What Size Racor

[py26129]

I will be swapping out my existing fuel/water seperator which is now almost 30 years old and will replace it with a new Racor.

The engine is a Yanmar 3GMF (22HP) that uses about .5 gal / hour

The two units I am considering are the a 15 gal / hour (RACOR 215R2) or its bigger brother , 30 gal / hour (RACOR 230R2).

Both woud seem ridiculously over spec'ed based on the gal/hour rating vs. what the engine uses but I am still wondering if there is and advantage to getting the bigger unit. It's only $10 more and, I would think the filters would last longer than in the smaller unit.

Thanks for any feedback in advance

Matt

 

[Eric M]

I have used a raycor R12S fuel water seperator (which was installed by a previous owner) on our IP with a 35 HP yanmar for 6 years now and have been happy with the performance. I swap them once a year cause it is easier to do at the dock than at sea...I do have an inline electric fuel pump between the filter and the engine to assist in priming the system. Install a new filter, crack open the vent at the entrance to the engine pump, engage the electric pump and wait till the air is out of the system and close the vent at the engine.

 

[Jalepeno]

Remember that the total fuel flow through the filter(s) is determined by your lift pump capacity at max speed not the motor fuel oil usage. You may be able to find that number in your Yanmar manual. I would think that the RACOR 215R2 will do the job. But bigger is better.

 

[Richard Bryer]

I have the same engine and have the 215. I installed it about 7 years ago and have been very happy with it.

 

[py26129]

Thank you everyone for your input. I did order the bigger filter last night. It was only ten bucks more and the filter elements were less expensive than the oned for the 25 gal/hr.

Thanks again

Matt

 

[Benny17441]

We did a similar upgrade years back and started having problems which we had never had before with the OEM separator. The problem was due to high humidity in our area, a dirty fuel tank and too restrictive filter element. Everytime we went out in high seas the 2 micron filter element would get clogged and the engine would shut down from starvation. In one occasion after clogging the spare filter we had to run the engine with no filter element just relying on the secondary. We soon switched to 10 micron filter elements and our problems were significantly reduced. We still have some dirt in the tank that gets dislodged in high seas and drain copious amounts of water from the Racor. I do feel that this filter is just that much better than the engine really needs. The Yanmar seems to burn the water in the fuel just fine and the secondary filter provides adequate protection against particles. We have learned to live with the Racor which requires more frequent maintenance and the stocking of additional spare filters than the old OEM.

 

[py26129]

I think the location makes a difference as well with respect to the amoutn fo growth in the tank etc.

We're below freezing for a good 5 months of the year and generally do not experience the problems the seem to be common further south.

That said, I did order the filter with a 10 micron filter so we'll see how things go next summer.

Cheers

Matt

Matt