fuel separator

[nob]

hi, can anyone recommend a fuel separator its for an sr4 with merc 50hp 2stroke, i was thinking of bolting it to the transom, cheers

[Peter_C]

Others will disagree with me, but any type of spin on canister filter, that doesn't have a plastic knob or plastic bowl to fail will do the job. One good hit to the plastic fittings and they could break, leaving you with draining fuel inside your boat, and no fuel to your engine. Whereas a metal canister will just dent and off you go...

[jyasaki]

Pete's tight; I'll disagree with him. Not about the canister type filter, but about the bowl. It does depend on the boat, and pretty much any blob with fittings sticking straight out will be at risk, but I've had no problems with the plastic bowls on my Racor (though granted, mine's pretty out of the way, too.)

If you mount it in a location where other gear (battery, spares kit, whatever) sort of runs interference for the bowl (with respect to impact) you shouldn't have any problem. The bowl does make it relatively easy to see contamination and drain it should it be required (and no repriming the canister, which can be a PITA.)

jky

[mick]

Just fitted these to mine fairly well protected but you could always cover the base with a tin

[Peter_C]

What benefit does the bowl offer on a gas powered vessel? If you change the fuel filter annually there really shouldn't be a need to see the fuel. Diesel's are another story. Once you have fought air leaks on a diesel you start appreciating simplicity. Been there done that! I am never keen on plastic fittings either, and that is what they make all their drain cocks out of.

Here is every reason not to use a bowl type fuel filter. 5 people in the first thread experienced leaks.

Racor Leak - Cruisers & Sailing Forums
Leaking Fuel Filter
One review of leaks.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...ew#showReviews

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

What benefit does the bowl offer on a gas powered vessel? If you change the fuel filter annually there really shouldn't be a need to see the fuel.

Diagnosing **** in the fuel in ten seconds flat. It shouldn't be there, but if the engine stops at sea you have a quick way of figuring out why.

I don't have one (my boat has a Volvo water separating filter element) but I've been thinking about fitting one. Like many projects, it hasn't got past the thinking about stage

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

What benefit does the bowl offer on a gas powered vessel? If you change the fuel filter annually there really shouldn't be a need to see the fuel. Diesel's are another story. Once you have fought air leaks on a diesel you start appreciating simplicity. Been there done that! I am never keen on plastic fittings either, and that is what they make all their drain cocks out of.

Here is every reason not to use a bowl type fuel filter. 5 people in the first thread experienced leaks.

I've had a right mare with my clear bowl water separating filter this summer. I replaced the canister filter element and all of the 'o' rings and it's leaked air in to my system ever since. I've removed it for the time being and only using the outboard filter that has a water sensor within and it's all OK. However I would like to re-install the old filter as I know the importance of the visual aspect of the filter. When I've saved some money I might try a different manufacturer/design.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

What benefit does the bowl offer on a gas powered vessel? If you change the fuel filter annually there really shouldn't be a need to see the fuel.

Ability to easily drain any water that accumulates in the filter, before it blocks the filter. Plus you can see if any sediment is filtered out, which may alert you to a need to do more investigation.

I am never keen on plastic fittings either,

Yeah, well, as you're a DIR guy, why does this not surprise me?

Here is every reason not to use a bowl type fuel filter. 5 people in the first thread experienced leaks.

5 out of how many setups out there? Doesn't seem like a hell of a lot to me.


jky

[mick]

Nowt lasts for ever guess its a good idea to replace seals every so often I think Racor make the filters for some of the big engine manufactures as well

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

my boat has a Volvo water separating filter element

The thing itself is not Volvo, just the cartridge thingy. Roy must have bought a job lot as ours was Volvo originally too. Being changed out for a proper Racor one now though

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Yeah, well, as you're a DIR guy

Ahh, the old Doing It Rong squad, still on OC Trimix

Nowt rong with Racor filters

[nob]

racor it is then i guess, cheers for the input guys, now off to spend some money

[mick]

Got mine from here great service I would ring up to check on the size as they are quite big.