Primary Fuel Filter

[NextStopTahiti]

I have an old CAV type filter, which can only be changed by hanging upside down in the cockpit locker so I want to change it for a spin on type. Should I go for a spin on adapter for a CAV from ASAP. Or a Racor, or is there something else? If a Racor I've seen all of the threads about micron size but what about the actual size of the filter - they have a 100, 200, etc, some of this seems to be to do with gph I think. I cant work out which to pick, and any pointers would help?

 

[macd]

Racor are good but replacement filters are painfully expensive. ASAP offer two spin-on conversions: one taking Racor filters, another, at around 60% of the price, taking cheap generic filters.
http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine/spin-on-conversion-parts

 

[ghostlymoron]

Could you move it to somewhere it would be more accessible then you could get away with keeping your cheap unit?

 

[vyv_cox]

I bought the ASAP spin on one for Cecilia, along with a bundle of filters. Good job too, as on our recent delivery trip several overfalls stirred up the fuel tank and the filter was blocked twice. I guess that the filter media might not be of the highest quality but on a BMC engine of considerable years I doubt it makes much difference.

 

[Daydream believer]

You could do what i did & think laterally
I fitted longer hoses each side of the filter
I placed 2 bolts through the bulkhead it was mounted on & put a nut & washer on each & tightened as hard as possible
that left 2 studs sticking out. I fitted a small plastic packing piece to level the nuts up then I fitted the CAV filter with a pair of butterfly nuts
Now i can just spin the butterfly nuts off & can now hold the full filter unit over a bucket.
If I want i can now easily disconnect the hoses & take it up on deck so I can spill fuel somewhere easy to slip on
It means I can carry on using cheap filters & get at those dam..d seals easily

 

[findus]

I was going to change to one of these www.ssldieselparts.co.uk/filter-assembly-sfa11-p-718.html

 

[oldvarnish]

Racor filters are simply great, and even if the cartridges are a bit more expensive the ability to change them quickly, and without bleeding, is comforting.

I've changed one in seas where I wouldn't have attempted to change a fiddly and messy CAV type.

 

[Pladdatoo]

I have an old CAV type filter, which can only be changed by hanging upside down in the cockpit locker so I want to change it for a spin on type. Should I go for a spin on adapter for a CAV from ASAP. Or a Racor, or is there something else? If a Racor I've seen all of the threads about micron size but what about the actual size of the filter - they have a 100, 200, etc, some of this seems to be to do with gph I think. I cant work out which to pick, and any pointers would help?

That was exactly what i had - not now thought as i have replaced with a spin-on and with filters of all sizes available in all the car motor factors i've called into who charge next to nothing for them, i am not regretting it one little bit.

 

[lw395]

That was exactly what i had - not now thought as i have replaced with a spin-on and with filters of all sizes available in all the car motor factors i've called into who charge next to nothing for them, i am not regretting it one little bit.

I do like to be able to see the diesel in the bowl of the CAV.

 

[prv]

I do like to be able to see the diesel in the bowl of the CAV.

You can see diesel in the bowl of the Racors as well, and open the little tap to drain it out before changing. There's also a blanking plug which can be replaced with an electronic water sensor if you want, though I've never seen this used on a boat.

The only downside of the Racor filters is that they're twenty quid a pop, so I can certainly see the appeal of the more generic spin-on type. I wouldn't go back to CAV though.

Pete

 

[macd]

Racor filters are simply great, and even if the cartridges are a bit more expensive the ability to change them quickly, and without bleeding, is comforting.

I've changed one in seas where I wouldn't have attempted to change a fiddly and messy CAV type.

Yes, Racor are great*. But I'm struggling to equate "a bit more expensive" with the reality of four or five times more expensive. A CAV spiin-on conversion ticks all the boxes and makes a lot of sense, not least to hard-pressed pockets.

* Unless you need to buy one in somewhere really, really remote, like Spain. (Been there, failed to do that.)

PS: besides, CAV are dead posh. Stands for Charles Anthony Vandervell. Definitely a toff.

 

[KellysEye]

We had some Racors and cheap filters left on the boat when we bought her. Don't buy cheap ones I looked in the bottom of them and they didn't have a pressure relief valve. Racor is the way to go the clear bowls at the bottom allow you to see any dirt build up. Also fit two in parallel so if one blocks you can change to the other, mobos have that for obvious reasons. Make sure the Micron rating is less than the filter on the engine otherwise it will block first.

 

[prv]

Don't buy cheap ones I looked in the bottom of them and they didn't have a pressure relief valve.

And what is this pressure relief valve for?

Pete

 

[Pladdatoo]

And what is this pressure relief valve for?

Pete

Indeed ?