I have a Yanmar 2GM20F with a Racor 110 inline deisel fuel filter. It has a metal bowl. I would like to replace it with a Racor that has a see thru bowl. Which model would be appropriate? Thanks in advance for your help.
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Look at this!
Try the Racor web site. There may be recommendations there. I replaced my 110 wiyh one I picked from there. It'll be around $120. http://www.racor.com
Try the Racor web site. There may be recommendations there. I replaced my 110 wiyh one I picked from there. It'll be around $120. http://www.racor.com
Just curious....Why?
Did your current Racor die? Or do you just like to have a see through one better? A metal one is recommended if it is installed in a high tempeture area, like if it is close to the engine, or in a engine box. Why spend $100 or more if your current one isn't broken, and you don't have to. If you wish to change it anyway, West Marine catalog has a bunch of them. Depending on the flow rate you need.
Did your current Racor die? Or do you just like to have a see through one better? A metal one is recommended if it is installed in a high tempeture area, like if it is close to the engine, or in a engine box. Why spend $100 or more if your current one isn't broken, and you don't have to. If you wish to change it anyway, West Marine catalog has a bunch of them. Depending on the flow rate you need.
Aren't the metal bowls required on commercial
boats? You know, passengers for hire and all that, by the Coast Guard. And the price is double the plastic see-through housings, all factors being equal. Ah, America.
boats? You know, passengers for hire and all that, by the Coast Guard. And the price is double the plastic see-through housings, all factors being equal. Ah, America.
The reason for changing is that the nut on the removable part is rounded and would have to be replaced anyway and I like the idea of a see thru bowl.
Why Plastic?
The plastic bowl in the typical engine room isn't really good for "seeing" anything. Hence, why change? The plastic bowles look really snazzy on the retailers shelf but note that they become harder to see through with age - not that it was that easy to begin with. Consider the wisdom of the Coast Guard regulations - just imagine a fire in the engine room and the plastic bowl melts allowing fuel to feed the fire, and you're on a plastic and wood boat.... And the above is is from someone who has a plastic Racor bowl but if I had to do it over again I'd go with metal and it isn't because of money.
The plastic bowl in the typical engine room isn't really good for "seeing" anything. Hence, why change? The plastic bowles look really snazzy on the retailers shelf but note that they become harder to see through with age - not that it was that easy to begin with. Consider the wisdom of the Coast Guard regulations - just imagine a fire in the engine room and the plastic bowl melts allowing fuel to feed the fire, and you're on a plastic and wood boat.... And the above is is from someone who has a plastic Racor bowl but if I had to do it over again I'd go with metal and it isn't because of money.
John I have three of them counting my dingy.
All are as clear as when I installed them. It's great to be able to check for water and crud at a glance. Mine are about 3 yoa now.
All are as clear as when I installed them. It's great to be able to check for water and crud at a glance. Mine are about 3 yoa now.
Clear
Just shine a flashlight thru the yellow bowl from behind and you have no problem seeing any dirt or water settling out.
Just shine a flashlight thru the yellow bowl from behind and you have no problem seeing any dirt or water settling out.
500FG Series Racor
but not for the reasons mentioned thus far. First of all, you want maximum capacity in the filter's ability to take on a large quantity of contaminant. When (not if) junk dislodges from your fuel tank you'll be glad to have a filter that can swallow it and not immediately plug up. This'll be especially meaningful when you're committed to a truly snotty inlet. Secondly, when you DO have to change the element in a hurry (is there any other way?) you'll want the ability to drain the bowl, pop the top, drop in another element, refill and get going in minutes without flooding the area in spilled diesel fuel. If you're really smart you'll plumb two in parallel so that you can simply throw a valve to switch to a clean filter. Don't even bother estimating flow rates. Most diesel auxillaries won't come near challenging the flow capacities of all but the smallest filters. The 500FG flows 60 GPH. You wouldn't be near that but that's not a bad thing. A couple comments about the see through bowl. If mounted in a visible spot it will allow you to spot water that has been 'spun out' but it will NOT clue you in to how dirty the element is. The only sure fire way to guage remaining capacity on the element is to add a vacuum guage (an option on this model.) As for a fire corrupting that plastic bowl, I'll just suggest that you might want to be equally paranoid about the several FEET of RUBBER fuel hose you probably have running though your engine compartment. You could, of course, isolate the filter from the engine area but if you've got raging flames roaring through your engine compartment that can't be contained then I'd humbly suggest that the bowl is the least of your concerns and that you should get off the damn boat. I can't quote CG regs but for those concerned about such things the Racor can be had with a metal bowl. Yes, you should absolutely be concerned with fire onboard but I'll bet you'd be more likely to lose your boat on the rocks because you saved a few bucks on a cheaper filter and it left you stranded. Just my 2 pennies.
but not for the reasons mentioned thus far. First of all, you want maximum capacity in the filter's ability to take on a large quantity of contaminant. When (not if) junk dislodges from your fuel tank you'll be glad to have a filter that can swallow it and not immediately plug up. This'll be especially meaningful when you're committed to a truly snotty inlet. Secondly, when you DO have to change the element in a hurry (is there any other way?) you'll want the ability to drain the bowl, pop the top, drop in another element, refill and get going in minutes without flooding the area in spilled diesel fuel. If you're really smart you'll plumb two in parallel so that you can simply throw a valve to switch to a clean filter. Don't even bother estimating flow rates. Most diesel auxillaries won't come near challenging the flow capacities of all but the smallest filters. The 500FG flows 60 GPH. You wouldn't be near that but that's not a bad thing. A couple comments about the see through bowl. If mounted in a visible spot it will allow you to spot water that has been 'spun out' but it will NOT clue you in to how dirty the element is. The only sure fire way to guage remaining capacity on the element is to add a vacuum guage (an option on this model.) As for a fire corrupting that plastic bowl, I'll just suggest that you might want to be equally paranoid about the several FEET of RUBBER fuel hose you probably have running though your engine compartment. You could, of course, isolate the filter from the engine area but if you've got raging flames roaring through your engine compartment that can't be contained then I'd humbly suggest that the bowl is the least of your concerns and that you should get off the damn boat. I can't quote CG regs but for those concerned about such things the Racor can be had with a metal bowl. Yes, you should absolutely be concerned with fire onboard but I'll bet you'd be more likely to lose your boat on the rocks because you saved a few bucks on a cheaper filter and it left you stranded. Just my 2 pennies.
Not Convinced Plastic is Better or Worth it
In all the years (around 15? by now) I've had the yellow-orange(ish) plastic bowl on the Racor I've never seen any any contaminants in the bowl. Flashlight to see "stuff" - good idea and it's pretty much needed. And a good one. Since the Racor is mounted on a backboard I've contemplated installing a bright light behind the bowl for that specific purpose of being able to see inside better. As for the hose - of course that is a concern and that's why I replaced them. Don't know what kind of hoses Hunter originally installed but they didn't say anything about any Coast Guard approval on them and they were significantly smaller than the CG approved ones on there now. I would suspect the neoprene-type material the CG approved ones have a better rating than the original hoses. Apparently others may have got some benefit out of it but I haven't. For me it comes under the heading of all show and no go.
In all the years (around 15? by now) I've had the yellow-orange(ish) plastic bowl on the Racor I've never seen any any contaminants in the bowl. Flashlight to see "stuff" - good idea and it's pretty much needed. And a good one. Since the Racor is mounted on a backboard I've contemplated installing a bright light behind the bowl for that specific purpose of being able to see inside better. As for the hose - of course that is a concern and that's why I replaced them. Don't know what kind of hoses Hunter originally installed but they didn't say anything about any Coast Guard approval on them and they were significantly smaller than the CG approved ones on there now. I would suspect the neoprene-type material the CG approved ones have a better rating than the original hoses. Apparently others may have got some benefit out of it but I haven't. For me it comes under the heading of all show and no go.
For me John, the plastic is more versatile.
It's not a matter of 'worth it', the plastic models are about half the cost of the metal bowls. And I think CG approved fuel hose is a relatively recent invention. I think it shrinks and closes to the point of stopping fuel flow when burning. But, again, if it shrinks that much, the boat is totaled anyway.
It's not a matter of 'worth it', the plastic models are about half the cost of the metal bowls. And I think CG approved fuel hose is a relatively recent invention. I think it shrinks and closes to the point of stopping fuel flow when burning. But, again, if it shrinks that much, the boat is totaled anyway.
Great thread guys!!!!
Rick wrote everythig I wanted to say. Now for some oppinion....On a boat that is in the ocean it is my oppinion that it should have no less than a Racor 500 filter. Yes it's a lot of money but maintainance and filter changes are no brainers with this unit. Leave the 110s and 220s for outboards and lake boats. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, GA imd_ga@hotmail.com
Rick wrote everythig I wanted to say. Now for some oppinion....On a boat that is in the ocean it is my oppinion that it should have no less than a Racor 500 filter. Yes it's a lot of money but maintainance and filter changes are no brainers with this unit. Leave the 110s and 220s for outboards and lake boats. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, GA imd_ga@hotmail.com
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