Adding a fuel filter - what type?

[JimC]

My boat only has a Lucas sedimenter/water separator between the fuel tank and the engine. All the actual filtration is left the the filter on the engine, a Yanmar 2GM20. Having had a few fuel issues I want to explore the possibility of adding a pre-filter. There isn't enough vertical clearance to change the water separator to the common type of Lucas/CAV combined filter & water separator and in any case I dislike these for their awkwardness and messyness when changing filter elements. So I'm considering adding a completely separate pre-filter between the water separator and the engine. Any suggestions for what type to use? ideally to be compact in size and have easily changeable elements e.g. spin-on.

 

[pvb]

A little Racor 120 should do the job.

 

[ghostlymoron]

The only drawback with the Racor filters is the price of elements, £14 as opposed to the CAV at £4. I've not had any trouble with CAV filters as long as they're mounted where you can easily get at them and they are very commonly fitted to all sorts of equipment. I admit that the Racor look easy to service though.

 

[geem]

Try one these on eBay 161011007972. I buy the filter for £4 each at the local motor factors

 

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

As Ghostly says..........as long as you can get to them then its a 10 mins job to change and prime ours (we do have a little electric fuel pump fitted for the purpose though!) and the elements are v cheap. We have a double fillter type by the way from asap.

 

[JimC]

Try one these on eBay 161011007972. I buy the filter for £4 each at the local motor factors

Thanks for that, is there any identifying number for the filter element itself for me to check it's available locally.

 

[macd]

I agree that the CAV is not the simplest to change, although I'd be quite happy with one in a easy-to-get at location. It's changing their filter in awkward conditions that's a problem.

Racor, as said, are expensive and in many parts of Europe, getting replacement filters can be a problem. Thorneycroft offer an inexpensive spin-on alternative to the ordinary CAV which takes cheap, readily available filters, here: http://www.thornycroftparts.co.uk/F...ator_Diesel___Petrol_Boat/p207754_422946.aspx
Unfortunately it doesn't have a see-through bowl.

Elsewhere on the same site is a more conventional CAV with integral primer pump.

P.S. Not wishing to knock ASAP, but Thorneycroft are significantly cheaper for CAV stuff.

 

[pvb]

Thorneycroft offer an inexpensive spin-on alternative to the ordinary CAV which takes cheap, readily available filters, here: http://www.thornycroftparts.co.uk/F...ator_Diesel___Petrol_Boat/p207754_422946.aspx
Unfortunately it doesn't have a see-through bowl.

Elsewhere on the same site is a more conventional CAV with integral primer pump.

P.S. Not wishing to knock ASAP, but Thorneycroft are significantly cheaper for CAV stuff.

Errr... significantly cheaper? £36 at Thorneycroft, less than £20 at SSL - http://www.ssldieselparts.co.uk/filter-assembly-sfa11-p-718.html

 

[nigelmercier]

A little Racor 120 should do the job.

And still on offer at ASAP:

http://www.asap-supplies.com/search/120at/racor-120at-diesel-spin-on-fuel-filter

I was surprised how small these are, but the man said they would be OK for my MD22 (2 litre).

 

[Aurai]

Hi

7 Years ago and very poor CAV experience, for me, changed to the Racor and nearly forget it is there. A splendid piece of engineering and worth it for 100% utility.

Aurai

 

[JimC]

Hi

7 Years ago and very poor CAV experience, for me, changed to the Racor and nearly forget it is there. A splendid piece of engineering and worth it for 100% utility.

Aurai

Which Racor would that be, the 120 as recommended by pvb?

 

[KellysEye]

>changed to the Racor and nearly forget it is there. A splendid piece of engineering and worth it for 100% utility.

Agree.

On the subject of one new filter I would fit two in parallel, then if one blocks you can change to the other, it's standard on Mobos. That's what I did.

 

[JimC]

Assuming I do fit a Racor, should I leave the existing Lucas sedimenter/water separator in situ or remove it and rely on the water separator in the Racor? The Racor would be between the engine and the Lucas if the latter were left in situ. I guess it would be a source of potential leaks if left in situ, on the other hand it's bowl is more capacious than the 55 ml quoted for the Racor 120.

 

[sailorman]

My boat only has a Lucas sedimenter/water separator between the fuel tank and the engine. All the actual filtration is left the the filter on the engine, a Yanmar 2GM20. Having had a few fuel issues I want to explore the possibility of adding a pre-filter. There isn't enough vertical clearance to change the water separator to the common type of Lucas/CAV combined filter & water separator and in any case I dislike these for their awkwardness and messyness when changing filter elements. So I'm considering adding a completely separate pre-filter between the water separator and the engine. Any suggestions for what type to use? ideally to be compact in size and have easily changeable elements e.g. spin-on.

I have that set up as well with the spin-on fitted to the engine. the tank is below the engine so far so good

 

[pvb]

on the other hand it's bowl is more capacious than the 55 ml quoted for the Racor 120.

How much water do you manage to get in your tank???

 

[JimC]

None at the moment. I've had to empty the tank as a crew member thought he was filling the water tank with the hose on the pontoon. But I have had small amounts in the past due to condensation and probably from buying dodgy fuel.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have a CAV & find it very annoying to get so it does not leak
To make adjustment easier I have fitted extra long fuel hoses each side & mounted the filter to a backboard & fastened with butterfly nuts
To change it I undo the butterfly nuts & can manouver the filter over a bucket out of the engine bay.
To remove the air in it I have a simple bellows pump ( diesel proof one from a RIB fuel tank) on the out hose & can push the fuel up to the engine filter
The setup is easier to deal with at sea (in seasick situations) as well as for annual maintenance.

 

[pete]

Hi Jim

I had one of these fitted to my Hunter27 and liked the idea that there was very little to leak. I believe they are a standard filter on lots of vehicles. You just change the complete unit.
View attachment 36026

Pete

 

[JimC]

Thanks Pete, that's another option to consider. Thanks also for your help at Caernarfon after the hosepipe accident. Following this I fitted a clear bowl to the separator so I could see what was happening. The bowl's contents remained clear going down the straits to Conwy but after 65 rough and rolly miles back to Glasson they looked like a strawberry milk shake. It was as if you'd put water and diesel into a blender. Fortunately the engine managed to run when needed. I've now drained the tank and am looking at alternative filter arrangements before re-filling with fresh diesel.

Jim

 

[fisherman]

I get through about 3000 litres per year. I have an agglomerator, which is an inverted cone shape, drain at the bottom. It replaced the CAV with a glass bowl and alloy cup base, as the muck used to sit on the glass and not fall through to the drain off. The agglomerator can be unclipped and shaken (flexible hydraulic hose fuel lines) which is very effective. After that its two on the engine, 6 litre Ford, the first is a Crosland 522, the second a Delphi can't remember the number but not the finest available. Last filter change at 450 hours, in good time by the look of things.