I'm sick of my old Dahl Baldwin filter and I'm ready to upgrade to a Racor filter. The question is which series do I go with? The spin-on filter or what they refer to as the turbine filter... the one with the 'wing' nut on the top of the unit and the cartridge is simply changed out. What is everyone's experience with these? Is one better than the other? What about ease of changing filters and necessity of bleeding lines? Thanks, Joe S/V Charis
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Racor is a very good filter
Joe: The Racor is a very good filter. The best thing about them is they are easy to find in most marine shops. One option that you may want to consider is to put a stop valve (like the one that is between your tank and your filter) after the Racor. This helps the repriming issue by keeping fuel in the line from the filter to the pump. I do not think that it makes much difference which filter you get as long as it is a diesel type. They all use the same basic type elements. Some of them can have a gauge attached to indicate when they need to be changed. You will also what one with a clear bowl to check for water accumulation. The 120R-RAC-01 should be fine for any small diesel. I think you will find it a good investment.
Joe: The Racor is a very good filter. The best thing about them is they are easy to find in most marine shops. One option that you may want to consider is to put a stop valve (like the one that is between your tank and your filter) after the Racor. This helps the repriming issue by keeping fuel in the line from the filter to the pump. I do not think that it makes much difference which filter you get as long as it is a diesel type. They all use the same basic type elements. Some of them can have a gauge attached to indicate when they need to be changed. You will also what one with a clear bowl to check for water accumulation. The 120R-RAC-01 should be fine for any small diesel. I think you will find it a good investment.
J
Joe Dickson
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Don Alexander
Clear Bowl
I hear reports that the USCG do not favour/allow clear plastic bowls in engine compartment filters. Can anyone please confirm or otherwise. Thanks in advance
I hear reports that the USCG do not favour/allow clear plastic bowls in engine compartment filters. Can anyone please confirm or otherwise. Thanks in advance
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Doug T.
ABYC
The ABYC standard for diesel fuel systems (section H-33.9, Fuel Filters, Strainers and Water Separators) doesn't mention anything about bowl materials. Why would clear plastic be any different than colored plastic? I can see why glass bowls might not be a good idea, but how often does something like this get whacked hard enough to break, anyway?
The ABYC standard for diesel fuel systems (section H-33.9, Fuel Filters, Strainers and Water Separators) doesn't mention anything about bowl materials. Why would clear plastic be any different than colored plastic? I can see why glass bowls might not be a good idea, but how often does something like this get whacked hard enough to break, anyway?
Don
Just a quote from the West Marine Catalog on Racor filters "....metal bowls are recommended for use in areas of high heat and are required by the US Coast Guard on gas inboards and commercial vessels." Many of us have our Primary Fuel filter close to the fuel tank anyway (no room in the engine compartment). I do not think that this is anything to be concerned about. They do have a metal bowl kit available for their filters if needed.
Just a quote from the West Marine Catalog on Racor filters "....metal bowls are recommended for use in areas of high heat and are required by the US Coast Guard on gas inboards and commercial vessels." Many of us have our Primary Fuel filter close to the fuel tank anyway (no room in the engine compartment). I do not think that this is anything to be concerned about. They do have a metal bowl kit available for their filters if needed.
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bill walton
top load less messy
I have a top loading Racor for my propulsion engine and a spin-on racor for my genset. The topload is much less messy to change if that makes any difference to you.
I have a top loading Racor for my propulsion engine and a spin-on racor for my genset. The topload is much less messy to change if that makes any difference to you.
J
Joe Dickson
Bill, on the top load...
Have you ever had to change it underway? I have heard that it can be done without having to bleed the lines. Don't know if that's true or not, but it would be a plus under tough conditions... Thanks Joe S/V Charis
Have you ever had to change it underway? I have heard that it can be done without having to bleed the lines. Don't know if that's true or not, but it would be a plus under tough conditions... Thanks Joe S/V Charis
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bill walton
underway
I've never had to do it. I'm a bit neurotic so I change fuel filters with every oil change. I also have my fuel polished which includes a jet wash of the interior of the tank yearly and I use biocide. These are cheap insurance I feel. I have a squeeze bulb between my tank and the filter. When I change the filter, I pump the bulb until I hear fuel coming back through the return line. I've never had any probllems requiring bleeding since I initiated this method a couple of years ago. I have a squeeze bulb in the line to my genset also. Since the pickup for that is higher in the tank than the main engine, I don't change the filter as ofter, perhaps everyother oil change. I want to change the spin-on for a toploader for convienence. Both filters are located ajacent to the tank which is under the bed in the rear stateroom on the 42.
I've never had to do it. I'm a bit neurotic so I change fuel filters with every oil change. I also have my fuel polished which includes a jet wash of the interior of the tank yearly and I use biocide. These are cheap insurance I feel. I have a squeeze bulb between my tank and the filter. When I change the filter, I pump the bulb until I hear fuel coming back through the return line. I've never had any probllems requiring bleeding since I initiated this method a couple of years ago. I have a squeeze bulb in the line to my genset also. Since the pickup for that is higher in the tank than the main engine, I don't change the filter as ofter, perhaps everyother oil change. I want to change the spin-on for a toploader for convienence. Both filters are located ajacent to the tank which is under the bed in the rear stateroom on the 42.
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Doug Thom
Sediment in internal Channels
I have a Racor top loading filter on my Hunter Legend 35.5. I have enjoyed it but did have a problem with sediment in the interior channels which blocked the fuel flow. I change the element every year and on alternate years I have the filter unit dismantled and the channels blown out and rinsed. I was surprised that sediment accumulated there but it did and stopped us.
I have a Racor top loading filter on my Hunter Legend 35.5. I have enjoyed it but did have a problem with sediment in the interior channels which blocked the fuel flow. I change the element every year and on alternate years I have the filter unit dismantled and the channels blown out and rinsed. I was surprised that sediment accumulated there but it did and stopped us.
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Don Alexander
Steve
Thanks for the info re plastic bowls. My 376 is fitted with a metal bowl and it is a devil to get it off. Usually the filter pulls off the bulkhead in the engine compartment when I try to unscrew the bowl. Racor call it spin on - it certainly doesn't spin off! I too have had the filter channels block solid and stop the engine. The inlet port has a 1/4" diameter drilling which turns downwards through 90° and this is where it blocks. It has happened twice, both times as a result of diesel bug and necessitated removing the flex pipe right back to the tank and blowing it out with an air line. Regards,
Thanks for the info re plastic bowls. My 376 is fitted with a metal bowl and it is a devil to get it off. Usually the filter pulls off the bulkhead in the engine compartment when I try to unscrew the bowl. Racor call it spin on - it certainly doesn't spin off! I too have had the filter channels block solid and stop the engine. The inlet port has a 1/4" diameter drilling which turns downwards through 90° and this is where it blocks. It has happened twice, both times as a result of diesel bug and necessitated removing the flex pipe right back to the tank and blowing it out with an air line. Regards,
J
J. Tesoriero
About those squeeze bulbs....
I installed a squeeze bulb between the tank and the Racor filter and have been pleased with it for the most part. It makes it easier to pressurize the fuel system after filter change and makes bleeding easier. However, last year, the bulb valving mechanism became loose and floated around inside the bulb, stopping my engine intermittently. It was a devil to diagnose.
I installed a squeeze bulb between the tank and the Racor filter and have been pleased with it for the most part. It makes it easier to pressurize the fuel system after filter change and makes bleeding easier. However, last year, the bulb valving mechanism became loose and floated around inside the bulb, stopping my engine intermittently. It was a devil to diagnose.
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