Advice about water/fuel separator on beta engine

[Crinan12]

Hi all
So I've replaced the fuel filter on my beta 16 (the one on the engine)
The manual says a water/fuel separator should also be fitted. How often do I need to change that?Mine says 'Lucas cav' on it.
Also from reading about these a lot seem to have a glass bowl at the bottom which you can look into to see if there is any water. I don't think mine does but it does have a screw at the bottom. Do i turn that screw to let any water out ?if so how often should I be doing it?
Access to this filter is not great
Thanks a lot
Douglas

 

[pvb]

So I've replaced the fuel filter on my beta 16 (the one on the engine)
The manual says a water/fuel separator should also be fitted. How often do I need to change that?Mine says 'Lucas cav' on it.
Also from reading about these a lot seem to have a glass bowl at the bottom which you can look into to see if there is any water. I don't think mine does but it does have a screw at the bottom. Do i turn that screw to let any water out ?if so how often should I be doing it?
Access to this filter is not great

Your photo makes it look like a regular primary filter, rather than a water separator. It would be worth looking at it to see if that white item is indeed a filter element, in which case you ought to renew it. Yes, you can drain water via the screw in the bottom bowl, but I've never bothered as there never seems to be any in it when I change the primary filter.

 

[Crinan12]

The white bit says c11910l on it
When I Google that it is a filter
So is this contraption a primary filter and not a fuel/water separator- they are two different things?
Thanks

 

[rogerthebodger]

The white bit says c11910l on it
When I Google that it is a filter
So is this contraption a primary filter and not a fuel/water separator- they are two different things?
Thanks

This is what a cav filter/water separator looks like.

There are also filter/water separator with a metal lower container.

I had the same filter only like you have and I purchased the glass bowl from ASPS and modified the center screw to fit the glass bowl

 

[macd]

Lucas/CAV/Delphi housings are simple, reliable and cheap. Unfortunately it's sometimes tricky to re-assemble them with a good seal on the O-rings if access is difficult. It might be a good idea to move yours to somewhere more accessible, if possible, Crinan.

 

[pvb]

So is this contraption a primary filter and not a fuel/water separator- they are two different things?

Those sold as combination filter/water separators tend to have a bigger lower bowl, but your filter still has a bowl which will capture droplets of water, and it has a drain which allows you to drain off any water (or to check that there's no water in it).

If you haven't had fuel problems, I'd be tempted to just replace the filter element and not worry too much.

As access isn't good, you might also consider relocating the filter to somewhere easier to get at.

 

[webcraft]

.
Should be easy to fit a CAV filter somewhere accessible. Make sure it has a glass bowl. This is an easy way to spot fuel contamination before it reaches the primary filter and begins to cause trouble. I have been grateful for my glass bowl on more than one occasion.


- W

 

[pvb]

.
Should be easy to fit a CAV filter somewhere accessible. Make sure it has a glass bowl. This is an easy way to spot fuel contamination before it reaches the primary filter and begins to cause trouble. I have been grateful for my glass bowl on more than one occasion.

If the CAV filter is correctly plumbed, the fuel in the bowl has already been filtered, so any contamination will be in the filter element.

 

[Kwik Decision]

If the CAV filter is correctly plumbed, the fuel in the bowl has already been filtered, so any contamination will be in the filter element.

Solid contamination - dirt, diesel bug and the like - should be stopped by the filter element, however water will pass through the element, and should collect in the bottom of the bowl.

 

[[70521]]

If the CAV filter is correctly plumbed, the fuel in the bowl has already been filtered, so any contamination will be in the filter element.

One reason I prefer units where the fuel enters the bowl first, ditch the water and heavy contamination before passing through the filter. A bit more expensive but worth it as changing the filter is a doddle.

 

[pvb]

Solid contamination - dirt, diesel bug and the like - should be stopped by the filter element, however water will pass through the element, and should collect in the bottom of the bowl.

Indeed, any tiny water particles will be agglomerated into droplets which fall to the bottom of the bowl.