Water Separator

[Outnabout]

The spring service on the motor revealed a small but significant amount of water in the base of the engine mounted fuel filter. My fuel system is not fitted with an external fuel/water separator, but I've seen a lot of ribs that are. (I'm assuming that's the little glass bowl device on the transom).

Does any one know if:

1 They are manufacturer/engine specific or can you just buy off the shelf?

2 Given the latter, where the best place to purchase would be?

3 Any other relevant thoughts on this

Comments appreciated.

[Pete7]

Colin for 10 years now I have fitted those diesel CAV type filters even though its a petrol boat. The cost about £37 from a diesel specialist (I use Panda in Fareham) or £90 from Volvo Penta for the same thing. Replacement cartridges are £3 each and the glass bowl allows you to see the water and condition of the fuel.

The other difference is a diesel filter is much finer than the course foil petrol filters, perhaps no bad thing.

The only other one I can think of is from Mercury but doesn't have a glass fuel bowl and I am not convinced they filter the fuel rather just separate out the water.

Pete

[Mark Halliday]

I agree with Pete.
I have a "spin on" filter/separator which looks like an oil filter and is mounted on the transom over the well. I want to change it for a glass bowl type so that I can see if there is any water, and if there is I can drain it off. The current filter is a tin can you can not tell if there is any water in it or not.
This topic has come up before, and some do not like the glass bowl because of the risk of it breaking.
There are lots around, as I found at Ribex. Infact I dont think I saw 2 the same.

[Nick Hearne]

Hi have a look at this one OK it's not glass, but I do not like the idea of something that can brake!
http://www.bosunsmate.co.uk/filters.htm
Nick

[Pete7]

I take the point about the glass breaking but the glass is very heavy like Pyrex. Anything that breaks this is would also dent or dislodge a metal canister. The big advantage with glass is you can see whats going on inside.

Pete

[swginn]

This is the type I have. Its not glass, but translucent plastic. It drains itself also, via the valve at the bottom.

Made by Racor-Parker and should be available through Barnet Marine as they fitted it as standard.

[batfalcon]

Racor's water seperator is the best device I' ve ever seen and used. Most of ribsters in Greece use this very model posted by swginn above.
Be sure that the self draining valve is shut when you first use this device. It has to be turned ANTICLOCKWISE to be shut.

[Mark Halliday]

Nick
That is what I have. As I said you have no idea of how much water may be in it. It could be none or it could be full.
The filter holds about 1L. That is a lot of water to get by condensation, but not a lot from a doggy fuel supply. If say you manage to take on 1.5L of water with your fuel, you will be trying to run the engine on water after about 1 mile if you burn 1L/mile. You then have to unscrew the filter, empty it, refit, prime, empty......... That is if you have worked out the engine has stopped because of water. At least if you can see water in the bowl you have a clue as to what might have stopped the engine.

swginn/Batfalcon
The Parker unit looks good, even better if it self draining. How much and where from?

[Nick Hearne]

Mark all you say makes sense, but may be I am just very lucky that in 10 years of having this set up I have had no problem with water in the fuel!
Dam should have not said that as I am off to Salcombe for a week on Friday & I bet sods law I will have a problem now I have said this!
Nick

[Simon B]

We fitted one to our Yam made by Yamaha again plastic see-through base, I believ you drain in situ all over the transom ofcourse very eco-friendly. You'd be surprised how much water can go in when people keep changing to an auxilliary with soaking wet fuel probe.

[Jelly]

Both Racor and Separ make units that have the glass bowl, Racor is a 3 stage filter and Separ is a 5 stage I seem to remember.
I'm fitting a change over Separ unit I have just to be sure.
Not sure if the local motor factors have got similar items for less!
Jelly

[Mark Halliday]

Nick
I hope and trust you will be OK.
I think I used up all Salcombs allocation of Sods Law years ago.
Damaged crew
Sunk boat
Drinking ban in the streets.

[Andy]

I have a racor .... you must check them regularly for water as you can only see the water if the interface between water and fuel is below the top of the blue plastic viewing area. Once you get a lot of water in there the interface is high up inside the white filter and you cant see it.

Also as the plastic is blue and not clear its hard to tell from the colour of the liquid.

I normally check before and after every trip out as well as at every stop. A good way is to drain the fuel onto you hand, you can usually tell if its fuel or water. This is easier than just looking at it.

[Nick Hearne]

So where can you get these Racor filter from I suppose I can just replace my existing filter for one?
Nick

[Andy]

Barnet Marine - Barnet
www.ribs.co.uk

I am sure they will do phone orders

[Scary Des]

http://www.asap-supplies.com/ Check the price. Des

[Jelly]

I think ASAP amoungst others do Racor
Or Keypart do Separ 01923 221490

Rgds
James

[thorper]

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

Nick
That is what I have. As I said you have no idea of how much water may be in it. It could be none or it could be full.
The filter holds about 1L. That is a lot of water to get by condensation, but not a lot from a doggy fuel supply. If say you manage to take on 1.5L of water with your fuel, you will be trying to run the engine on water after about 1 mile if you burn 1L/mile. You then have to unscrew the filter, empty it, refit, prime, empty......... That is if you have worked out the engine has stopped because of water. At least if you can see water in the bowl you have a clue as to what might have stopped the engine.

On our Yam HPDI (and probably on Outnabouts engine) there is a "water in fuel sensor" inside the engine fuel filter that automatically limits the engine and trips the siren & water warning light on the instruments if there is water contamination, so you should be able to stop and sort the problem out. As we found out - it is a pain to pump all the water in the system out using the primer bulb. At least it helps you work out if your main/deck tank is contaminated - as long as you have good fuel to switch to!

(On the yam gauges the water warning light isnt documented for the RPM gauge, but you can find it under the fuel computer document. If like us you dont have the fuel computer, the warning symbol is on the RPM gague.)

Ricky

[tue]

I believe the Racor filter fits onto the Merc\Mariner water separater filter bracket. To change from standard to drainable, I think the Racor filter with the drain bowl was around £50