn’t mess with it. If really you want to get a good idea on wether or not you need to mess with it, pull a fuel return line head on the top of the tank and have a look inside the tank. I think you will change your mind. 

The owners manual has this being replaced every 150hrs so it seems the OP has a valid question.  I believe the fuel fiter he is talking about is quite accessible but just needs to be relieved of the pressure using the valve on the side.  I think it looks like a shrader valve.  Seems like it should be routine maintenance to me but I'm open to hearing other opinions.

[BuFootin]

You are correct.  It is a routine maintenance item accessible within the engine compartment.  To access the filter you do have to disconnect the battery, bleed the pressure using the sharder valve, then unscrew the canister containing the filter.

My main reason for posting is to determine if anyone has a cross reference number for that filter.  $60+ for a “Malibu” fuel filter is ridiculous.  Hoping to find a NAPA or equivalent quality filter before I spin off the canister to change it.

[wdr]

2 hours ago, ThrashMetash said:

The owners manual has this being replaced every 150hrs so it seems the OP has a valid question.  I believe the fuel fiter he is talking about is quite accessible but just needs to be relieved of the pressure using the valve on the side.  I think it looks like a shrader valve.  Seems like it should be routine maintenance to me but I'm open to hearing other opinions.

I totally agree with you and it is an easy to reach DIY job. Not to sound judgmental, but my point is/was primarily as a warning to wait until it falls out of warranty to DIY. At that point it probably still won’t need to be replaced but would be one less thing a dealer would have to deny a warranty claim should something weird happen before that time comes up. Case in point, on my brand new 16 hours M5 I had 2 plug wires #s 7 and 8 that were bad from the factory. As @dalt1 can attest to, if the dealer I use  would have found out that I replaced “that fuel filter” they probably would have tried to deny a warranty claim on the plug wires. Especially in that it took them 2 weeks and a call back to Loudon to figure it out. And I did get that speech after the fact when they found out I had drained the gas out of the tank thinking that it might have been bad gas! YRMV. 

[ThrashMetash]

I agree, makes sense to be careful about the warranty.

I would also like to know if anyone has a part number from another manufacturer.   I too find it tough to pay $60 for a simple fuel filter.

[ThrashMetash]

This one is $33.95 but doesn't appear to come with an o-ring

https://www.activewake.com/shop/boat-main/boat-parts/filters/malibu-fuel-filter-element-e990004/

[ranger]

Did you find a cheaper alternative?

[BuFootin]

Nope!  Bakes is the place to go or a local dealer 

[dizzygti]

Anyone find a cheaper alternative yet?   

[BuFootin]

I ended up buying the filter and o-ring  from Active Wake.  About $50 without shipping.  Pretty easy DIY filter change.

[dizzygti]

5 hours ago, BuFootin said:

I ended up buying the filter and o-ring  from Active Wake.  About $50 without shipping.  Pretty easy DIY filter change.

Check that price now.  I had it in my cart at $38, next day it was listed as $98 and that's without the O-ring.   Malibuparts has them briefly back in stock for $58 and I ordered two, but out of stock again.   

[23LSVOwner]

Yea, it's a specialized filter made only for Malibu, so dealer only.

[dlb]

Just wondering what folks are finding?

I see current costs from about $85 to $100.

Is there a better deal out there?

[BuFootin]

Unfortunately, that seems to be the “current” prices out there.  No plausible reason for that ridiculous price on a fuel filter/o-ring as far as I have been able to determine from researching it.  It’s a custom made filter for Malibu with the custom made price tag.  Haven’t had any success finding a cross reference filter.

[dlb]

3 hours ago, BuFootin said:

Unfortunately, that seems to be the “current” prices out there.  No plausible reason for that ridiculous price on a fuel filter/o-ring as far as I have been able to determine from researching it.  It’s a custom made filter for Malibu with the custom made price tag.  Haven’t had any success finding a cross reference filter.

Thnaks.  Unfortunately I thought that might be the case.