Fuel filter options

mogmog2

mogmog2

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I'd like to get away from the CAV filter and fiddly O rings on our Centaur. I've got a beta 20 to go in. I understand that the Racor turbine filters are too big for such a small engine (presumably need a minimum flow for the centrifugal magic to happen?). They now offer a smaller clip-on version for small boats, but the replacement filters are ovet £30 a pop.
Is there a middle ground - something less fiddly than the CAV but not as expensive as the Racor?
Thanks
 
I went for Separ when replacing my CAV filter. It is rated at 5l a min.

Filters are expensive but far less expensive than my time trying to get a CAV filter from not leaking.

I still think the Racor is the way to go.
 
I've just looked at Separ. If I've found the right one it makes Racor look like the budget option! It's early days yet in the engine department.
 
You could go for a Racor as your primary filter (does not have to be a turbine - Racor 120 or 320 are suitable) and then the spin on CAV-type, as described by PVB, as your secondary.
 
neil1967 said:
You could go for a Racor as your primary filter (does not have to be a turbine - Racor 120 or 320 are suitable) and then the spin on CAV-type, as described by PVB, as your secondary.
Click to expand...

Doesn't the Beta 20 have a secondary filter mounted on it? Why have 2 primary filters?
 
My mistake - I was thinking that the CAV was fitted as a secondary. The main point holds though - you could use a Racor spin on filter (as opposed to a turbine), but I accept that the spin-on CAV type are cheaper.
 
Other options might include a filter with a cleanable sintered bronze element, sometimes sold for oil heating systems.
You could follow that with a filter from a modern diesel car.
That way you might get an alarm switch to tell you there's water in the filter.
We have these on our polishing rig, with a CAV in between, it is effective and economical for that.

Personally, CAVs seem OK to me, there is a knack to putting them together and it helps to buy a good brand of element.
It's not that hard!
I like knowing I can buy elements anywhere and don't feel I'm wasting money by changing one and slicing it open to read the system's fortune.
It's not so easy to see the water with white diesel though!
 
pvb said:
Why? The ports are UNF, the filter's metric (although it doesn't really matter what it is as 496A filters are standard).
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As I understand the heads are either us or metric ports the head is soft metal with a result the wrong adapter can be forced in with resulting problems so worth check first!
 
scottie said:
As I understand the heads are either us or metric ports the head is soft metal with a result the wrong adapter can be forced in with resulting problems so worth check first!
Click to expand...

If you know from the filter assembly's description that the ports are UNF, it would be fairly silly to try to screw metric fittings in! It's not rocket science.
 
AFAIK the Racor patent has expired.

There are several ebay suppliers selling Chinese made copies of the Racor 500 for about 50 quid. If you fit a Racor element and O rings you have a cheaper Racor fuel filter. My boat came with a Racor 500 series as primary,plus the Yanmar secondary. I am about to fit the Chinese Racor with a 10 micron element between the Racor 500 primary fitted with a 30 micron element and the Yanmar secondary.

Benifit of the Racor type is, of course, its top loading. Have a container handy to take the old element when changing and it is all fairly clean and dry.

Spin on CAV type are an improvement but are full of fuel when unscrewed-at least the one I changed recently was. A bit messy and smelly compared to changing a Racor top loader.

I get all my filters from a reputable aftermarket supplier-a fraction of the price and good quality.

Worth considering. A previous poster who fitted diesel powered aircon to railway carriages posted on here that he had fitted several hundred Chinese Racor copies without any quality problems.
 
pvb said:
If you know from the filter assembly's description that the ports are UNF, it would be fairly silly to try to screw metric fittings in! It's not rocket science.
Click to expand...
My point is that if you don’t know that there are alternatives you probably won’t check
 
mogmog2 said:
I understand that the Racor turbine filters are too big for such a small engine (presumably need a minimum flow for the centrifugal magic to happen?).
Click to expand...

1) I wonder does it matter if the fuel flow is inadequate for the 'centrifugal magic' of the Racer 500 series. I would have thought that was an added bonus, rather than essential to its functioning, as few (if any) other filters use such an effect. I was thinking of fitting this Racor 500 type to my boat with an engine of similar size. Has anyone any views on this?

mogmog2 said:
They now offer a smaller clip-on version for small boats, but the replacement filters are ovet £30 a pop.
Click to expand...

2) Note that the Racor 'Snapp' plastic clip-on types are supposed to be fitted outside of the engine compartment, which will often be tricky in a small boat. (This requirement is in the Racor literature, but not given any prominence in the advertising.)
 
A Racor 500 series should be fine for you. This model has far less places for air leaks than the smaller ones with two different O-rings and some other leak-prone parts in the casting.
We did this upgrade as part of a re-power last year to a Betamarine 25. Not required, but I did keep my old electric lift pump in the system to make future bleeding of the Racor go faster. There is a standard spin-on fuel filter on the Beta, also.
BTW, the new engine is hugely quieter than the 1988 engine it replaced. Lot less vibration, too. :)
 
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