Water / Fuel Separator?

[stevec22206]

This was posted several days ago without an answer. I want to add a water/fuel separator to our system. Need a recommendation for a 14 hp universal diesel. Fresh water boat located in the midwest. Any thoughts on a Racor 230r10, others?

Steve

 

[RichH]

Any of the Racor spin-on with 'bottom sump' filter will work well. Such filter should be located in the LOWEST part of the fuel distribution system so that any water including water that 'drops out' from the diesel fuel will accumulate in the filter clear bowl by gravity. When sizing such filters, ignore the engine mounted 'guard filter' (usually at 15-17µM retention rating). The probable best retention rating for such a single Racor in small Hp diesel service is 10µM, if a dual in-series filter set then should be 30µM followed by a 10µM.
When locating such in the 'lowest' portion of the fuel system, be sure you have sufficient clearance to drain the bowl and to remove the spin-on cartridge .... if you locate without sufficient 'clearance' for cartidge/sump removal you'll usually wind up with a 'mess' when changing.

Note: most use 'compression fittings' when installing these filters and compression fittings are designed to be open/closed only 'once'. So, when applying compression tube fittings be sure to leave some 'slack' in the copper tube so that you can trim/cut some of the tube end off when (not if) the compression fitting starts to leak. Compresion fitting will usually leak when the copper tube 'under' the brass ferrule becomes compressed over time ... when a leak develops just cut off the 'tip' of the old tube where it came in contact with the ferrule of the compression fitting, reinstall the ferrule and tighten the fitting.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Take a look in the WM or Defender catalogs. They have two different Racor filters (made by Parker Filter Co.). One is a more expensive mount with less expensive filters, the other has a less expensive mount with more expensive filters (the one pictured in the last post - which is what most of us have).

Your boat your choice, but that's what's on the market. WM and Defender catalogs are easy to get and everyone should have one or two, and if you don't have wifi on your boat, they're really helpful when you need something. Plus, they're free.

Do you have an electric fuel pump on your boat? The plumbing should go to the Racor first, then the pump, since the pumps (most of them) have filters, so don't clog them up before the new Racor primary filter.

 

[seadaddler]

Ditto

The filters already mentioned are all good for sure and I also added a racor 500 that I got at clearence up in NY a few years ago and been very happy with it and no fuel problems,the 500 filters are cheap only around $10.00 and so easy to change.
I used nut and bolt to mount mine behind the engine and I would not use copper tube which not used in most boats now a days and just use good rated diesel fuel hose and double clamp every thing.
nick

 

[stevec22206]

Thank you! That will help with my decision. Yes Stu, there is an electric pump so the filter will go inline before the pump. Any advantage to having the filter with the priming pump on it? Is it an advantage when changing out filters or draining water? As it is now I simply bleed off air at the bleed valve on the engine filter.

Steve

 

[Stu Jackson]

Not with an electric pump. I haven't used the manual pump 'cept once, and my finger still hurts - that was 12 years ago! The fuel flow makes the water separator work. Bleeding is bleeding, but for the secondary filter I've always had to pop that nut on the bracket. I installed a fuel pump shutoff toggle switch in the engine compartment so I can do it myself. I fill the new primary filter with injection cleaner - less air and easier than tapping clean diesel.

 

[stevec22206]

I like the idea of using injection cleaner, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the help with this.

Steve